English Language Learners Essay -- Education, ESL

Presently there is a rising number of English Language Learners (ELLs) entering into classrooms all over the country. According to the three research studies that I utilized, there are several varied assessment approaches for teaching ELLs in reading (Davis-Lenski, Ehlers-Zavala, Daniel, & Sun-Irminger, 2006; Dreher, & Letcher-Gray, 2009; Ebe, 2010). English Language Learners (ELLs) consistently struggle with some aspects of reading because, they lack background knowledge in terms of the generalized text selections, which they are often given (Davis-Lenski, Ehlers-Zavala, Daniel, & Sun-Irminger, 2006; Dreher, & Letcher-Gray, 2009; Ebe, 2010). The data across all three journal documents agrees that there is an achievement gap where ELLs are consistently performing at lower levels than their native-born English-speaking peers (Davis-Lenski, Ehlers-Zavala, Daniel, & Sun-Irminger, 2006; Dreher, & Letcher-Gray, 2009; Ebe, 2010). Researchers seem to vary on how to instruct, and assess st udents who are ELLs. One element that all of the authors concentrated on was seeking out the best practice(s) for using assessments to create effective instruction for ELLS (Davis-Lenksi, Ehlers-Zavla, Daniel, & Sun-Irminger, (2006), Dreher, & Letcher-Gray (2009) and Ebe 2010). There are 4.5 million ELLS currently enrolled in the public school systems in the United States, and the numbers are continuously rising due to the more than 1 million people who immigrant here each year (Davis-Lenski, Ehlers-Zavala, Daniel, & Sun-Irminger, 2006). Many teachers find themselves in unknown territory when it comes to instructing and assessing ELLs (Davis-Lenski, Ehlers-Zavala, Daniel, & Sun-Irminger, 2006). The passing of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) furth... ...lready stated, and all of them also have different assessment approaches included in their articles too. After reading all of the information I must say I think that all of the assessments, and the strategies and tools associated with the articles, are all borne out of research-based instructional, and assessment methods and therefore; they are all relevant to working with ELLs per literacy (Davis-Lenski, Ehlers-Zavala, Daniel, & Sun-Irminger, 2006; Dreher, & Letcher-Gray, 2009; Ebe, 2010). I don’t think any one of the assessments profiled in the three articles I researched, is anything better than the other. However I also think that although all of the techniques discussed are good solid research-based assessment tools; one still has to understand that they will require applications which are well structured, and the most appropriate for that specific student.