Differentiated Literacy Strategies for English Language Learners, Grades K–6

Effective ways to help ELLs excel

As you tailor your teaching to engage the increasing number of English language learners, the key to success is focusing on literacy. Adapted from the highly successful Differentiated Literacy Strategies for Student Growth and Achievement in Grades K–6, this book provides a wealth of grade-specific literacy strategies that not only increase student achievement but also increase it rapidly. The authors provide proven practical tools for differentiating instruction to meet language and individual learning styles. Teachers will find an instructional and assessment framework designed to promote these critical competencies:

• Functional literacy in phonics, spelling, and reading
• Content-area literacy for vocabulary, concept attainment, and comprehension
• Technological literacy for information searching, evaluation, and synthesis
• Innovative literacy for creativity, growth, and lifelong learning

Included are more than 100 planning models, matrixes, rubrics, and checklists. Teachers with students who have had interrupted formal education or come from newly arrived immigrant populations will find a wealth of proven methods for giving ELLs every opportunity to succeed.

Gayle H. Gregory is first and foremost a teacher, having experienced teaching and learning in elementary, middle, and secondary schools, community colleges, and universities. She has had extensive district-wide experience as a curriculum consultant and staff development coordinator. Gayle was principal/course director at York University for the Faculty of Education, teaching in the teacher education program. Her areas of expertise include brain-compatible learning, differentiated instructional and assessment strategies, block scheduling, emotional intelligence, student motivation, RTI Tier One, collaborative learning, common core, renewal of secondary schools, enhancing teacher quality, coaching and mentoring, managing change, and building professional learning communities. She also a trainer for Visible Learning Plus with Corwin. She is an author of numerous books related to educational neuroscience and differentiated instruction, assessment, and curriculum, including the following titles: • Data Driven Differentiation in the Standards-Based Classroom, Second Edition (2014, with Lin Kuzmich) • Differentiated Instructional Strategies: One Size Doesn’t Fit All, Third Edition (2013, with Carolyn Chapman) • Differentiated Instructional Strategies Professional Learning Guide: One Size Doesn’t Fit All, Third Edition (2013) • Differentiated Literacy Strategies for English Language Learners, Grades K–6 and Differentiated Literacy Strategies for English Language Learners, Grades 7–12 (2011, with Amy Burkman) • Differentiated Instructional Strategies for the Block Schedule (2010, with Lynne E. Herndon) • Student Teams That Get Results: Teaching Tools for the Differentiated Classroom (2009, with Lin Kuzmich) • Teacher Teams That Get Results: 61 Strategies for Sustaining and Renewing Professional Learning Communities (2009, with Lin Kuzmich) • Differentiated Instructional Strategies for Science, Grades K–8 (2009, with Elizabeth Hammerman) • Differentiating Instruction With Style: Aligning Teacher and Learner Intelligences for Maximum Achievement (2005) • The Activities for Differentiated Classroom series (2007, with Carolyn Chapman) She is affiliated with organizations such as ASCD and Learning Forward. Her ASCD publication is The Motivated Brain: Improving Student Attention engagement and Perseverance (2015, with Martha Kaufeldt). Gayle consults internationally with teachers, administrators, and staff developers. She and her family of two daughters and two granddaughters all reside in Burlington, Ontario. Gayle is committed to lifelong learning and professional growth for herself and others. She may be contacted at gregorygayle@netscape.net, www.gaylehgregory.com, and @gaylegregory6.   Amy Burkman is an Associate Professor at American Public University. She has served as a provider of professional development for the Education Service Center for Region 11 and several school districts within the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Burkman received a Master′s Degree in Library Sciences from Texas Woman′s University in 2002, where she was also inducted in Beta Phi Mu, the International Library & Information Studies Honor Society. She was awarded her doctorate from Texas Christian University in May 2009. Burkman is, and has been, active in many local, state, and national organizations. She currently reviews materials for several publications, including the International Journal of Educational Leadership Preparation (IJELP) and the Education Leadership Review (ELR). Dr. Burkman has published several articles, including “A Practical Approach to Marketing the School Library”, which has been included in the 6th Edition of School Library Management, “The Role of Social, Civic and Political Responsibility in Educational Leadership Preparation”, and “Leadership Development in the United States: Systemic Development Within Social Culture.” Dr. Burkman served as an elementary principal, an elementary and secondary assistant principal, a school librarian and a classroom teacher before she moved to higher education.