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    Centering Bilingual Books in Every Literacy Classroom

    Valerie Butrón and Rita Guzmán
     | Jun 12, 2025

    Bilingual read aloud elementary

    As literacy coaches and bilingual educators, we work alongside teachers across a variety of classrooms: general education, bilingual, and special education. One of the most versatile and underutilized tools we see time and again is the bilingual picturebook. These books don't just support language learners—they elevate comprehension, vocabulary, and engagement for all students.

    Bilingual Books in General Education Classrooms

    In one first-grade classroom we supported, the teacher used a bilingual picturebook during a read-aloud even though none of her students spoke Spanish fluently. As she paused to ask comprehension questions and draw out vocabulary connections, students became highly engaged. Several began to notice cognates and root words, and one student proudly pointed out a Spanish word she'd seen on a sign in her neighborhood. That moment sparked a short writing activity where students shared words they knew from different languages. The teacher later told us it was one of the most energizing literacy blocks of the year.

    In Bilingual Classrooms: Building Bridges

    In a dual language classroom, bilingual books offer a seamless bridge between students’ home languages and academic content. One third-grade bilingual teacher used a picturebook about a cultural celebration to anchor both language and literacy standards. English-dominant and Spanish-dominant students participated in reciprocal read-alouds, switching languages and supporting one another in real time. This built not only fluency and comprehension, but also classroom community and confidence. The teacher noted that bilingual texts allowed students to bring their full linguistic selves into the learning space.

    For Special Education: Access and Affirmation

    In a special education resource room, a teacher used a bilingual book with side-by-side text to support a small group of students with IEPs. For one student with emerging English skills and a speech-language impairment, seeing the story in both languages helped reduce frustration and build confidence. The teacher paired the book with picture supports and sentence stems to scaffold comprehension. What surprised her most was how the visuals and rhythm of the bilingual text increased student participation and prompted spontaneous discussion—something rarely observed with more traditional leveled texts.

    Why It Works

    Valerie Butrón and Rita Guzmán readingBilingual books are rich with context, visuals, and rhythm—all powerful tools in supporting early literacy. When used intentionally, they:

    • Promote vocabulary development through repeated exposure and cross-linguistic connections
    • Support comprehension by engaging students in multiple modes (oral language, visuals, discussion)
    • Invite students to bring their backgrounds and interests into reading
    Even when teachers aren’t bilingual themselves, they can still use these books effectively. We’ve coached many educators on simple strategies like:
    • Previewing key vocabulary in both languages
    • Using visuals and gestures to support unfamiliar words
    • Encouraging students to share background knowledge or personal connections

    A Tool for All Classrooms

    Whether in general education, bilingual, or special education settings, bilingual picturebooks are not just for multilingual learners—they’re a high-impact tool for all students. They promote literacy through engagement, relevance, and inclusivity.It’s time we move bilingual books from the margins to the center of our literacy instruction. Not because it’s a trend or a cultural checkbox—but because it works.

    Valerie Butrón and Rita Guzmán, EdD, are co-founders of Tumbao Bilingual Books. They are experienced literacy coaches and former classroom teachers who support educators and districts across the country in designing effective and joyful language-rich instruction.

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    Writing as Play: Engaging Elementary Students

    Literacy Today magazine: Reflecting Every Reader
    As literacy coaches and bilingual educators, we work alongside teachers across a variety of classrooms: general education, bilingual, and special education. One of the most versatile and underutilized tools we see time and again is the bilingual...Read More
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    Writing as Play: Engaging Elementary Students

    Morgan Brandt
     | Jun 05, 2025
    Elementary school notebooks

    A pastor at my church, Steve Treichler, recently shared, “People do that which is fun.” Though he was instructing on leadership-building qualities and how to get community members to engage, the same pithy insight applies in the classroom: If you want your students to be engaged, make it fun. Effective teachers know good writing instruction must include explicit, academic tasks, but if personalization and fun are absent from writing, we will quickly lose our students. Having fun not only increases engagement, it builds relational bonds, crafts memories, produces more resilient children, and, ultimately, results in kids enjoying school and learning. 

    As a current first grade teacher who has taught a range of elementary grades, I recognize that teachers today are faced with more pressure than ever. When faced with a shortage of time and a heavy load of standards, unfortunately, writing is often cut first for the sake of time. There is too much at stake if we lose budding, creative, unique writers and thinkers to a diet of only academic, serious writing, or cut it out altogether. In the name of joy, I make a case here to elevate practices of writing for authentic audiences, playing with words, and celebrating together.

    Involving Others

    Writing is an inherently social activity contrary to the mental image of a student writing independently at their desk. Partner writing, sharing published writing, and authentic audiences are an easy onramp to engage students in social, joyful, purposeful writing. Sharing writing builds teamwork and the writing community by allowing students to listen and learn from each other, take risks, give feedback, and exchange praise.

    Each year, I compile finished writing projects into class books that are available in the classroom library, which thereafter brings weeks of enjoying friends’ writing, all while fostering connections as classmates. Around each Valentine’s Day, I introduce letter writing to authentic audiences, which includes sending letters to people around school. This links writing to a meaningful purpose: To connect with those you care about. Writing a thank-you note to a cafeteria worker or setting up a classroom mailbox for letters to classmates goes a long way toward building students’ writing agency and excitement that their writing has the potential to brighten someone’s day. 

    A picture of a bookbag, composition notebook, plush toy, and book

    Writing as Play

    Beyond summaries, paragraphs, and essays, students need opportunities to laugh, make mistakes in a silly way, and stretch creative muscles in writing if we ever expect them to return on their own. Using mentor texts as a model for playful ideas is a surefire way to prime the pump of joy and creativity in young writers. After reading some excerpts from books like Scranimals by Jack Prelutsky or If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff, students get carried away in their own story creations modeled after a wonderful, out-of-the-box structure. A colleague even created an “If You Take a Mouse to School” home-to-school class book bag with a notebook and mouse stuffed animal (pictured above) to send home to families for the chance to continue the mouse’s adventure outside of the writing block by creating their own pages.

    From tying in games like Telestrations, where a small group alternates drawing and writing sentences, during indoor recess, to writing nonfiction facts as riddles to guess the object, to using silly words from a word bank to make poems, there are many simple writing activities that leverage fun. These are powerful, low-prep experiences that model to students we do not only write for academic purposes, but because writing allows us to think in new ways, bonds us together, and makes us laugh. Ultimately, we write because we enjoy it.

    Celebrating

    A bucket full of classroom foldersFinally, one of the best ways to create a culture of writers and ensure joy is to celebrate! Writers need to know that their work and thinking are celebrated, and worthy of shared delight. Often in my classroom, I elevate sharing at the end of a unit by the practice of the author’s chair, zhuzhed up with a red curtain projected on my screen. Intermediate elementary students love the prop of a microphone. After particularly satisfying journeys through the writing process, our class celebrates with a publishing party, complete with apple juice and popcorn to cheers each writer after they share in a small group of three to four peers. This celebratory sharing can also be modified to fit in a couple students at a time during morning meeting or closing circle, followed by finger snaps of recognition.

    Young writers deserve to experience joy, choice, and delight in writing if we expect them to share their thoughts beyond academic contexts and develop as thinkers and word lovers. Though writing does give us the skills to summarize and convey the main ideas of what we learn, to sever the craft from personal expression and reflection is doing a disservice. Students are academic learners, but they are also thinkers and feelers who must experience writing socially and joyfully if we ever expect them to write with their authentic voices throughout their lives. And isn’t the goal for children to use writing to tell someone they care, to bring about change in their communities, and to inspire joy no matter where life takes them?

    As a teacher who faces the Tetris puzzle of fitting in all of the academic demands, I urge teachers not to neglect the necessity of writing for fun. With some brainstorming, we can take simple steps to craft our students’ attitudes about writing to be social, playful, and celebratory in ways that keep young writers eagerly picking up their pencils with a smile.

    Morgan Brandt is a first grade teacher in Mounds View, Minnesota, where she loves fostering joy and play as her students learn. She has taught elementary grades 1-5 and holds bachelor's degrees in elementary education and Spanish education from the University of Northwestern, St. Paul, and a K-12 Reading License from Concordia University, St. Paul. She is currently pursuing a master's in literacy.

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    Finding Purpose Outside the Classroom: Motivating Adolescents in the Tier III Reading Setting 

    Literacy Today
     magazine: Reflecting Every Reader
    A pastor at my church, Steve Treichler, recently shared, “People do that which is fun.” Though he was instructing on leadership-building qualities and how to get community members to engage, the same pithy insight applies in the classroom: If...Read More
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    Danielle V. Dennis Named Vice President of ILA Board of Directors

    ILA Staff
     | May 27, 2025
    Headshot of Danielle DennisThe International Literacy Association (ILA) announced the results of the ILA 2025 Board Election today, introducing Danielle V. Dennis as the newly elected vice president of the Board.

    Dennis, dean of the College of Education at the University of Rhode Island, brings two decades of experience as a literacy professor and leader to the role.

    An ILA member for over 25 years, Dennis served as a member-at-large on the Board from 2020–2023, chairing the Publications Committee and serving as the Board liaison for editorial team searches for all three of ILA’s journals. In addition, Dennis was chair of the Timothy and Cynthia Shanahan Outstanding Dissertation Award Committee from 2021–2023; served as a member of the Program, Governance, and Fundraising Committees; and acted as the Board liaison to the Dyslexia Task Force. Dennis is currently serving on the Research Committee as well as chairing the Assessment Task Force. Her new term begins July 1, 2025.

    For twenty years, Dennis has been building and enriching school-university partnerships both in the United States and abroad. She has dedicated her career to supporting teacher development and exploring deep research in building teacher capacity in literacy through sustained professional development, the design and implementation of curriculum, and policy initiatives that enhance or inhibit equitable educational experiences of children and teachers, particularly as they relate to literacy assessment.

    “ILA plays a critical role in shaping literacy policy and practice around the world,” said Dennis. “As Vice President, I’m honored to continue collaborating with our members, councils, and global partners to advance our shared commitment to research-based instruction and equitable access to literacy for all learners.”

    Three new Board members-at-large were also elected for the 2025–2028 term:

    La Tasha FieldsLa Tasha D. Fields, professor at Madison College. She has been an ILA member since 2006, and currently serves on the boards of the Stritch Family Literacy Center and the Madison Reading Project. As an Adult Basic Education (ABE) reading instructor, Fields works closely with students and will soon serve as the 2025–2026 Director of Reading for Madison College. She has also served in leadership roles such as Milwaukee Area Reading Council President and Wisconsin State Reading Association Vice President and President.

    Headshot of Deborah MacPheeDeborah MacPhee, professor at the School of Teaching and Learning at Illinois State University. She has been an ILA member since 1999, and has worked as a literacy coach in two elementary schools; directed a university-based literacy center; and conducted research that critically examines discourses of literacy coaching, professional development school interactions, and metaphors in media of the science of reading. In 2023, MacPhee co-authored a book on literacy teaching and learning titled Learning to Be Literate: More Than a Single Story.

    Headshot of Margaret VaughnMargaret Vaughn, professor of Literacy, Language, and Technology at the College of Education at Washington State University. She has been an ILA member since 2009, serving as a reviewer and contributor for all three ILA journals. With research focused on equitable literacy practices and outreach, Vaughn has held several leadership positions in literacy organizations, including the Literacy Research Association, the United States Board on Books for Young People, and the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers. 

    Dennis, Fields, MacPhee, and Vaughn were elected by ILA’s membership during the ILA 2025 Board Election, which was conducted online between April 1 and April 30, 2025. The new vice president and members-at-large will begin their terms on July 1, 2025.
     
    The International Literacy Association (ILA) announced the results of the ILA 2025 Board Election today, introducing Danielle V. Dennis as the newly elected vice president of the Board. Dennis, dean of the College of Education at the University...Read More
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    Using Mentor Texts and AI to Transform Grammar Instruction: Part II

    Patty McGee
     | May 23, 2025
    Elementary students working on laptops

    Grammar worksheets ask, "Can you spot it?" Mini-inquiries ask, "Can you understand it?" However, the imitation and innovation experience asks the most important question: "Can you create with it?"

    Let's help students answer with a resounding "Yes!"

    Imitation and Innovation Method

    In grammar instruction, "imitation" is the practice of copying or repeating a grammatical structure to mimic a model sentence or pattern. "Innovation" is the active creation of new sentences or variations using the grammatical concept, demonstrating a deeper understanding through the application of the rule in novel ways, going beyond simple copying.

    Here is how imitation and innovation may unfold:

    • Select a portion of the mentor text that exemplifies the grammar concept you're teaching. If you are using the mentor text from this article, you may want to focus on varying sentence structure or building paragraphs. 
    • Together with students, analyze the sentence structures or grammar patterns used by the author.
    • Create a template based on the mentor text's grammatical framework. For example, if teaching complex sentences using When a tree is attacked by insects, it releases airborne chemical compounds to warn nearby trees of danger, you might extract the pattern: Subordinating conjunction: simple sentence: comma: simple sentence
    • Students then use this template to collaboratively write their own sentences, following the same grammatical structure but with original content. 
      As they gain confidence, encourage them to innovate beyond the template while maintaining correct grammar usage.
    This method allows students to practice applying grammar concepts directly, using the mentor text as scaffolding that can gradually be removed as their skills develop. (For even more, check out the Patterns of Power collection by Jeff Anderson and Whitney La Rocca.)

    A Few Friendly Tips

    After some trial and error, here's what I've learned:

    • Mentor texts do not work well when they are cold reads. Read the text aloud a few times so that students are able to do the work of a reader through understanding the content. Once the reading work is out of the way, it is easier to study how grammar is used.
    • Take it slow – don't try to tackle too many grammar concepts at once. It's like eating a delicious meal; you want to savor each bite.
    • Choose texts that speak to your students' hearts. If the content feels relevant to their lives, they'll be much more invested in exploring the grammar.
    • Remember that mentor texts are partners in grammar instruction, not replacements. We still need to explicitly demonstrate how to use grammar, but now we're giving context to why grammar matters.

    Your Turn: Transform Your Grammar Instruction Today

    Ready to revolutionize your grammar instruction? Take these three simple steps:

    • Commit to trying just one mentor text lesson in the next two weeks.
    • Share this post with a colleague who might be interested in trying this, too. Compare notes.
    • Remember, every grammar lesson is an opportunity to empower writers.
    I'd love to hear about your journey with mentor texts!

    Patty McGee is a nationally recognized literacy consultant, speaker, and educator with a passion for transforming classrooms into spaces where language and learning come alive. With decades of experience as a teacher, coach, and advocate for delightful literacy practices, Patty has worked alongside educators across the country, partnering to unlock the full potential of their students through innovative and practical teaching strategies. Not Your Granny’s Grammar is her third book. Connect with Patty at www.pattymcgee.org.

    Learn More

    Using Mentor Texts and AI to Transform Grammar Instruction: Part I 

    Literacy Today magazine: Reflecting Every Reader
    Grammar worksheets ask, "Can you spot it?" Mini-inquiries ask, "Can you understand it?" However, the imitation and innovation experience asks the most important question: "Can you create with it?" Let's help students answer with a resounding...Read More
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    Finding Purpose Outside the Classroom: Motivating Adolescents in the Tier III Reading Setting

    Samantha Bart-Addison
     | May 14, 2025
    High schooler raising hand in class

    All grade levels have students who need intervention strategies to boost basic reading skills; this includes the high school level, a target group often overlooked when it comes to instructional strategies. In order for students to make the most progress during their time with an intervention teacher, the Center on Multi-Tiered System of Supports says Tier III reading interventions must be “individualized and intensive.” What can be difficult for intervention teachers is the lack of motivation some students have for such rigorous intervention strategies.

    While motivation is complex to measure quantitatively, teachers may argue it is easy to observe through student behaviors, such as readily conversing in cooperative groups and engaging with the work through questioning, discovery, and application. Lack of motivation presents through refusal to work or participate, speeding through diagnostic and monitoring assessments, or sporadic attendance. For a reading class, student motivation is a fine line because one encourages students who, typically, want to master skills for which they know they have a deficit but also for which they do not want to admit that they have a deficit.

    Students are placed into the Tier III setting because they have a detrimental skills gap. The challenge for teachers becomes walking that line of how to increase classwork motivation while still giving explicit instruction on fundamental reading and phonics strategies to teenagers. Many social and emotional concerns have to be delicately addressed, considering reading is a basic skill learned by majority of modern society at a very young age. Teenagers in my class have expressed resistance through exclamations such as “I don’t need this work; I really can read” and “I don’t want anyone to know I’m in this class.” Because Tier III reading includes elementary-level instruction on phonics and vocabulary with applications of prosody, the practice must be contextualized to help preserve teenage dignity.

    Relating Reading Skills to Other Content Areas

    What may be the easiest and most obvious application for the learning is relating the skills to other content areas. Students learn ways to use their phonics and vocabulary skills to pass their biology or algebra tests, topics not connected to typical language arts classes. Therefore, students should understand that Tier III reading is different than a language arts class. Tier III reading instruction is not content-specific. The foundational knowledge is a prerequisite to achievement in all subjects, and a direct connection to success in all academic areas gives a whole new reason for learning the skills. When discussing this with students, include the usefulness of the learned skills in earning graduation credits or conversing with peers about the subject matter. Suddenly, phonics practice with elementary words is now helpful with a task in Physics.

    Perhaps more than any other grade level, high school students need to feel they are not wasting their time at school; they need to understand their learning is useful outside of the classroom. To maximize student buy-in at this level, students must genuinely understand that the lessons’ skills are purposeful in their current and future lives. My students have researched potential careers after graduation, they have written responses for various interview questions, and some have brought in applications for an after-school job. I conference with students for each situation and consistently draw connections to our word-skill practice. The results are stronger relationships between teacher and students and students’ growing intrinsic motivation to learn more about reading.

    Weaving in Real-World Connections to the Lesson

    In a playful application, students plan lavish vacations. National Geographic offers remarkable destination trips to every continent, and the Orient Express suggests historic expeditions across Europe and Asia. My students have planned extravagant trips with private jets and luxury ships and then presented their day-by-day itineraries to the class. Everyone enjoyed the fantastical descriptions of the sights and the wild dreams of this kind of travel. Most importantly, the research and synthesis required all the reading skills from the intervention lessons.

    Motivation and engagement are fruitless if students do not leave the lesson with a
    thorough understanding of the application of the practiced reading skills. So more important than merely offering different projects, the teacher must explicitly connect the skill’s knowledge to the skill’s application; transference is vital. With these real-world opportunities, secondary students will have a greater sense of buy-in to the intervention methods as they increase their independence with the skills thus increasing their overall academic success.

    Samantha Bart-Addison is a 20-year veteran teacher at Seckinger High School in Gwinnett County, Georgia. She currently teaches Tier III Reading Interventions and other various types of learners. Her goal is to share engaging differentiated strategies to support teachers in the classroom.

    Learn More

    Using Mentor Texts and AI to Transform Grammar Instruction: Part I

    Literacy Today 
    magazine: Reflecting Every Reader
    All grade levels have students who need intervention strategies to boost basic reading skills; this includes the high school level, a target group often overlooked when it comes to instructional strategies. In order for students to make the most...Read More
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