Customer Reviews

English Language Learners in American Classrooms: 101 Questions, 101 Answers

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I am very grateful for this new book on the topic of English language learners (ELLs). As a veteran teacher of 34 years, having taught grades kinder through eighth, I know first hand about the opportunities and challenges in educating ELLs. Through the years, I have experienced what works and what does not, as hundreds of ELLs in my classroom have shown me. It is indeed affirming to find much of what I have learned from my students in this book.

In English Learners in the American Classroom, James Crawford and Stephen Krashen describe what works and what does not and give the reasons in a clear and concise manner. They pose the many frequently asked questions about instruction and assessment for ELLs and give precise answers with information, research, and history. This is very important for there is no other educational issue that creates more heated debate than the education of and program options for ELLs.

The education of English learners has been a concern since this country's inception in the 1700s. Because our society has always been a nation of immigrants, it is pluralistic with many other languages than English. However, those who attempt to perpetuate myths of the dangers of a pluralistic, multilingual society compound the challenge of the education of immigrant children with simplistic, expedient solutions. This issue is further complicated for teachers by questions regarding the educational goal for ELLs. Is the goal to focus on academic content or on English learning? Can it be both, academic content while learning English? In essence, most educators get entangled in these debates while desiring an unrealistic expedient process in the midst of ever more local, state, and federal mandates, and new curriculum and assessment programs.

In such an environment, Crawford and Kreshen's new book is a welcome assistance to teachers of ELLs. I can envision that it will give them clear answers to the how and why of effective instructional methods and assessment. Teachers will also feel empowered with answers ready at hand as they work towards providing the best education that ELLs can have.

I know that in my last years of teaching, as I prepare to retire, I will use this book as a guide for the continued improvement of my classroom practice and my advocacy for English language learners.

In a very approachable and easy to manipulate digest, Crawford and Krashen introduce any reader to the intricacies of education for English language learners. They include comprehensible responses to the most common questions about students, programs, research, heritage languages, public opinion, legal requirements, assessment and accountability, language politics and policy, history, and response to the criticisms of bilingual education. For seasoned bilingual and ESL teachers, there won't be a lot that is new, but the book does present information in ways that can be easily communicated to people who don't have a deep understanding of the field. I'd recommend this book for anyone who works with ELLs, anyone who makes educational decisions for ELLs and anyone who has responsibility for administering or developing language policy. When you finish, send your copy to one of those folks in government and policy-making positions who think they know what's best for our ELL students.

Wonderful!!! Concise and packed with information. A good book for any administrator, teacher or school board member needing quick and researched based info on the best practices for educating students who are learning English as a second language. If tests scores are to improve for EL's we need to follow the researched based advice of this book. The book is well written and easy to understand even for those without background in second language acquisition. There are many who may disagree with the message given here but it's time to realize that research does not always give us the answers we want. However we should do what research says is best for children to give them the best chance in life. I enjoyed the book it was quick reading and I was able to skip to areas that I was most interested in. Every educator who works with English Learners should have this book.

This book is extremely concise and informative, written in an almost abbreviated form. Excellent reference book to keep on hand. I highly recommend it to all teachers and administrators who work with English learners in any capacity.

This book addresses all your questions about English Learners in a practical and concise book! It's also written by two incredible authors that are always up to date and informed about bilingual education. Everyone should own this book!

This brief, well-documented outline of essential research information is invaluable to parents, teachers and policy makers.

This short textbook is presented in a question and answer format. It is clearly written, well-research, and truly interesting. I recommend it as an introduction to the issues of education for limited English students. It is so brief and pleasurable to read that it would also be useful for professional development discussion.

I'm an ESl teacher and thought this book would be pedagogical. It's mostly about the current state of bilingual education in the US. It is informative about the history and legislation of ESL and bilingual ed. I would recommend it for anyone in the field who needs to polish their knowledge base or those interested in entering the field.

This quick reference covers all the basic facts behind educating English Language Learners (ELLs). It is good for educators who are new to educating ELLs. This book also is great for supporting educators learning to become advocates for ELLs with colleagues in their communities. This book provides quick answers to the most common questions from scholars known for their advocacy for ELLs.

I often am asked where teachers should begin to learn about bilingual learners and their experiences in our schools and now I have a definitive answer! This book is a perfect entry into the field with the comprehensive information necessary for teachers (or anybody really) to begin to understand some of the unique challenges as well as incredible strengths bilingual learners bring to our classrooms and schools. It's fantastic to have so much information couched in such a readable format that isn't bogged down with overly academic jargon. I love this book!