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Podcasts

Every Teacher is a Language Teacher

In this podcast, I speak with leaders of the Colorado Conference of the International Reading Association (CCIRA) about actionable steps teachers can take to create effective literacy and language instruction. Learn practical strategies for developing vocabulary and how to purposefully plan to support students in reading, writing, and speaking. Listen…
Beth Skelton
June 24, 2021
Uncategorized

Teaching ELLs Online: How to Develop Students’ Language Skills

This blog post first appeared on the ColorinColorado website. How can educators of English language learners (ELLs) provide students with ample opportunities for language development in online settings? This article and the related slide deck offers some concrete tips and strategies to continue developing language skills in a virtual setting, including…
Beth Skelton
March 13, 2021
Webinars

The Language of Math

Learn about some of the issues ELLs face when learning math in this hour long webinar sponsored by Mountain BOCES. The webinar link includes a detailed handout.
Beth Skelton
November 2, 2020
Podcasts

Planning like a Language Specialist

In this interview on the Empowering LLs podcast, I speak with Tan Huynh about a basic 4-step process that all content teachers can use to plan their lessons with a focus on language development. You can read Tan's summary of our interview in Middle Web in the article "How to…
Beth Skelton
October 25, 2020
Podcasts

The 6 C’s of Offline Learning

In this podcast, Mia Ariela Allen and I talk with Tan Huynh about supporting language learners with limited access to online learning. We also discuss how to implement what has worked well with distance learning into face to face classes in the future.
Beth Skelton
May 9, 2020
Uncategorized

Offline Learning at Home: Ideas for Language Learners

This blog post first appeared on the ColorinColorado website on April 17, 2020 during school closures due to the Corona virus.... Amidst the current COVID-19 crisis, most schools around the world have closed their doors and opted to reach their learning community through remote or online options. This shift to…
Beth Skelton
April 18, 2020
Uncategorized

At home, low-tech learning activities

As I write this post, a gentle spring snow is falling, the fire in the wood stove is warming the house, my husband is baking bread, and my daughter is practicing cello. If I didn’t know why we were all home together on this mid-March weekday, it would seem idyllic.…
Beth Skelton
March 19, 2020
Uncategorized

A Reflection on Learning Content in a New Language

Last week, I had the opportunity to participate in a workshop at the Danish Multikulterelle Skole Konference after my keynote address in Nyborg, Denmark. The session was facilitated by Helene Thise and Katja Vilien, the authors of a new Danish book on language teaching strategies, Broen Til Fagsproget or Bridge…
Beth Skelton
November 27, 2019
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The Power of Language Growth Plans

Many schools and districts across the US have begun developing language growth plans for their language learners. These plans, also called Individual Language Plans, have the potential to motivate students and accelerate their learning. Because there are so many components to language acquisition, having manageable goals in listening, speaking, reading,…
Beth Skelton
September 22, 2019
Webinars

Building Academic Vocabulary

In this 30-minute webinar for the 2019 VirtuEL Conference, I demonstrate practical strategies for teaching academic language. Learn why and how to teach essential vocabulary as well as some ideas on which words to teach. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUJULSPw-UA
Beth Skelton
June 15, 2019
Podcasts

Teach the Text Backwards

In this interview with Monica Genta, another educational consultant. I provide two tips on making content lessons more accessible to English Language Learners. 1) Teach the Text Backwards, a strategy for making content comprehensible from the Center for Applied Linguistics 2) Plan a lesson with a focus on language development.
Beth Skelton
May 29, 2019
Uncategorized

Planning for Language Development

Much of my work with teachers this past school year has focused on the power of lesson planning for language development. In this blog post, I will explain how to use a simple tool to add a language focus to any lesson plan and provide the necessary scaffolds and supports…
Beth Skelton
April 4, 2019