THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND WORLD LANGUAGES
Elisa Alvarez, Associate Commissioner
1
English Language Learner Resource Collection
(updated as of 5/24/2020)
In response to New York State school closings due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the
Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages (OBEWL) at the New York State Education
Department (NYSED) has collected resources for educators to provide continuity of instruction for
English Language Learners (ELLs) and World Language students. We are also providing educational
resources for students and parents to continue moving ELLs
toward English proficiency in the
absence of face-to face classroom instruction, and to support their remote learning of core content
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A guiding principle of The Blueprint for English Language Learner Success is that “ALL teachers are
teachers of ELLs.” Given instructional interruptions due to the COVID-19 emergency, providing
appropriate supports and scaffolds to ELLs is more crucial than ever. Utilizing resources such as
those below with fidelity will allow our ELLs to not only move forward in obtaining English
proficiency but also in mastering content area knowledge.
The following resources will enable teachers to adapt and develop lessons and units of study to
meet the needs of ELLs at all levels of proficiency and develop appropriate scaffolds for use in the
virtual classroom. However, please keep in mind that this list of resources is not intended to be
exhaustive, and the inclusion of a resource does not denote endorsement by, nor an affiliation with,
the New York State Education Department.
We urge teachers and districts to also reach out to their
Regional Bilingual Educational
Resource Network (RBERN) for further guidance regarding instruction
for ELLs and World
Languages students, in order that they can be supported to the greatest extent possible during this
unprecedented challenge.
The resources listed are provided as options and examples only, in an attempt to provide helpful
information. NYSED does not require, recommend, endorse, or advise on any specific program or
product. All instructional decisions are made at the local level.
*Entries marked with an asterisk are resources created for the general education classroom. They
have been included here as they are also appropriate for supporting ELLs, educators and families.
THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND WORLD LANGUAGES
Elisa Alvarez, Associate Commissioner
2
General Instructional Resources for ELLs
Name/Link Description
Strategies & Resources
for EL Distance Learning
Practical strategies and resources to teach Els (online Padlet) from
SupportEd
PBS Resources for
Emergency School
Closings*
Resources organized by grade and subject area including videos,
lesson plans, and activities that support learning at home.
Newsela* Classroom materials with authentic content.
Starfall*
Educational games, movies, books and songs for children in
Kindergarten through 3
rd
grade in reading, phonics, and math.
Merlot
Humanities, World Languages, and English as a New Language
teacher resources including lesson plans.
NYSED - Glossaries for
ELLs
Glossaries are a test accommodation for ELLs in New York State and
provide classroom support in content areas. Translated into the top
10 languages of NY State.
Literacy Center*
Pre-reading materials focusing on letters, numbers, shapes, and
colors. Available in Spanish, French, German, and English.
The City College of NY
Lesson plans and resources for bilingual, English as New Language,
and World Language teachers.
New York Times* Newspaper articles written in simplified English.
COMMONLIT*
Reading program for students in grades 3 through 12 with high-
interest informational and literary texts.
Oswego City School
District - My ENL Page
Resources for English Language Learners, including SIFE.
The Teaching Channel
Visual Scaffolding tips for
ELLs
Tips for scaffolding language for ELLs in order to meet content
objectives.
The EFL Playhouse
Resources for teachers of young ELLs including educational games,
songs, fingerplays, action rhymes, craft ideas, printable materials, and
tongue twisters.
THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND WORLD LANGUAGES
Elisa Alvarez, Associate Commissioner
3
Name/Link Description
BBC Learning in English
Multimedia teaching materials for ELLs that can be used as full-length
units or standalone lessons.
Hudson Valley RBERN
Distance Learning for ELL
Resources
Spreadsheet geared toward helping teachers of ELLs help their
students in a home learning environment and is being updated
regularly.
Colorín Colorado
Reading Tip Sheets for
Educators
Tip sheets for reading instruction in grades 4 through 12 including
information on what to do first, vocabulary, and age-appropriate
reading strategies. Available in English and Spanish.
NYSED - ELL Scaffolds for
ELA & Math
Guides for ELA and Mathematics instructors on scaffolding the Engage
NY curriculum for ELLs of differing proficiency levels including
examples of how to apply the New Language Arts Progressions.
Listenwise*
Podcast non-fiction lessons and a library of listening comprehension
quizzes for the classroom.
NYSED Targets of
Measure for ELLs
Documents that describe what students should be able to do in each
grade band to ensure instruction and assessment are aligned with
these targets. Files are provided by each modality.
Readworks*
Content, curriculum, and tools for teaching and learning from
Kindergarten to 12th Grade
Brainpop ELL
Interactive animated video lessons on grammar and vocabulary in all
four modalities including a placement assessment and quizzes.
Unite for Literacy*
Non- fiction picture books with audio narration in English and many
other languages.
NYSED - Bilingual
Progressions
The New Language Arts Progressions and Home Language Arts
Progressions provide a framework for teachers to ensure that
students in English as a New Language and Bilingual Education
programs are meeting the standards.
THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND WORLD LANGUAGES
Elisa Alvarez, Associate Commissioner
4
Virtual Learning Resources for ELLs
Name/Link Description
Colorin Colorado
Distance Learning for
ELLs
This resource section includes numerous articles, blog posts, and links
to online networks with tips for planning distance learning for English
language learners (ELLs). New resources will be added as they
become available.
SEAL - 6 Considerations
for Supporting ELLs with
Distance Learning
Guidance on key factors for teaching ELLs in a virtual environment.
TNTP Supporting ELLs
during the COVID-19
Shutdown
Extensive guidance on providing distance learning for ELLs during
COVID-19 shutdowns.
AFT Supporting English
Learners During the
COVID-19 Pandemic
A collection of resources including social emotional considerations,
lesson sharing and supporting ELLs with disabilities.
Immigrant Connection
ELL Family Engagement
During Coronavirus
A resource collection focused on family support and engagement
during COVID-19 crisis.
Talking Points
Free translation software platform to support schools in
communicating with families in various languages.
TESOL Coronavirus
Resources
A variety of resources for educators and students focused on distance
learning.
Project Zero
Activities for use in virtual classrooms and for home learning at all
grade levels.
THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND WORLD LANGUAGES
Elisa Alvarez, Associate Commissioner
5
Math Resources for ELLs
Name/Link Description
NYSED - Translated
Modules for Math
Curriculum
NYSED mathematics curriculum modules translated into the top
languages spoken in New York State, including Spanish, Chinese
(Simplified and Traditional), Arabic, Bengali, and Haitian Creole.
Hudson Valley RBERN
Math ELL Support
Strategies for ELLs in the math classroom.
Mid-West RBERN ELLs
and Mathematics
Best practices for the content areas, including and strategies for
teaching math to ELLs.
Mathematical Thinking
Mathematical Supports
for ELLs
Supports designed for math educators of ELLs in the middle grades
including 14 mathematics tasks from and support tools for each task.
AAAknow.com* Interactive arithmetic lessons in over 100 languages.
Illustrative Mathematics
Resources for
Mathematics Educators*
Self-guided resources for mathematics educators to supplement
professional learning.
ELA Resources for ELLs
Name/Link Description
Empowering ELLs
Language Scaffolds-
Lowering the Barriers to
Comprehension
Examples of implementing sensory, interactive graphics, language,
and emotional scaffolding.
Edutopia - 6 Scaffolding
Strategies to Use with
Your Students*
Information on supporting students by putting information into
chunks and providing a structure for each.
NYSED Guide for Aligning
local Curricula to the
Next Gen ELA Standards
This guide is designed to support school districts and educators as
they implement the Next Generation English Language Arts Learning
Standards.
THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND WORLD LANGUAGES
Elisa Alvarez, Associate Commissioner
6
Social Studies Resources for ELLs
Name/Link Description
TESOL Intl Challenges for
ELLs in the Social Studies
Classroom
Overview of understanding the challenges for ELLs in a social studies
classroom. Provides scaffolds and strategies for student success and
understanding.
NYU Steinhardt ELLs and
Social Studies
Discusses effective strategies for teaching content and language in
social studies including using students’ culture and prior knowledge.
Colorin Colorado
Preparing Engaging Social
Studies Lessons for ELLs
Describes strategies for planning social studies lessons with ELLs in
mind, with an emphasis on building background knowledge.
Science Resources for ELLs
Name/Link Description
Community Resources for
Science*
Resources for science learning experiences. Includes distance learning
information.
Because Science*
Real-world science concepts to help solve, measure, and make sense
of pop culture questions using comics, video games, movies, and TV.
Mid-West RBERN ELLs
and Science
Overview of ELL strategies for science including vocabulary learning
and mini lesson planning.
University of Nebraska-
Lincoln - Scaffolding
Science Inquiry
Instruction
Scaffolding instruction for science based on Vygotsky’s theory on the
zone of proximal development (ZPD).
NYU Steinhardt ELLs and
Science
Effective strategies for teaching content and language in science using
students’ prior knowledge and culture.
Colorin Colorado
Science Instruction for
ELLs
Articles and resources regarding Science instruction for ELLs including,
Using Science to Develop ELL Language Skills and
Communication/Language Strategies for the Science Inquiry
Classroom.
THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND WORLD LANGUAGES
Elisa Alvarez, Associate Commissioner
7
Resources for Parents of ELLs
Name/Link Description
Reading Rockets Reading
Tips for Parents*
Tips for parents to help students become successful readers in
multiple Languages. Tips are divided by age but can be used based on
student’s abilities.
NYSED - Parents’ Bill of
Rights and ELL Parent
Hotline
Summarizes rights concerning educational access and programming
for ELLs. Translated into 27 languages.
Hotline for parents of ELLs to learn about their rights and the delivery
of services for their children based on state regulations. It also
provides a mechanism for parents to receive responses to specific
inquiries about the delivery of these services. Parent Hotline provides
services in the ten languages: Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Bengali,
Russian, Haitian Creole, Urdu, French, Karen, and Nepali.
NYSED - A Guide for
Parents of English
Language Learners in
New York State
Guide includes Bilingual Education and English as a New Language
program descriptions, Frequently Asked Questions , links to ELL
parent resources, and tips on “Participating in Your Child’s
Education.” Translated into 26 Languages.
NYSED - A Guide to
Community-Based
Organizations for
Immigrants
Guide to organizations by region throughout New York State. Services
include, advocacy/community engagement, health care/insurance,
housing, employment, legal services, public assistance, and safety.
Guides are translated into ten languages.
NYSED - Participating in
Your Child's Education
Information for parents of ELLs on how they can help their child
succeed in school.
NYSED - Roadmap to
College for English
Language Learners
An interactive College Access Guide for English Language Learners in
New York State. Roadmap is available in nine languages.
NYSED - Exemplars for
ELLs K-2
Exemplars focusing on skills and l routines introduced in kindergarten,
first and second grade.
NYSED - Links for ELLs,
Parents, and Families
Resource links and information for ELL families.
THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND WORLD LANGUAGES
Elisa Alvarez, Associate Commissioner
8
Resources for ELLs (Students)
Name/Link Description
ESL Lounge Student
Grammar, reading, listening, and vocabulary exercises for students at
different English levels.
ESL Kids World
Printable worksheets, Flashcards, Songs, Phonics, Games, and
PowerPoints and for English as a New Language and World Languages
lesson planning.
English Club
Test your English with quizzes on grammar, vocabulary and
pronunciation. Go online or use a phone, tablet or desktop. Quizzes
can be printed and completed offline too.
National Geographic
Kids*
Magazines, books and videos offering stories available in 41
languages that enable students to better understand the world.
The Fable Cottage*
Stories told in English. Most stories are also available
in Spanish, French, Italian, and German.
THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND WORLD LANGUAGES
Elisa Alvarez, Associate Commissioner
9
SIFE Resources
Name/Link Description
Colorin Colorado External resources supporting ELLs that are SIFE.
Mutually Adaptive
Learning Paradigm
(MALP)
Prior education assessment questionnaires in multiple languages.
NYSED - SIFE Resources
NYSED resources available for Students with Interrupted/Inconsistent
Formal Education (SIFE).
Learning Chocolate*
Web site featuring exercises to practice vocabulary and listening
skills.
Mid-State RBERN SIFE
Resources
Multiple resources for different ELL subpopulations.
NYSED/CUNY Graduate
Center - Bridges SIFE
Curriculum
Includes resources designed for current Bridges teachers and
administrators using the sheltered ENL/ELA curriculum.
NYSED/CUNY Graduate
Center - Bridges SIFE
Virtual Resources
Resources to aid teachers in virtual instruction including web-based
texts, audio guides, and vocabulary cards.
NYSED/CUNY Graduate
Center - Bridges SIFE
Manual
Guides for the identification and differentiation of ELLs/SIFE,
assessment, programming, and instructional methods.
NYSED/CUNY Graduate
Center - Bridges SIFE
Instructional Videos
Video topics include: “Read, Retell, Respond with Multilingual
Students,” “Teaching English Syntax to SIFE with Developing Literacy,”
and Literacy Centers for Multilingual Students
