English learners in grades K–2 don’t need simpler work, they need scaffolded support to access the same rigorous instruction as their peers. The key? Aligning instruction to the Science of Reading and using clear strategies that support language and literacy together.
What ELs Need in K–2 Literacy
- Explicit phonemic awareness and phonics instruction
- Daily oral language practice
- Sentence frames and visual supports
- Direct vocabulary instruction
- Multiple exposures to new sounds and words
Best Practices
- Use Heggerty with gestures for sound isolation
- Teach Tier 2 vocabulary with visuals and examples
- Scaffold decodable reading with choral reading
- Pre-teach content words before read-alouds
How It Fits in MTSS
Provide Tier 1 instruction using structured literacy, and build Tier 2 interventions (e.g., Bridge the Gap or UFLI Small Group) based on progress monitoring data.
High expectations with high supports create language-rich, inclusive classrooms. With the right scaffolds, your K–2 English learners can—and will—soar.