Do's and Don'ts of Remote Learning for ELA and Math

Successful English Learners (ELs) develop both language and content knowledge simultaneously, and they learn best in face-to-face interactions that both challenge and support them. However, during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of schools are shuttered and more than five million ELs are learning from home.

In March, ELSF surveyed educators. We wanted to listen to teachers’ authentic reactions and learn how our nation’s quick shift to distance learning impacted their practice. The results from that survey indicated that while teachers were adapting at lightning speed and utilizing a myriad of online learning systems, apps and paper packets to promote continued learning, they still had unanswered questions about how to best serve their ELs in the new learning format. These Do’s and Dont’s are our best thinking to address some common threads specific to ELA and Math instruction.