Expert Interview: Literacy Instruction for English Learners - Part 1

Over the last ten years, Ohio’s percentage of EL students has doubled to approximately 60,000 students. Spanish is the home language of almost 40% of Ohio’s English learners, along with 90 other home languages. How are we teaching these students to read WHILE we teach them to speak English? We are thrilled to welcome to the podcast Dr. Antonio Fierro, an award-winning educator and one of our very favorite LETRS trainers. We’ve asked him to share the 8 critical considerations for teaching reading to students who are simultaneously learning the English language. Our conversation with him was so rich that we had to break it up into two episodes. Today, Dr. Fierro will share the first four tips - and we’ll bring you the final four next week. Co-Hosts: Pam Kennedy, SST8 Regional Early Literacy Specialist, and Kim Nagy, SST8 Urban Literacy Specialist About Our Guest Antonio A. Fierro is a former Texas State Teacher of the Year and currently a member of the national LETRS® (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) cohort of literacy consultants led by Dr. Louisa Moats. He also is a visiting professor working with university and college professors throughout Mississippi. Dr. Fierro has more than 25 years of experience in the field of education and has contributed to several literacy curricula focusing on instruction for the English learner. He is a co-author of Kid Lips®, a curriculum that teaches the phonetics of English to young children. His areas of interest include early childhood education, all aspects of phonology, and research that impacts students’ learning of English as a second language. Dr. Fierro has a personal interest in advancing the knowledge base and understanding of dyslexia and other reading disabilities because he has a child living with dyslexia. Additional Resources Educator Accountability: Preparing for the Tough Literacy Challenges Faced by English Language Learners (podcast) Best Practices in English Learner Instruction: The LETRS Gold Standard (webinar)