"This book is a useful text for districts trying to understand their ELL populations and for mainstream teachers trying to help their ELL students." —Faith Chaney, ESOL Teacher Hickory Hills Middle School, Springfield, MO "A realistic guide to providing better educational opportunities for all in a diverse world. By addressing special or exceptional needs, cultural diversity, and general education populations across multiple disciplines, the book reaches out in ways not previously attempted." —Robert H. Williams, Jr. Associate Professor of English Radford University Practical guidelines and strategies for meeting the needs of every student in your classroom! Based on current research, legislation, and best practices for the classroom, this user-friendly guide offers a comprehensive overview of everything teachers need to know to differentiate instruction for students who are culturally and linguistically diverse, as well as those who have or might have special education needs. Amy J. Mazur and Patricia Rice Doran present strategies, case studies, guiding questions, extensions, and ready-to-use activities to make critical information accessible to busy PreK–12 teachers. The book helps educators: Understand key concepts, policies, and cultural issues for working with diverse learners Set up an effective, emotionally safe classroom Get to know students and their needs and strengths Adapt curriculum, instruction, and assessment to make learning accessible Collaborate with fellow professionals, families, and communities By putting the vital information in this book into practice, teachers can meet the various needs of today′s diverse classrooms and ensure academic success for all their learners!

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments About the Authors Introduction 1. Who Are Our Diverse Learners? New Definitions, New Responses 2. The Impact of the Law: Policies and Diversity 3. What a Difference a Room Makes: Classroom Setup and Management for Learning 4. Really Seeing Your Students: The Importance of Behavioral Observation 5. Mental Wellness and Students′ Resiliency: Making School an Emotionally Safe Place 6. Curriculum and Language: Making Texts and Materials Accessible 7. Literacy Development: Factors Impacting Diverse Learners 8. Assessment: How Do You Know What Your Students Know? 9. Collaboration: Working Together for Student Success 10. Family Involvement: Forming Rich and Lasting Partnerships References Index