Assessing English-language learners in mainstream classrooms.

RATING of students; EDUCATIONAL evaluation; READING; LITERACY; ENGLISH language education for foreign speakers in elementary schools; LEARNING; ALTERNATIVE assessment (Education)

The article discusses several suggestions to assess the reading ability and development of English-language learners (ELL). It is important for teachers to know how to evaluate the literacy progress of ELL students. The evaluation, be it multidimensional approach with alternative assessment or non-traditional and traditional assessment, is critical to making informed instructional placement and decisions to improve learning. In making such assessment, teachers could do well by considering factors such as literacy backgrounds and experiences of the learners and purposes for assessment.