The Need
The reading education of English Language Learners (ELL) is one of the most important issues in education today.  The pace of immigration has dramatically increased the ELL population in our schools.  Close to 20% of all students in the U. S. come from homes in which English is not the primary language spoken. The vast majority of ELL students in the U. S. are of Hispanic origin.

The Challenge
There are two schools of thought regarding effective programs for English Language learners (ELL). Both center on the language of instruction for students speaking languages other than English. Bilingual education proponents feel that children should be taught in their native language and then transitioned to English-only instruction. Some bilingual programs teach young children to read in both their native language and in English at different times of the day.  Immersion is an alternate philosophy. With immersion, we expect ELLs to learn English from the beginning, and their native language plays little role in daily reading lessons. Both types of programs have been proven successful in different situations. The quality of instruction  appears to be a key factor in ELL success.

The Solution
MindPlay offers educators working with English Language Learners (ELL) a three-fold solution with the programs: RAPS 360, My Reading Coach, and FLRT.

Reading Analysis and Prescription System (RAPS) will identify specific gaps in your ELL population. It will identify sounds, rules, and reading skills needed to provide a springboard for speech and reading growth.

My Reading Coach will directly instruct to fill reading gaps and teach students proper sound pronunciation, articulation, decoding, grammar, and reading. This targeted instruction builds confidence in speaking the English language and students translate these new skills to reading. The microphone feature helps the ELL hear and compare sounds and words.  Additionally, two modules are available to help ELLs who speak Spanish.  The basic module allows for directions and feedback to be in Spanish. The instruction module allows for English language instruction to be in Spanish.

FLRT will help your ELL population enjoy reading by dramatically improving their reading rate as they become confident speaking and reading English.  Students practice by reading decodable or authentic text to improve reading and vocabulary skills.