Reading Science and Teaching Literacy to English Learners: Conceptual and Practical Implications

Join us for this lively and informative discussion between two literacy powerhouses. Dr. Claude Goldenberg, a bilingual literacy expert and author, and Dr. Louisa Moats, author of Speech to Print, Spellography, and creator of LANGUAGE! Live® and LETRS®, as they explore the universals for teaching children to read in any language. What does reading science tell us about how students learn to read in a language other than their own? Is there a science of reading instruction that is applicable across language contexts?

Our experts will discuss the relationship between oral and written language learning and the implications of this relationship for teaching students with varied language backgrounds. They will also explore the common debates still being resolved within the EL teaching community and how to ensure the best literacy learning for every child—regardless of their native language.

Our guests will discuss:

• Universal principles and guidelines for teaching children to read and write in any language
• Some fundamental ideas and practices about teaching ELs that any teacher should know
• The role of oral language comprehension and use when learning to read and write in a second language
• Chronic gaps between white, black, and Hispanic students in the U.S., and evidence to support doing more to help students who are not achieving.