news about sheltered english instruction

Sheltered English Instruction: A Key to Successful Learning for ELL Students

As the demographics of American classrooms continue to shift, schools are facing a growing challenge: how to effectively instruct students who are learning English as a second language (ELL). With nearly 3 in 4 classrooms now including at least one ELL student, and these students making up roughly 1 in 10 public school students, it is essential that educators have the tools and strategies needed to support their language development. One approach that has shown promise is sheltered English instruction.

Sheltered English instruction, also known as sheltered content instruction, involves teaching academic subjects in English while simultaneously providing ELL students with support and scaffolding to help them access the curriculum. This approach acknowledges that ELL students may not have a strong foundation in English, but are capable of learning academic content nonetheless.

The federal requirement for sheltered English instruction stems from the landmark 1974 case Lau v. Nichols, which found that Chinese-American English-learners in California who were not given educational accommodations to help them learn English did not receive equal access to education. This ruling led to changes in the main federal K-12 law, requiring school districts to take 'affirmative steps' to counter students' language barriers and ensure ELLs can 'participate meaningfully in schools' educational programs.'

In 2015, the Education Department's office for civil rights issued a letter updating how districts should approach ELL instruction. The guidance emphasizes the importance of using instructional practices and programs that are backed by scientific evidence and effective in helping ELL students speak, listen, read, and write English and meet challenging state content standards.

Despite the growing need for sheltered English instruction, there is still limited research on what works best to help non-native speakers become proficient in English-particularly the more formal academic language needed for school success. As a result, many educators are turning to innovative approaches such as technology integration, collaborative learning, and project-based learning to support ELL students.

Ultimately, sheltered English instruction is not about dumbing down curriculum or watering down standards, but rather about providing ELL students with the tools and support they need to succeed in school. By acknowledging the diversity of our classrooms and adapting our instructional practices accordingly, we can help ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education, regardless of their language background.

News about sheltered english instruction