The current public focus on education and the increased attention given to students' scores on standardized tests often frustrates many of the teachers we work with. The area of greatest concern is reading. In many states, teachers are mandated to teach reading through an approach that puts heavy emphasis on phonics and phonemic awareness, even when they have English learners who are still developing oral English proficiency. We present the checklist here with brief comments on each question. We invite readers to consider using this guide to evaluate their own teaching of reading for all students and especially for their English language learners.
Effective teachers read to and with students and help students become independent readers.
They choose texts that help students realize that reading is an important and enjoyable activity. As students move from dependence to independence in their reading, they begin to build confidence in their ability to read. They start to value reading and to value themselves as readers. When teachers read to students, they provide the comprehensible input that students need to develop academic language. They gain both English and literacy.