One of the most difficult aspects of teaching for veterans and newcomers alike is engaging difficult to reach students in class discussions. Some of us have even accepted that discussion will only be driven by the teacher and a few precocious students. If this sounds familiar, then read on, because it doesn't have to be that way!

Give One - Get One is a strategy that can get every student to participate every time. It allows students to engage in structured academic discussions with peers – practicing in an environment that is safe and stimulating – before sharing with the whole class.

Sometimes, picking out the students who are English learners is not as easy as one would expect. Some of you may have noticed that the long-term ELs in your classes blend in with the general population seamlessly, except when it comes to formal writing. If you've experienced this, then you're not alone. Here is what the most recent research says:

Although most students easily acquire conversational speaking skills, they often lack the sophisticated vernacular that is necessary to be successful in an academic setting (Bailey, 2007). This problem is even more pronounced among ELs, who on the norm, are able to progress from beginning to intermediate levels more rapidly, but struggle to reach full language proficiency (Goldenberg, 2008).