As our classrooms become increasingly diverse, educators face new challenges in supporting English Language Learners (ELLs). By 2030, an estimated 40% of school-aged children in the United States will be ELLs—a dramatic shift that demands effective, research-based teaching approaches. Currently, literacy outcomes among ELL students remain concerning, with 79% reading at a basic or below basic level (Birsh and Carreker, p. 721).
The Challenge Before Us
Traditional intervention models like RTI/MTSS (Response to Intervention/Multi-Tiered System of Supports) often fall short for ELL students. Why? Because many screening and progress monitoring tools weren't designed with ELL students in mind, potentially widening rather than closing the achievement gap in reading and language skills. ELL students need direct, systematic, and explicit instruction to make gains.
Enter the Science of Reading (SOR).
The Science of Reading, with its emphasis on structured literacy instruction, offers a promising solution that benefits ALL learners, including ELLs. Let's explore seven key ways SOR supports English Language Learners in their literacy journey.
1. Building Strong Foundations Through Explicit Phonics
For ELL students, who may have never encountered English sound patterns in their native language, systematic and explicit phonics instruction is invaluable. This approach helps students crack the code of English reading by:
- Teaching clear letter-sound relationships
- Building word-decoding skills systematically
- Providing a foundation for independent reading
Key Benefit: Phonics instruction helps ELLs read unfamiliar words more accurately and become independent readers.
2. Developing Crucial Phonological Awareness
Understanding how sounds work within words—is critical for learning to read and speak fluently. Many ELL students struggle with English sounds that don't exist in their first language. Phonological awareness instruction helps by:
- Breaking words into manageable sound units
- Teaching distinction between similar sounds (like /th/ and /t/)
- Supporting both reading fluency and pronunciation accuracy
Key Benefit: Teaching ELLs to break words into syllables and sounds (e.g., "cat" = /k/ /æ/ /t/) improves both reading fluency and pronunciation.
3. Bridging Vocabulary Gaps
ELL students often have limited exposure to English vocabulary, making it difficult to comprehend what they read. Due to the limited exposure to English vocabulary can significantly impact reading comprehension. SOR addresses this through:
- Explicit vocabulary teaching
- Clear definitions and contextualization
- Regular practice with word usage
- Connecting new words to existing knowledge
Key Benefit: Targeted vocabulary instruction improves both spoken and written comprehension, helping ELLs make connections between words and meaning.
4. Strengthening Comprehension Strategies
Simply decoding words is not enough—readers need to understand the meaning of the text -understanding is the ultimate goal. SOR equips ELL students with strategies to:
- Extract meaning from context
- Navigate unfamiliar words
- Build deeper understanding of texts
Key Benefit: These strategies help ELLs overcome language barriers by learning to extract meaning from context, even when they encounter unfamiliar words.
5. Fostering Oral Language Development
Research shows that strong oral language skills are fundamental to reading success. SOR promotes this through:
- Interactive read-alouds
- Structured discussions
- Storytelling activities
- Verbal practice opportunities
Key Benefit: Activities like shared reading or storytelling help ELLs develop listening and speaking skills, which in turn support reading comprehension.
6. Building Reading Fluency
Fluency—reading with speed, accuracy, and expression is the ultimate goal. When students read fluently, they can focus more on understanding the text rather than decoding individual words. SOR supports fluency through:
- Repeated reading practices
- Guided reading sessions
- Teacher modeling
- Regular practice opportunities
Key Benefit: For ELLs, building fluency reduces the cognitive strain of decoding words and allows them to better focus on understanding the text.
7. Personalizing Instruction Through Data
One size doesn't fit all, especially for ELL students. The science of reading encourages the use of assessments and data to tailor instruction to each learner’s needs. SOR emphasizes:
- Regular assessment of student progress
- Data-driven instruction decisions
- Targeted support for specific skills
- Individualized learning approaches
Key Benefit: Teachers can use data to identify which literacy skills (e.g., phonics, vocabulary, fluency) need additional support, ensuring that ELLs receive targeted instruction.
The Science of Reading offers a comprehensive, evidence-based approach that addresses the unique challenges faced by ELL students. As our student population continues to diversify, implementing SOR principles becomes increasingly crucial for ensuring educational equity and success for all learners.
By embracing these research-backed strategies, educators can better support their ELL students in developing strong literacy skills—skills that will serve as a foundation for academic success across all subject areas.
Remember: When we implement the Science of Reading effectively, we're not just teaching students to read—we're empowering them with the tools they need to thrive in an English-speaking academic environment.
This post is part of our 31 Days of Dyslexia series, offering practical insights for educators and parents. Subscribe and follow along to learn more strategies that can make a difference in the lives of dyslexic learners!
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