ELL Frameworks and Contributors
The five, specially designed ELL products in Learning A-Z's ELL Edition address the Common Core State Standards' goal to provide ELLs of all language proficiency levels the opportunity to gain content-area knowledge.
Based on scientifically based instructional models such as the SIOP model (Echeverria, Short, and Vogt, Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol Model, 2003) and the Picture Word Inductive Model as well as recommendations from the National Literacy Panel’s 2006 report Developing Literacy in Second-Language Learners and the concept of “language as action” (Walqui and Van Lier, Language and the Common Core Standards, 2012), these integrated resources build authentic learning experiences for K-8 ELLs.
Correlated to the WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessments) standards of language arts, math, science, social studies, and social and instructional language, these differentiated and scaffolded resources are based on “can do” principles and allow for student participation and achievement regardless of language level.
The authors of our Enhanced ELL resources are experienced educators in the field of language acquisition, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge that ensures the instructional frameworks included in our resources are based on best practices for teaching all English language learners.
ELL Advisors
Olga Ellis, Ph.D.
- Twenty-three years of ESL/EFL experience at all proficiency levels and for all language skills, including academic writing
- Doctorate, Second Language Acquisition and Teaching (SLAT), the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
- Master's degree, Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL), California State University, Turlock, CA
- Master's degree, Rhetoric and Teaching of Writing (RTW), California State University, Turlock, CA
- TESOL Teacher Trainer and program administrator in EFL/ESL
- ESL/EFL/English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Online course designer
- Author, Just Speak Up Levels 1-3 (Compass Publishing, March 2009)
- Author, On-line Test Preparation. Study in the U.S.A. (Fall 2010)
Max Klink
- Graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and the University of Pennsylvania
- Manager for High School Multilingual Curriculum and Programs, The School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.
- Adjunct professor, Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia.
- Teacher and director of English Language Learner programs in kindergarten through twelfth grade in various public and charter school settings
Alma Montemayor Sandigo
- First and second grade teacher in a dual-language program and mainstream classroom.
- Instructional coach, professional development leader, and district coordinator in the implementation of SEI programs in Yuma School District One, Gadsden, and Somerton
- Faculty member of the Bilingual Multicultural Education Program at Northern Arizona University, Yuma
- Advisor for Arizona State Department of Education, Office of English Language Acquisition Services
Kia Myrick McDaniel
- Master's degree in Bilingual Special Education, George Washington University
- Bachelor of Arts degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park
- ESOL supervisor in a large urban district
- ESOL teacher, ESOL specialist, and classroom teacher
- Adjunct professor at Trinity University in Washington, D.C., and McDaniel College
- Consultant in the areas of multicultural education, meeting the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students, and effective strategies for English Language Learners
Gloria Rodriguez
- Educational consultant specializing in educational solutions for the academic success of ELL students
- Director of ELL programs for America's Choice/Pearson
- Bilingual curriculum development and assistant principal, Oyster Bilingual Elementary School, Washington, D.C.
- ESL/Bilingual coordinator, multiple programs, Oregon
- Author, Teaching English Language Learners: A Guide for School Leaders, Teaching English Language Learners, Elementary and Teaching English Language Learners, Secondary
- Co-author, training modules on ELL and the Common Core Standards and Teaching English Language Learners: A Guide for School Leaders for the National Institute of School Leaders, 2d ed. (NISL)
ELL Writers/Authors
Benaline O. Baluyot
- Master of Science in Education
- Bachelor of Arts in English
- Licensed as a Reading Specialist, ESL program specialist, Elementary Education and English teacher, and K-12 principal
- Nine years of K-12 classroom experience in urban schools and three years of ESL program administration experience
Stephanie Delgado
- Master's degree, Bilingual Multicultural Education, Northern Arizona University
- Bachelor of Arts in French and Economics, University of Arizona
- English as a Second Language teacher, eleven years in the Amphitheater School District, Tucson, AZ
- English as a Second Language teacher in Yucatan, Mexico
Denise Heagle
- Master's degree in TESOL, Teachers College, Columbia University
- Bachelor of Arts in History, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
- English as a Second Language teacher, nineteen years in public schools (Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, New York)
- English as a Foreign Language teacher in Pusan, Korea
- Peace Corps volunteer in the Central African Republic
Lucedes Rubi McBroom
- Master's degree in Bilingual and Multicultural Education and certificate in Educational Leadership
- Bachelor's degrees in Journalism and English
- Bilingual/ESL classroom teacher and Bilingual Resource teacher, ten years
- Instructional coach and Title I coordinator at a school with a high population of English Language Learners, eight years
- Certified teacher trainer for Sheltered English Immersion instruction and Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol
Kessa Shipley
- Bachelor of Arts in the History of Art, University of Michigan
- Teacher Certification and Bilingual Certification, University of New Mexico
- ESOL Endorsement, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon
- Bilingual teacher, Santa Fe Public Schools
- ESOL teacher, Spanish Immersion Literacy Support and Classroom Teacher, Portland Public Schools
Kimberly Snyder
- Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Language & Literature, University of Arizona
- K-12 Reading Endorsement, Pima Community College
- Secondary Teacher Certification, Pima Community College
- Reading Intervention teacher
- High School Spanish teacher
- ESL kindergarten teacher, Guaymas, Mexico
Laura Snyder
- Master's degree, Secondary Education, University of Phoenix
- Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, University of Arizona
- English Language Arts and Reading Intervention, Sunnyside Unified School District, Tucson, AZ
- English Language Arts and AIMS Intervention, Sahuarita Unified School District, Tucson, AZ
Mamie Spillane
- Master's degree, Bilingual Multicultural Education, Northern Arizona University
- Bachelor of Science in Education, Northern Arizona University
- K-8 English as a Second Language teacher and instructional coach in the Amphitheater School District, Tucson, AZ
- Teacher trainer and presenter, Arizona Educational Foundation
- English as a Second Language Teacher in Guatemala and Vietnam
Cyndy Thatcher-Fettig
- MAT TESOL, School for International Training, Brattleboro, VT
- Bachelor of Science, Education (ESL and Spanish): University of Wisconsin-Madison
- TESL Certificate trainer (Duke University Continuing Studies)
- K-12 ESL teacher, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Chapel Hill, NC
- Trainer of trainers (various fields) nationwide
- Freelance author/editor (student textbooks, teacher resources, curriculum)
Laura Tully Zwickl
- National Board Certified teacher (Early Childhood Generalist)
- Classroom teacher working in an English as a Second Language inclusion setting
- Instructional coach, mentored novice ESL teachers and provided professional development for teachers grades Pre K-5.