Decodable books are books that have controlled text. The words are simple to decode. They typically follow a sequence of skill progression such as short vowels, digraphs, long vowels. This is helpful for students as they are at the beginning stages of reading. The benefit of using decodable text is that students do not encounter many unfamiliar words that they can not figure out by using the strategy of sounding it out. One challenge of these books, especially for ELLs…
Immigrants have, and continue to make a lasting impact on the struggle for civil rights in the United States. Discover biographies and picture books that tell the stories of how American immigrants have fought for civil rights. These books about immigrant civil rights will help introduce ELLs and all students to the important contributions of these individuals. Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on an Amazon link and make…
In some parts of the world, wintertime means cold temperatures and snow. In other areas, it is the rainy season and cool. Here are some books to help introduce English Language Learners to the winter season with my picks for the best winter books for ELLs. ” In Ten Ways to Hear Snow, a young girl listens to the different sounds that snow makes as she walks to her grandmother’s house. The girls and grandmother make the Lebanese food of…
There are Thanksgiving books on a range of topics to share with students. One theme I like to focus on around Thanksgiving is gratitude and being thankful. Students can read and listen to what others are thankful for and then write and talk about what they are thankful for. Families have many unique traditions around Thanksgiving. Immigrant families often add in their own cultural traditions to this holiday. Books are a great way for kids to learn about some of…
You can use student name books to help explain to students the importance of correctly saying the names of their classmates. Here is a list of student name books from a diverse selection of authors. They are great at back to school time or anytime during the year when a new student enters the class. For ELLs, it can be especially frustrating when a teacher or classmates do not pronounce their name correctly. Taking some time at the beginning of…
It is important for children to be exposed to diverse books as they are learning how to read. Many teachers are examining their classroom library and adding more diverse books to their collection. Guided reading is also an important component of a balanced literacy program. Some teachers are lucky to teach in a school with a well-stocked book room. In other cases, many of the books at the lower levels are not age-appropriate for older ESOL students and do not…
If you choose to introduce your ELLs to the holiday of Halloween, here are some fun books to use. I found books that include bilingual books, books that show the merging of cultures, and a basic history of Halloween. I also have suggestions for Halloween activities for ELLs to use as you are teaching. Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on an Amazon link and make a purchase. This…
Wordless picture books are a great tool to use with English Language Learners. They allow students to practice making inferences and think critically without the language demands of reading text. Students can make up their own stories orally and using writing. Wordless picture books are also a helpful tool for vocabulary development. Students can label the picture, either using sticky notes or writing on a projected image of the book. Another idea is to write a story as a class…
One of my favorite vacations as a child…and today was to go camping. Some of your students may also enjoy camping. Others have never had to opportunity to go. Here are some camping books to introduce camping to students or just some fun stories for them to enjoy. Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on an Amazon link and make a purchase. This does not cost you any extra…
Here is a collection of books about mothers from diverse cultures and backgrounds. All are great books to read about around Mother’s Day. Some of the books can be used as read alouds for newcomers and students learning about family. Most celebrate different ways that mothers are special. Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on an Amazon link and make a purchase. This does not cost you any extra…