ELL Frontiers

Using Technology to Enhance Instruction for English Learners

"The ideas introduced in this book can assist us in making the most of the available technology and digital resources of our 21^st century classrooms as we plan instruction with our curriculum. The information is presented in an accessible and engaging way to regularly incorporate students’ lived experiences and the authentic phenomena of their world ~ through content using visual texts, videos and other digital resources. This book can guide us to make the most of our face to face time with students through rich tasks requiring higher level thinking and application of learning.  Additionally, the ‘seed’ lessons provide us with powerful entry points that support integration of the flipped classroom approach into our practice such that we may promote academic equity for ELLs and all learners."

"A much needed book to empower educators to empower their English language learners!  ELL Frontiers: contains tools and resources which narrow the digital divide and put students at the center, fostering active learning, as well as independent and engaged learners.  New and experienced educators alike will learn what technology can do for the English Language Learner as a citizen of the digital age."

"High praise to Honigsfeld, Parris, and Estrada for providing this timely contribution to all of us involved in educating one of the nation’s fastest growing populations.  Teachers, administrators, specialists, as well as curriculum and professional development leaders will find a treasure trove of strategies and research-based solutions for teaching English learners during our rapidly evolving digital era."

"Teachers of all subject areas and grade levels are challenged to differentiate instruction appropriately for English Learners at various stages of English language development, in unfamiliar contexts. This text builds upon current practices by explicitly addressing how flipped lessons can benefit ELs by conveying concise expectations, more opportunities to grapple with new content individually and through interaction with peers, and ways to scaffold linguistic demands when assessing ELs’ academic achievement. Successfully flipped classrooms provide options for ELs to identify essential goals of upcoming lessons, allowing more cognitive energy to acquire the academic language necessary to engage in learning experiences."

"Digital teaching is an important resource for supporting and enhancing learning for all  students yet it has not been the focus of many professional resource books for working  with second language learners. ELL Frontiers: Using Technology for English  Learners changes that. Finally, here is a source for teachers who work with  English learners that provides innovative, thoughtful, and clearly articulated ideas for actively involving students in digital learning using the latest technology while keeping in mind best practices for collaborating, conversing, and providing feedback in the classroom. The authors share a range of approaches that help students bolster their background knowledge, think critically, and use class time to interact and engage, such as through flipping the classroom. This book contains a treasure trove of ideas for teachers who want to move their teaching with English learners into the digital age."

"ELL Frontiers is an important addition to our developing understanding of instruction for ELs. By incorporating the best of digital age learning, the authors inspire practitioners to bring EL instruction to the next level. ESL Frontiers shows how technology-enhanced instruction can elevate learning from our prior emphasis on “covering” material to “uncovering” EL’s rich experience and perspective."

"Parris, Estrada and Honigsfeld offer a dynamic reinterpretation of the learning and teaching environment in their book.”ESL Frontiers” With attention to detail they describe learning possibilities and how technology can support English Learners’ mastery of academic vocabulary and concepts, their development of oral fluency, and their participation in creative teams with native English speaking students for mutual growth and

benefit. Teachers will flip (with joy) as they read the many ways they can support ELs with technology and how such a classroom can promote authentic learning and assessment."

"The effective and purposeful use of technology tools can have a powerful impact on collaboration and the successful implementation of co-teaching models to best support English Learners. This book will help you to use technology tools that allow ELs to more fully participate with their peers. This will positively impact on learning and growth of the student.   Through the effective use of technology tools, the important learning happening in the classroom will also be positively impacted."

"Using technology with ELLs builds confidence and background knowledge so they can participate more fully in class activities. Our ELLs achieve their academic goals and learn the English language. ..Harnessing technology such as in flipped learning is a great way to help students succeed linguistically and academically”

"Many of our students are digital natives, no matter what their proficiency in English is! Since each author has worked directly with ELLs, their expertise is reflected in the tips they offer. This text will provide not only a hands-on guidebook for how to use technology specifically for our ELLs, but also provides the research to support each strategy provided. A must-read in our linguistically diverse digital age learning environments today!"