by Diane Staehr Fenner In working with content and ESL teachers in multiple states, I’ve often found that teachers feel most comfortable using their “own” standards in teaching English Language Learners (ELLs). That is, content teachers may use primarily content standards, and ESL teachers may focus their instruction around their…
Originally posted on Colorin Colorado by Diane Staehr Fenner Three strategies can help teachers more accurately assess their English language learners. At a recent professional development institute in a school district in New York State, I led content-area teachers new to teaching English language learners (ELLs) through a geometry lesson…
Originally posted on Colorin Colorado by Diane Staehr Fenner This is the second post in a two-part series about dual language instruction and the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). In this piece, I will examine four particular challenges associated with implementing the CCSS in dual language settings, and for each…
Originally posted on Colorin Colorado by Diane Staehr Fenner During the past school year, I worked on two fascinating projects related to dual language instructional programs. One project was to compile and review state data on the policy and practices of dual language education programs across the United States. This…
Originally posted on Colorin Colorado March 6, 2015 by Diane Staehr Fenner As many states begin to fully implement computer-based tests to measure students’ progress toward reaching the Common Core State Standards, it is an opportune time to take a closer look at how computer-based assessments might affect ELLs in…
By Diane Staehr Fenner and Sydney Snyder / Originally published on the Colorin Colorado website / January 23, 2015 Last year, we wrote a two-part series on text dependent questions (TDQs) for ELLs, and it was one of our most popular blog posts. In the first blog post, we provided…
