This report for the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Advancing Literacy program describes adolescent English language learners (ELLs) and the challenges of learning English while trying to learn other core content in English. The literacy strategies that work for native English speakers do not always work for adolescent ELLs; moreover the diversity of ELLs as a group suggests that blanket strategies are often counterproductive. The report identifies six major challenges to improving adolescent ELL literacy, and suggests a number of possible solutions to each. It can be used as a guide for teachers, professional development programs, education research, and state and districts policymakers in addressing the growing problem of adolescent ELL literacy.
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Background and Context
Across the country states are struggling to establish sound literacy learning standards for adolescents and appropriate teacher preparation standards in literacy for teachers who will work with adolescents. At the secondary level, literacy should not only be addressed in the language arts curriculum, but it should play a central role in every subject area.
