A Guide to the Best PreK–12 ESL Workbooks & Resources
When working with English language learners (ELL students), using a workbook can be an effective tool and provide additional learning benefits. The issue becomes, which is the best one to use? A Google search will show a plethora of results, but it’s hard to know what to choose. That’s why we’ve compiled this helpful list of the best ESL workbooks for ELL students and other helpful resources for teachers.
Why are Workbooks Beneficial for ELL Students?
Learning grammar and vocabulary can be a difficult task for any student. It can be exceptionally challenging for ELLs who are also navigating a language barrier. Workbooks can be a helpful resource for your ELL students as they offer several benefits in and out of the classroom.
- They can be used as a formative assessment.
Workbooks can help teachers evaluate students’ progress and see where they are falling behind or where they are advancing appropriately. They can use the data from the assessment to determine the areas where students need extra support. - They offer reinforcement for specific skills.
Many workbooks are designed to reinforce learning specific skills, such as grammar or fractions. Some ELL students might be struggling with the material and feel hesitant to answer questions out loud in class. Having workbooks provides a safe space by giving them the opportunity to answer questions without an audience. - They can provide differentiation for various learning levels.
No two students learn the same way, so it is beneficial to have a variety of classroom resources. Workbooks can help teachers change lesson plans if they see a student is having difficulties with a skill. Workbooks may have guided practice in addition to independent practice so that each student receives the support he or she needs. - They can be used outside of school to review classroom learning.
Students can also use workbooks outside of school time, as homework or to reinforce learning over breaks. This is another way that students can start building confidence in their English language skills.
ESL Workbooks from Continental
Continental Press has workbooks specifically for ELL students ranging from PreK through grade 12.
Newcomer Skills
On Our Way to Reading—Newcomers
On Our Way to Reading—Newcomers helps students build their foundational reading skills through engaging lessons. It is recommended for grades PreK–3.
- Promotes listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills
- Audio features available
- Vocabulary picture cards provided for visual reinforcement
- Differentiation activities included
Ready, Set, Go! Newcomers Kits
Ready, Set, Go!—Newcomers provides language-centered ESL activities for students to develop vocabulary and life skills. It is recommended for grades 3–12.
- Provides reading, writing, and speaking activities to develop language mastery
- Sequential workbook series to gradually build skills
- Interactive eBooks available with audio, self-recording, online answering, and performance reports
- WIDA PRIME V2™ Correlation
Academic Language Skills
TEAM Toolkits: Teaching ELs for Academic Language Mastery
TEAM Toolkits for grades K–12 feature activities in listening, reading, writing, and speaking to help ELLs develop academic language for their grade level. The kits are designed to be adaptable and support teaching in mainstream classrooms and specialized ESL programs.
- Offers language differentiation strategies for every level of learning
- Visual support in workbooks and Picture Dictionary
- Cross-curricular content to correlate with the general education classroom
- Interactive eBooks available with audio, self-recording, online answering, and performance reports
- WIDA PRIME V2™ Correlation
Writing Skills
My Language Journal
My Language Journal is a series of personal journals that give ELLs the opportunity to practice their writing skills and develop their vocabulary through visual learning activities. My Language Journal can be used for grades K–12.
- Uses personal writing prompts to engage ELLs
- Customizable word logs to make learning meaningful
- Topics for social emotional learning (SEL) and content areas
- Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary support
The Write Track for English Learners
The Write Track for English Learners focuses on writing development to help ELLs develop written communication skills and gain confidence with classroom writing assignments and state testing requirements. It is designed for grades K–12 and English language proficiency levels 2–5.
- Provides comprehensive instruction for a variety of writing areas
- Step-by-step instruction with guided practice and peer review
- Correlated to English language development (ELD) standards
- Interactive eBooks with online answering, instant scoring for immediate feedback, performance reports
Fundamentals of English
Practice Exercises in Basic English
Practice Exercises in Basic English is designed to give ELLs extra support in fundamental English skills, like grammar, usage, and word study skills. This series is recommended for grades 1–8.
- Offers guided practice for specific objectives
- Single-skill lessons
- Alpha leveled books
- Reviews for quick assessment
Exploring English Grammar
Exploring English Grammar provides short, in-context lessons to strengthen your ELLs’ grammar skills. Students can apply their language skills in reading and writing activities. This series is recommended for grades 3–8.
- Promotes meaningful application of grammar skills
- Cross-curricular topics make it easy to coordinate lessons with general classroom teacher
- Grammar handbook provided
- Consistent, easy-to-follow lesson format
K-12 ELP Assessments
Finish Line for ELLs 2.0
This series is for grades 1–12 and is for English learners who are taking state ELP assessments. With the practice in Finish Line for ELLs 2.0, students can improve their language performance and become familiar with tested items before the exam. The data from each lesson can be used to evaluate students and identify learning gaps.
- Increases proficiency levels of the questions within each lesson to promote advancement
- Format mirrors the WIDA’s ACCESS for ELLs® exam
- Parent letters provided in multiple languages
- Extension activities provided for all language levels
Improve your English learners' performance across the language domains and familiarize them with items tested on WIDA’s ACCESS for ELLs® exam.
View Product →5 Online ELL Resources to Help Teachers & Students
Trying to find online ELL resources can be a daunting task due to the amount of time it takes to wade through results. And for a teacher, time is in short supply. Here are some online resources to get you started.
1. Continental
Continental offers its own resource center for ELL teachers. It includes videos, blogs from ELL educators, and classroom activities that you can incorporate into your lessons. Teachers can shop for Continental’s ELL materials to meet every student’s language needs.
2. Colorín Colorado
Colorín Colorado is a bilingual website for both ELL teachers and ELL families. It offers guides for teachers from how to set up an ELL classroom to how to advocate for your students. The website also has ELL resources organized by state.
3. English Learners Success Forum
The English Learners Success Forum has a section devoted to ESL resources for both math and language. It includes how-to guides, different sample lessons, activities, and blogs. These activities can be sorted by grade level and subject so teachers can easily find material relevant to them.
4. Student Training & Education in Public Service (Steps)
Student Training & Education in Public Service (Steps) also has an online resource center for ELL students, teachers, and ELL families. It lists different apps, quizzes and games. There are also links to tutorials, audiobooks, tutoring services, and helpful articles. The skill level is listed with each activity so it’s easy to find the right activity for a class.
5. ESLVideo.com
For a video-based lesson, ESLVideo.com offers video-based quizzes to help ESL students develop listening and comprehension skills. Participants watch a short video and answer the accompanying quiz. Videos range from pop culture movies, songs, and TV shows to TED talks.
Using these resources can help teachers create customized lesson plans for their students and be able to successfully support them in their language development.
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