SWPR Group

English learners comprise 10.6% of public school students nationwide, and there is a growing need to ensure these 5.3 million students are served by programs.

Oregon set out to address this challenge in 2015 through landmark legislation. The grant-funded English Learner Outcome Program is one of the ways the state is improving outcomes among language-diverse students in smaller districts that may have a limited number of ESOL-endorsed teachers, and few, if any, dedicated EL teachers.

English Learner Specialist Ashley Harsin works in one such district. Her piece “How to Use Storytelling as a Phonics Resource for English Learners” in District Administration walks through the accessible, budget-friendly tools like Secret Stories she and her colleagues use. https://districtadministration.com/opinion/how-to-use-storytelling-as-a-phonics-resource-for-english-learners/

“EL students face a barrage of potential barriers as they work their way toward reading mastery,” she explains. “Making the journey more joyful through memorable songs, characters and visuals helps ease the frustration young learners experience, breaking down the confusing rules of English phonics into engaging, relatable moments.”

How to use storytelling as a phonics resource for English learners With all the phonics tools educators try, sometimes the solution is a story about cars and screeching brakes to capture students’ attention.