Spread the loveEnglish learners can become English readers and writers quickly by emphasizing their assets, focusing on phonics, and delivering appropriate interventions. By Lydia Rodriguez-Vaughn At Somerton Elementary School District No. 11 in Arizona, approximately 88% of our students are Hispanic or Latino. English language learners make up about 30% of the student population, though that number only tells part of the story. Home language surveys show that about 80% of Somerton’s students live in homes where another language is spoken, usually Spanish. Furthermore, the English language learners are concentrated in our earliest grades—the same years when their peers are … Continue reading To Help English Learners Become Readers, Focus on Phonics