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How the ELL Brain Learns
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Bestseller!

How the ELL Brain Learns



October 2010 | 288 pages | Corwin
 "This book is one of the best I've read on how the brain functions in second language learners and is invaluable for understanding ELLs with learning disabilities."
—Irma Guadarrama, Professor
University of Texas-Pan American College of Education

"David Sousa brings together all of the research about the brain to show the process of learning multiple languages and offers ways to implement effective teaching strategies with quality instruction."
—Sharon Latimer, ESL Teacher
Plano ISD, TX

Raise your ELL success quotient and watch student achievement soar!

Teachers are more likely to succeed if they have a deeper understanding of the challenges students face in trying to learn English and course content simultaneously. How the ELL Brain Learns combines current research on how the brain learns language with strategies for teaching English language learners in K–12 classrooms. Award-winning author and brain research expert David A. Sousa describes the linguistic reorganization needed to acquire another language after the age of 5 years. He supplements this information with immediately applicable tools, including:

  • A self-assessment pretest for gauging your understanding of how the brain learns languages
  • Ready-to-use brain-compatible strategies for teaching English learners across the curriculum
  • An entire chapter about how to detect English language learning problems, with sections on the social, cultural, and physical causes

Each chapter features teaching tips that translate the research into step-by-step classroom applications. Also included are intervention strategies to use with struggling ELLs, including methods for working with older students.


 
List of Teaching Tips
 
About the Author
 
Acknowledgments
 
Introduction
Who are English Language Learners?

 
About This Book

 
What Do You Already Know?

 
 
1. Learning the First Language(s)
Spoken Language Comes Naturally

 
Structure of Language

 
Levels of Language Comprehension

 
Learning Two First Languages

 
What's Coming

 
Key Points to Ponder

 
 
2. Learning a New Language (English) Later
The Challenge of Acquiring a New Language Later

 
Learning English Is Not Easy

 
What’s Coming

 
Key Points to Ponder

 
 
3. Teaching English Language Listening and Speaking
Searching for the Best Model

 
Listening

 
Speaking

 
What's Coming

 
Teaching Tips

 
Key Points to Ponder

 
 
4. Teaching English Language Reading and Writing
Reading

 
Writing

 
What's Coming

 
Teaching Tips

 
Key Points to Ponder

 
 
5. Teaching Language Arts and Social Studies
The Language Components of Learning Content in English

 
Teaching English Language Arts to ELLs

 
Teaching Social Studies to ELLs

 
What’s Coming

 
Teaching Tips

 
Key Points to Ponder

 
 
6. Teaching Mathematics and Science
Teaching Mathematics to ELLs

 
Teaching Science to ELLs

 
What’s Coming

 
Teaching Tips

 
Key Points to Ponder

 
 
7. Recognizing and Addressing Problems in Learning English
Learning Problem or Learning Disability?

 
Helping ELLs With Learning Disabilities

 
What’s Coming

 
Teaching Tips

 
Key Points to Ponder

 
 
8. Putting It All Together
The Diversity of English Language Learners

 
Misconceptions About ELLs and English Language Acquisition

 
Basic Components for ELL Instruction

 
Gifted and Talented ELLs

 
Conclusion

 
Teaching Tips

 
Key Points to Ponder

 
 
Glossary
 
References
 
Resources
 
Index

"This book puts all of the research about the brain together to show what is happening during the process of learning multiple languages. It is very informative in showing how to implement effective teaching strategies with quality instruction."

Sharon Latimer, ESL Teacher
Plano ISD, TX

"This book is one of the best I’ve read on how the brain functions in second language learners, and is invaluable for learning about ELLs with learning disabilities."

Irma Guadarrama, Professor
Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education, University of Texas Pan American

"David Sousa's books serve as manuals for the application of empirically-validated strategies, meeting the needs of hopeful teachers and parents alike in almost any instructional context: home-school, classroom, or higher education. I would be excited to use this text with my students who are unfamiliar with the issues involved in reaching ELL students in the classroom."

Gita Upreti, Assistant Professor of Special Education
University of Texas, El Paso
Education Review, 14, June 2011
Key features
  • Distills current research on what we know about how the brain learns language 
  • Provides a self-assessment tool for readers to gauge their understanding of how the brain learns languages
  • Discusses the structure of language and how children first acquire language
  • Explores the connection between learners' first languages and cultures on their ability to learn new languages later in life
  • Provides teachers with ready-to-use brain-compatible strategies for teaching both English language and subject matter acquisition
  • Devotes an entire chapter to how to detect and recognize English language learning problems, with sections on the social, cultural, and physical causes
  • Provides intervention strategies for teachers to use with struggling ELLs, including strategies for working with older students

Purchasing options

For large school/district orders, volume discounts, availability and shipping times contact customer service at 800-233-9936
or order@corwin.com.

contact corwin

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ISBN: 9781412988346
CAD$ 62.95

For large school/district orders, volume discounts, availability and shipping times contact customer service at 800-233-9936
or order@corwin.com.

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