Resources
Publications
The National Center for Research on the Educational
Achievement and Teaching of English Language Learners
A research program funded by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education
CREATE briefs provide a closer look at the topics of CREATE’s research. They address current issues that are relevant to practitioners and other education professionals.
The SIOP Model: A Professional Development Framework for a Comprehensive School-Wide Intervention
This brief first describes individual interventions that CREATE researchers tested in middle school science, social studies, and language arts classrooms with English language learners over the course of the 2005-2009 school years. The brief then explains how the SIOP Model was used as a professional development framework to unite the separate research studies into a school-wide, comprehensive intervention that was implemented in the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years to support English language learners across the core content areas.
Read the brief online or download the PDF
Improving Reading Across Subject Areas With Word Generation
This brief describes a quasi-experimental study of Word Generation, conducted in public middle schools in Boston. Word Generation is a robust vocabulary intervention that is implemented across key subject areas. The purpose of the program is to enhance students’ vocabulary in support of improved reading comprehension. The brief outlines the details of the intervention and explains how it increases the vocabulary development of all students, including English language learners.
Read the brief online or download the PDF
Effective Social Studies Instruction to Promote the Knowledge Acquisition and Vocabulary Learning of English Language Learners in the Middle Grades
This brief explains a CREATE intervention that incorporates literacy and language development activities into social studies instruction. It describes lessons designed to increase English language learners’ social studies knowledge while simultaneously improving their vocabulary acquisition and overall reading comprehension.
Read the brief online or download the PDF
Improving Science and Vocabulary Learning of English Language Learners
This brief reviews previous research related to the development of science knowledge and academic language in English language learners as well as the role of English language proficiency, learning in a second language, and first language knowledge in science learning. It also describes two successful CREATE interventions that build academic and discipline-specific vocabulary and science knowledge in English language learners.
Read the brief online or download the PDF.
Response to Intervention and English Learners
Response to Intervention (RTI) has emerged as a method for providing early academic assistance to students with difficulty learning. This brief outlines the tiered structure of RTI and how it can be implemented as an effective technique for teaching English learners who are having difficulty making academic progress. It touches on methods of assessment and instructional considerations, and it guides educators in tailoring this technique to fit the needs of English learners.
Read the brief online or download the PDF.
Using the SIOP Model to Improve Middle School Science Instruction
This brief provides an overview of the SIOP Model and highlights how teachers can develop content and language objectives, emphasize key vocabulary, promote interaction, and incorporate effective review and assessment techniques within the context of middle school science. It provides research-based examples and strategies in order to illustrate how teachers can plan for the successful integration of content and language in science lessons.