If you are looking for some English language learner (ELL) resources to dig into this summer, you are in the right place! Here are 10 ideas that you can use for your own professional learning or to share with colleagues.
1. ELL Strategy Library
Our ELL Strategy Library is one of our most popular resources! You can browse, search, and filter strategies to see what's available, and we continue to add new strategies. Recent additions include:
- Vocabulary Instruction
- Building Background Knowledge
- Multilingual Glossaries
- Teaching Map Skills
- Anchor Charts
- Wait Time
Some ideas include:
- Familiarize yourself with a new strategy every day! With more than three dozen to choose from, you could work your way through the whole library over the summer.
- Dig into a topic you've been wanting to learn more about, such as writing, vocabulary, or peer learning.
- Identify (and bookmark) strategies you can share with colleagues during any summer or fall training sessions.
In addition, don't miss our slide decks that offer free, turnkey professional development sessions you can use to introduce the library and highlight key strategies to colleagues.
2. Content-Area Collections
We have three new content-area collections that focus on math, science, and social studies. The collections include tip sheets, updated articles, and for math and science, new slide decks for professional learning. These are great resources to share with colleagues in the fall.
3. Literacy Instruction for ELLs
We continue to update our literacy resources. Our ELL Literacy Resource Collection highlights several articles and videos you can use to support your learning. We are in the process of expanding the topics featured in our Reading 101 for ELLs article and so far have produced the following articles, which also include tip sheets and slide decks:
- Phonics Instruction for English Language Learners
- Vocabulary Instruction for English Language Learners
4. AI for ELLs
As the world of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve, we are working on materials to help ELL educators navigate this topic. Our AI resources focus on questions and concerns, as well as ideas for instruction and lesson planning. Stay tuned for more resources over the summer!
5. The Role of ELL Educators
ELL educators play a unique role within their schools and districts. These resources highlight that role and expertise. Explore resources in this collection about co-teaching, coaching, teacher leadership, teacher evaluation, and more!
6. Special Education: Video Gallery
This video gallery features several of our expert video clips focused on special education and ELLs. These are great clips to use for training, professional development, and advocacy in your setting.
7. ELL Family Engagement
We have many dynamic resources to support multilingual family engagement, including articles that support best practices, multilingual tip sheets, and multilingual video collections. We also have an updated guide on partnering with immigrant families. Use these resources to prepare for the coming year and back-to-school outreach.
8. ELL Policy Guide
Serving Multilingual Learners: Laws, Policies, and Regulations is a guide from Colorín Colorado that provides an accessible summary of federal laws governing multilingual learners' education. You can use this document and its related materials for training, collaboration, and dissemination among administrators, colleagues, and the entire school community.
9. Colorín Colorado Book Finder
Our Book Finder allows you to search for books by categories such as age, topic, award, and special population. We are still adding books from our themed booklists to the database. Take some time to get familiar with the collection and look for some books you may be able to use during the year or add to a classroom library. Many titles will be available to preview in local libraries and bookstores. Others may need to be ordered from publishers or online bookstores.
10. Colorín on the Go
Colorín on the Go is a web app from Colorín Colorado for teachers of English language learners (ELLs)! It offers more than 100 practical, shareable strategies and resources featuring our most popular content. No download is needed and you can access it with a link or QR code.
Bonus Resources
To see the latest resources from Colorín Colorado, check out our Best of 2025 Resource Collection, which highlights additional articles and resources published this year on topics including early childhood education, experienced multilingual (long-term ELLs), and more! We also have a special featured interview with Missy Testerman, the 2024 National Teacher of the Year.
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