Reading & Writing with English Learners: A Framework for K-5: A Framework for K-

by Valentina Gonzalez, Melinda Miller

Reading & Writing with English Learners offers kindergarten through fifth grade reading and writing educators a user-friendly guide and framework for supporting English learners in balanced literacy classrooms. Authors Valentina Gonzalez and Melinda Miller lead readers in exploring the components of Reading & Writing with English Learners with a special eye for increasing the effectiveness of instructional methods and quality of instruction to serve English learners.
The book you hold in your hands shares practical and effective techniques for accommodating reading and writing instruction to design learning that simultaneously increases literacy and language development.
Reading & Writing with English Learners was written - K-5 Classroom Teachers - ESL Teachers - Reading and Writing Instructional Coaches - District Leaders
Reading & Writing with English Learners - the components of Reading & Writing Workshop - accommodations that support English Learners - high yield practices for Reading & Writing Workshop during remote teaching - the role of phonics - a culturally inclusive booklist - activities that support Reading & Writing Workshop And more!

Genres: Teaching

146 pages, Paperback

Published October 29, 2020

About the author

Valentina Gonzalez's passion and love for education is widely known and shines through in her presentations and her writing. Her personal experience as an immigrant from Yugoslavia and language learner fuels her desire to advocate for English learners and support teachers with the best research-based teaching methods.

In her 21 years with public education, Valentina served as a classroom teacher, an ESL co-teacher and pull-out teacher, a district ESL facilitator, and a district professional development specialist for teachers of English learners. Through these roles she supported students and educators and coached teachers on sheltered instruction and ESL strategies.

Valentina has been asked to present at the state and national levels. She earned her Bachelor's in Education from the University of Houston and her Master's in Leadership and Administration from Lamar University.

Reviews

[Millie Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had to select a text for my K-5 teachers this would be the book, Reading and Writing with English Learners. Every section is so on point with the structure of workshop model and how it truly benefits all learners. I love how each section lays out the accommodations as well as the benefits for English Language Learners. The book is so practical and is a great addition to every educators’ bookshelf.
Thank you to Valentina Gonzalez and Melinda Miller for writing this great resource.

[Emily Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I experienced an extraordinary feeling while reading Valentina and Melinda’s book. I was reading the introduction when I began highlighting text, making notes on the pages, and writing takeaways in my notebook. Reading & Writing for English Learners is a book that highlights the best of my two worlds: my English learner world and my educator world.
The English learner in me couldn’t contain the excitement as I was reading a book with a core belief centered on what’s best for English language learners (ELs). You see, I was once an English learner sitting at the back of class unengaged and just accumulating knowledge without the opportunity to demonstrate my learning.
Reading and writing lessons were not structured in a way that students’ background and home language were maximized. This lack of opportunities and modalities to demonstrate what I was able to do in class just made me feel like an outsider and without a sense of belonging.
So reading a professional development book that is centered around the whole child – and also provides ideas to weave in culturally responsive practices to help English learners grow linguistically – fills my heart with so much joy and hope for ELs.

The educator in me is grateful for a book that not only validates my pedagogy throughout but also provides new ways to help me grow and develop as I learn to teach reading and writing through a language lens.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️s book with core values centered on English language learners
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It’s a framework for K-5, but as a highs school ESL teacher, I see it as a go-to guide for teaching reading & writing with ELs!

[Paula Boyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I've read about ELL instruction as it pertains to reading and writing. I really like the way the authors organized each chapter of the book. It is based around delivering a balanced approach to literacy instruction. You will learn what each component (read aloud, shared reading, guided reading, etc.) is and what it is not. The authors explain why and how the component benefits English Language Learners as well as the rest of our students. Experts from the field weigh in on the framework and readers are given a classroom scenario as an example of implementation. The authors also answer frequently asked questions at the end of each chapter. The writing is clear, concise, but comprehensive. I plan to use this book in the graduate literacy classes I am teaching this summer and fall.

[M True · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good ideas for activities with English Language Learners. I have taught for 30+ years and it did reaffirm several things I have implemented in my classroom and with multi language learners over the years. I was glad to see “The Role of Phonics “ appendix but wish there had been more in that section. I was disappointed to see many references to Clay, Fountas and Pinnell and the cueing systems as I don’t feel they are effective for my mlls. I would have liked more about developing new speaker vocabulary and vocabulary activities. Overall a good book for a new teacher who may be looking for structure, strategies or activities.

[Loa Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book and provides strategies for powerful inclusive literacy practice for ALL learners. Valentina Gonzalez and Melinda Miller provide us with THE framework, keeping MLLs in mind every step of the way. A big AH-HA moment for me was connecting that everything we do must develop literacy skills. If we are doing activities that don’t support and involve students speaking, listening, reading, viewing and writing… STOP! While the book suggests K-5... I am a secondary teacher and feel the framework the authors provide is relevant. It is a go-to resource on my shelf!

[Sherry Liptak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciated this book. There are differences in teaching multilingual students to read and write- they bring different assets. It is full of insights, analogies, stories, and reflections. I loved the strategies because they were straight-forward to implement right away. I hope this team writes another book!

[Natalie Cardon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great explainer and clarifying book for experienced classroom or EL teachers and a perfect reference for beginning teachers teaching language arts. The graphics and charts make it so easy to flip back to in the moment you’re planning lessons and gain quick ideas and strategies.

[Ian MacIntyre · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fantastic classroom resource. Lots of doable ideas. I used several of the ideas in some small groupings and was happy with the results.

Kids want to read and share their thoughts with their peers. Using these techniques gives learners skills and confidence.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully designed book, mostly review of instructional staples taught in any good K-5 TESOL program. Very practical and well organized. Overall a quick reference read

[Kelly Manchester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as an assignment this year for a professional development class. It was an easy readying assignment, had an easy organized format, and explained the components of balanced literacy well