Macmillan/McGraw-Hill's 'California Treasures' Provides Comprehensive English Learner Instruction

Macmillan/McGraw-Hill's California Treasures, an all new research-based elementary reading and language arts program, uses a research-based strategy that meets California state standards by providing simultaneous, comprehensive instruction for both monolingual English speakers and English Learners (ELs).

California Treasures features integrated English language support designed specifically for California's revised English language arts standards to establish a clear path for students learning English as a second language. For further EL support, California Treasures English Language Development provides an additional 60 minutes of ELD instruction.

Co-authored by Diane August, Ph.D., a senior research scientist with the Center for Applied Linguistics and co-principal investigator with the National Research and Development Center on English-Language Learners, together with Jana Echevarria, Ph.D., professor of education at California State University, the ELD components in California Treasures make use of key research-driven strategies that help equip teachers to incorporate ELs into the mainstream curriculum.

"California Treasures uses scaffolding techniques to make the content accessible for ELs," said August. "Building on theory and research on effective instruction for monolinguals, shared interactive reading before solo student reading is used for main reading selections, enabling ELs to understand the material before they have to read independently."

Strong support for EL students is especially important for California teachers because almost 25 percent of the state's students enter the schools as bilingual or speaking a primary language other than English.

August said the key techniques used in California Treasures to enhance content understanding of ELs are:

-- Scaffolding techniques that make content concepts clear. Examples include using gestures, pictures, and objects to accompany speech; providing a model for students before requiring students to undertake a task or assignment; previewing material prior to questioning students; using multi-media and other technologies in the lessons.

-- Additional practice to reinforce key words, skills, ideas, and concepts.

-- In-line curriculum support for teachers to help ELs master the same content as their English proficient peers.

-- Videos demonstrating these various techniques in action are provided as part of the Professional Development Reading Video library.

-- Opportunities for interaction with English proficient peers. Instrumental to developing a second language, ELs have opportunities within California Treasures to interact in their second language with classmates who are more proficient.

California Treasures is a comprehensive reading and language arts program that includes differentiated instruction, an English language development program, writing support, and classroom management resources.

About Macmillan/McGraw-Hill

Macmillan/McGraw-Hill is part of McGraw-Hill School Solutions Group (MHSSG).

The group combines Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, which focuses on Grades PreK-6, and Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, which serves Grades 6-12. MHSSG is the only major educational publishing business to provide a comprehensive approach to the development of print and digital instructional materials from pre-kindergarten through high school. Additional information is available at http://www.macmillanmh.com/.

About McGraw-Hill Education

McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, is a leading global provider of print and digital instructional, assessment and reference solutions that empower professionals and students of all ages. McGraw-Hill Education has offices in 33 countries and publishes in more than 60 languages. Additional information is available at http://www.mheducation.com/.

  Contacts:  Tom Stanton                   Yvonne Pentz
             McGraw-Hill Education         Paul Werth Associates
             (212) 904-3214                (614) 224-8114
             tom_stanton@mcgraw-hill.com   ypentz@paulwerth.com

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SOURCE: Macmillan/McGraw-Hill

CONTACT: Tom Stanton
McGraw-Hill Education
(212) 904-3214
tom_stanton@mcgraw-hill.com
Yvonne Pentz
Paul Werth Associates
(614) 224-8114
ypentz@paulwerth.com

Web site: http://www.mheducation.com/
http://www.macmillanmh.com/