Struggling older English learners pose a real challenge for educators. Some of these students are new arrivals with limited or interrupted schooling. Others have been in and out of ESL and bilingual programs in this country since kindergarten, but have never succeeded academically. How can teachers help older students who lack academic content knowledge and English language proficiency catch up with their classmates? Yvonne and David Freeman provide four research-based keys for closing the achievement gap.
three teachers have put this theory into practice to reach their older English learners. These teachers organize curriculum around themes, use predictable classroom routines, and scaffold instruction in a variety of ways. The clear examples from their classes will help other teachers implement effective practices for their older English learners.
Closing the Achievement Gap features:
the four keys for school success for older English learners
clear distinctions among the types of older English learners in our schools with examples of students from each category
a thorough discussion of the kinds of language proficiency older English learners need
a review of the latest research on effective practices for older English learners
detailed descriptions from the classrooms of three teachers, including thematic units they have developed, their daily routines, and the strategies they use to scaffold instruction
professional extension activities to help readers apply the information in this book to their own educational settings. For teachers and teacher educators, program directors, resource personnel, and administrators, this book offers both the research and practice schools need to develop effective programs to educate struggling older English learners.
Yvonne S. Freeman is the coauthor or coeditor (with David E. Freeman) of 11 Heinemann books, including:
- ESL Teaching: Revised Edition (2016)
- Essential Linguistics, 2d ed. (2014)
- Between Worlds: Access to Second Language Acquisition, 3d ed. (2011)
- La enseñanza de la lectura y la escritura en español y en inglés en clases bilingües y de doble inmersión, segunda edición revisada ed. (2009)
- Academic Language for English Language Learners and Struggling Readers (2009)
- Diverse Learners in the Mainstream Classroom (2008)
- Teaching Reading and Writing in Spanish and English in Bilingual and Dual Language Classrooms, 2d ed. (2006)
- Dual Language Essentials for Teachers and Administrators (2005)
- Closing the Achievement Gap (2002)
- Teaching Reading in Multilingual Classrooms (2000)
- ESL/EFL Teaching (1998)
Yvonne is a professor emerita at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Yvonne and David Freeman are Heinemann Professional Development Providers.
David E. Freeman is the coauthor or coeditor (with Yvonne S. Freeman) of 11 Heinemann books, including:
- ESL Teaching, Revised Edition (2016)
- Essential Linguistics, 2d ed. (2014)
- Between Worlds: Access to Second Language Acquisition, 3d ed. (2011)
- La enseñanza de la lectura y la escritura en español y en inglés en clases bilingües y de doble inmersión, segunda edición revisada ed. (2009)
- Academic Language for English Language Learners and Struggling Readers (2009)
- Diverse Learners in the Mainstream Classroom (2008)
- Teaching Reading and Writing in Spanish and English in Bilingual and Dual Language Classrooms, 2d ed. (2006)
- Dual Language Essentials for Teachers and Administrators (2005)
- Closing the Achievement Gap (2002)
- Teaching Reading in Multilingual Classrooms (2000)
- ESL/EFL Teaching (1998)
David is a professor emeritus at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
David and Yvonne Freeman are Heinemann Professional Development Providers.
Dr. Sandra Mercuri is an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas, Brownsville. She has over 18 years of experience in teaching in Argentina and the United States in K-12 schools and at the college level. She teaches courses in bilingual education and biliteracy and is working on research on the development of academic language across the content areas, the role of language in the development of scientific literacy and the effect of long-term professional development for teachers of English learners. She provides training for teachers nationwide and presents at national and international conferences on issues of second language acquisition and bilingualism, dual language education, teacher training and ESL strategies. Dr. Mercuri has also published articles in professional journals about bilingual learners and the application of second language theories into classroom practice in the TESOL Quarterly, Talking Points, EJLTS and the NABE journal as well as professional journals in Spanish such as GIST. Dr. Mercuri is the author of the book titled Supporting Literacy Through Science. She has also co-authored the books Closing the Achievement Gap and Dual Language Essentials with Drs. Yvonne and David Freeman and Research-based Strategies for English Language Learners with Denise Rea. Dr. Mercuri a native of Argentina is a fluent speaker of Spanish.
