The 6 Principles for Exemplary Teaching of English Learners®: Grades K-12

Resource Page

This page complements the second edition of the book, The 6 Principles for Exemplary Teaching of English Learners: Grades K-12. Resources from the first edition can be found here.

Organized by book chapter, these additional materials and resources can help you learn more about the 6 Principles and how to implement them in your classroom, program, or school. For the purposes of a book study group or self-reflection, discussion questions for each chapter are provided.

The 6 Principles were developed by a team of language experts. Grounded in research and with contributions and support from educators around the world, the TESOL Board of Directors, and TESOL Staff, these principles are the result of years of exploration, inquiry, conversation, and collaboration.

The 6 Principles Writing Team:

  • Deborah J. Short, Lead Writer
  • Wing Shuen (Alice) Lau
  • Helene Becker
  • Nancy Cloud
  • Andrea B. Hellman
  • Linda New Levine
  • Fatima Aldajani

For additional resources and information on The 6 Principles, please visit The Principles and Products pages.

 

Chapter 1. A Vision for Exemplary Teaching
The 6 Principles Quick Overview:
Video: An Overview of the 6 Principles with Deborah Short
 
In TESOL’s Vision:
  • Curricula for multilingual learners of English are rigorous, relevant, and designed and delivered with second language learning in mind.
  • Multilingual learners of English, including learners with special needs, have access to all programs and services.
  • All educational personnel assume responsibility for the education of multilingual learners of English.
  • All educational personnel
    • respect, affirm, and promote students’ home languages and cultural knowledge and experiences as resources;
    • celebrate multilingualism and diversity;
    • support policies that promote individual language rights and multicultural education; and
    • help prepare students to be global citizens.
  • TESOL professionals are recognized as specialists with accurate knowledge, skills, and dispositions for providing high-quality English language teaching.
  • TESOL professionals are valued by colleagues and other educators for their expertise and consulted in instructional, programming, and policy decision-making.

TESOL International Association’s commitment to these characteristics of effective English language education programs are reflected in its DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access) Initiative.

Discussion Questions for Chapter 1

Chapter 2. What Teachers Should Know about English Language Development to Plan Instruction
Video: What Teachers Should Know about Learning with Andrea Hellman
 
TESOL Pre-K-12 English Language Proficiency Standards:

Learn more about TESOL’s PreK-12 standards HERE.

Video: Three Critical Components for the Effective Education of Multilingual Learners of English

 

Video: Proficiency in a New Language
 
The Types of Words to Learn
Video: Translanguaging
 
Discussion Questions for Chapter 2

Chapter 3. The 6 Principles for Exemplary Teaching of English Learners
Video: Principle 3 with Linda New Levine
 

The following links are resources that can help with implementing the 6 Principles in the classroom:

Below are sample activities that can help apply specific principles in your instruction.

Classroom Activities that Support Principle 1: Know Your Learners

Try these activities from books in the popular New Ways Series from TESOL Press:

Try these activities from the TESOL Resource Center (TRC):

Try some Colorín Colorado activities: Getting to Know Immigrant Students and Families

Classroom Activities that Support Principle 2: Create Conditions for Language Learning

Try these activities from the TESOL Resource Center (TRC):

Try this activity from New Ways in Teaching with Humor from TESOL Press: Scientific Conference Who's Coming

Try some Colorín Colorado activities: Create a Welcoming Classroom

Classroom Activities That Support Principle 3: Design High-Quality Lessons for Language Development

Try these activities from books in the New Ways Series from TESOL Press:

Try these activities from the TESOL Resource Center (TRC):

Classroom Activities That Support Principle 4: Adapt ​Lesson ​Delivery as ​Needed

Try the following activities from the New Ways Series and the TESOL Resource Center (TRC) if you notice your students need some targeted support with their writing skills:

Classroom Activities That Support Principle 5: Monitor and ​Assess ​Student ​Language ​Development

Try these activities from books in the popular New Ways Series from TESOL Press:

Try these activities from the TESOL Resource Center (TRC): Incorporating Content and Language in Assessment

Try the activity below from Assessing English Learners in U.S. Schools (Farnsworth & Malone, 2014): Picture Retelling
It offers a formative assessment rubric that elementary teachers can use to determine student ability to retell texts.

Try some Colorín Colorado activities: Using Informal Assessments for English Language Learners 

Activities That Support Principle 6: Engage and ​Collaborate within a ​Community of ​Practice

Read the blog by Linda New Levine: Teachers as Learning Partners: Implementing Principle 6

Become more engaged in your profession:

Video: Book Study with the 6 Principles
(Jannett DuHart, TESOL Advocacy & Policy Summit attendee)
Discussion Questions for Chapter 3

Chapter 4. Additional Roles for Teachers of English Learners
Video: Ways You Can Advocate for Your Students with Helene Becker
 

Chapter 4 discusses how teachers as advocates can provide a voice in five key areas: Academics, Social-emotional needs, Access to programs and opportunities, Support for families, Societal and legal issues. The following resources can help teachers incorporate the 6 Principles in their roles outside the classroom.

Academics, Access to Programs and Opportunities, and Societal and Legal Issues
Support for Families
Social-Emotional Needs
Additional Resources
Discussion Questions for Chapter 4

Chapter 5. Establishing a Culture of Shared Responsibility
Video: Shared Responsibility in Schools with Nancy Cloud

The following resources can support school staff in implementing the 6 Principles.

School Principals and Assistant Principals

How You Can Help to Fulfill Principle 1: Know Your Learners

How You Can Help Your School to Fulfill Principle 2: Create Conditions for Learning

Best Practices in Working with Translators and Interpreters

District Curriculum Directors

How You Can Help Your District to Fulfill Principle 1: Know Your Learners

How You Can Help Your District to Fulfill Principle 3: Design High Quality Lessons for Language Development

Special Education Directors and Gifted and Talented Program Directors

How You Can Help Your District to Fulfill Principle 1: Know Your Learners

How You Can Help Your District to Fulfill Principle 5: Monitor and Assess Student Language Development

Special Education and English Learners
Reading Specialists or Instructional Coaches How You Can Help Your District or School Fulfill

How You Can Help Your District or School Fulfill Principle 2: Create Conditions for Learning

How You Can Help Your District or School Fulfill Principle 3: Design High Quality Lessons for Language Development

How You Can Help Your District or School Fulfill Principle 6: Engage and Collaborate Within a Community of Practice

Paraeducators

How You Can Help Your District to Fulfill the 6 Principles

Technology Coordinators

How You Can Help Your District to Fulfill the 6 Principles

Librarians and Media Specialists

How You Can Help Your District or School Fulfill the 6 Principles

Guidance Counselors, Social Workers, and School Psychologists School Principals and Assistant Principals

How You Can Help Your District or School Fulfill the 6 Principles

Resources to Support Undocumented Families and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) Youth

Discussion Questions for Chapter 5

Chapter 6. Implementing The 6 Principles in Different Contexts

 The 6 Principles in Action Presentation Slides
Discussion Questions for Chapter 6

Additional Content & Resources
Overview of the Most Common Programs for English Learners in the United States
(This chart was included in the first edition of the 6 Principles: K–12 book.)
Appendix A: Common Acronyms in the Field of English Language Teaching
Appendix B: The 6 Principles Checklist for Teachers
Appendix C: Book Discussion Questions
Glossary
References
Teacher Leadership for School-Wide English Learning (SWEL)

The Teacher Leadership for School-Wide English Learning (SWEL) book and workshop series present a systematic framework for teacher professional learning and prepare language teachers to be site-based leaders in their schools, sharing their expertise with colleagues through collaborative discussions and observations.

TESOL ME (Modular Education): The 6 Principles Series

 

View more resources on the Products page.

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