Erick Herrmann

Erick Herrmann is an educational consultant specialized in teaching English learners, and he runs Academic Language Learning Institute, Inc.. Erick has worked with thousands of teachers across the nation to help them improve their instructional practice and increase academic achievement for all students.

Articles by Erick Herrmann

• Building and fostering positive relationships with diverse students in virtual, hybrid classrooms

  As virtual and hybrid instruction continue, positive relationships are pivotal in keeping students engaged…

  Monday, December 07, 2020

• Ways to check for understanding virtually with culturally and linguistically diverse students

  Every teacher knows the importance of having students respond frequently and checking for understanding,…

  Monday, October 05, 2020

• Adapting tried-and-true instructional strategies for emergent bilinguals to the virtual environment

  Many, many schools have started the new school year with a major shift in instruction. As teachers return…

  Monday, August 31, 2020

• Explicit instruction for emergent bilinguals, multilingual learners in various environments

  When people think of teaching, they may think of an expert, or teacher, imparting information to a novice,…

  Friday, July 24, 2020

• Restarting school: Unfinished teaching and learning for emergent bilinguals, multilingual students

  At this point in the year, teachers have finished with their teaching duties for the academic year. Some…

  Monday, July 13, 2020

• Planning for summer: Keeping emergent bilinguals, multilingual students engaged

  Many, many students around the world will not return to school until the fall at the earliest. Researchers…

  Tuesday, May 26, 2020

• Critical concepts in distance learning for multilingual learners

  The current state of affairs has caused a shifting tide from face-to-face instruction to online learning…

  Monday, May 11, 2020

• Supporting multilingual students’ learning in a time of school closures

  There is an old adage in education: "all students can learn." While I agree wholeheartedly with the statement,…

  Monday, March 30, 2020

• Guided practice in the multilingual classroom

  Effective instruction in multilingual education includes providing students with comprehensible instruction…

  Monday, March 09, 2020

• Tightening up ‘turn and talk’ to foster more purposeful linguistic practice

  The prevalence of the "turn and talk" strategy has increased in schools over the past several years as…

  Monday, February 10, 2020

• Enhancing linguistic choral responses with multilingual learners

  In most any classroom focused on helping students learn language, phrases such as "repeat after me" are…

  Monday, January 13, 2020

• Building and developing motivation with multilingual learners

  Students generally start their educational career motivated and excited to learn. Multilingual learners…

  Monday, December 02, 2019

• Adjectives and nouns: The semantics of discussing students

  Educators have discussions about students on a daily basis. In a past article, I discussed the notion…

  Monday, September 23, 2019

• Goal-setting with English learners and multilingual students

  If asked, most adults would tell you that they have goals in life. For example, I have a personal goal…

  Monday, August 12, 2019

• STEAM education for English learners

  Educators all over the world are familiar with the importance of STEM as critical skills in the 21st…

  Monday, June 24, 2019

• Building mathematical discourse with English learners

  Learning mathematics is a critical skill in the 21st century. Mathematics builds critical skills, such…

  Monday, May 20, 2019

• Establishing a positive school climate meets the needs of English learners — and all students

  It is clear that a positive work environment benefits everyone and allows for a healthy, happy, and collaborative…

  Monday, April 22, 2019

• Brain breaks for English learners increase focus, motivation, and engagement

  We have all experienced those moments in the classroom where our students are noticeably sleepy, overwhelmed,…

  Monday, March 18, 2019

• Priming the pump: Introductory and preview strategies for English learners

  Many teachers are familiar with the importance of building background knowledge and linking to prior…

  Monday, February 18, 2019

• Building metacognitive skills with English learners: Part 2

  In part one of this two-part series, we explored the topic of metacognition and the importance of building…

  Monday, January 28, 2019

• Building metacognitive skills with English learners: Part 1

  Metacognition is an important yet sometimes underemphasized aspect of education, especially for English…

  Wednesday, January 02, 2019

• Active reading strategies for English learners

  Teachers often use the practice of popcorn, or "round-robin," reading strategies in a number of ways.…

  Thursday, November 15, 2018

• Is our focus on academic language promoting a colonial mindset?

  Teachers actively work to dismantle the disadvantages our students face, especially in our service to…

  Monday, October 22, 2018

• Are student labels helpful or harmful?

  In every school, students are labeled for a variety of reasons. Consider the students you have or have…

  Monday, September 17, 2018

• Simple ways to connect and build relationships with your students

  Teachers get into the profession of teaching because they care about young people and want to help them…

  Tuesday, August 21, 2018

• The ‘3D’ model of effective instruction for English learners

  The teaching profession is an important one, designed to create healthy, happy individuals who can accomplish…

  Monday, July 16, 2018

• The importance of self-reflection when teaching English learners

  Schools all over the United States have released students and teachers for the summer break, and teachers…

  Monday, June 18, 2018

• Are you schooling or educating your English learner students?

  English learners, like all students, go to school to learn. They are learning the knowledge and skills…

  Tuesday, May 22, 2018

• Focus on paragraph and multiparagraph writing

  ​Writing is no simple feat. Teachers help students to build their writing skills over time, starting…

  Wednesday, April 11, 2018

• Focus on sentence-building activities

  Last month's article focused on developing students' word-building skills by analyzing and adding affixes…

  Wednesday, March 21, 2018

• Using affixes, roots and base words to improve English learners’ language skills

  Words. They are powerful and useful, and a key aspect of learning any new language. When it comes to…

  Wednesday, February 14, 2018

• Using wordless books with English learners

  ​The thought of a book without words might sound strange. How can students read a book without words?…

  Wednesday, January 17, 2018

• Considerations for cultural and holiday celebrations in schools

  In every culture around the world, humans engage in cultural and holiday traditions and celebrations.…

  Wednesday, November 15, 2017

• How important is pronunciation instruction for English learners?

  One of the most notable identifiers of someone whose primary language is not English is speaking with…

  Wednesday, October 18, 2017

• SWRLing with EL: Speaking, writing, reading and listening

  Language skills are important for every student, especially in terms of academic language and vocabulary.…

  Wednesday, August 16, 2017

• Co-planning for effective English language development

  ​Teaching is a challenging profession. We are expected, as teachers, to meet the needs of all of our…

  Wednesday, July 19, 2017

• Preparing to more effectively teach English learners next year

  As the school year wraps up for many teachers this month, we begin the process of relaxing and rejuvenating…

  Wednesday, June 21, 2017

• Decreasing academic anxiety for English learners

  English learners, like all students, face the pressure of achieving in school, and they hope to learn…

  Wednesday, May 24, 2017

• Decreasing social anxiety for English learners

  English learners, like all students, face the pressure of achieving in school, and they hope to learn…

  Wednesday, May 17, 2017

• Working with newcomers and beginning-level ELLs across content areas

  For teachers working with English learners, having newcomers or beginning-level English learners in the…

  Thursday, April 13, 2017

• Strategies for teaching gifted and talented English learners

  Who are our gifted and talented students? What makes a student gifted? How are gifted and talented students…

  Wednesday, March 15, 2017

• Teaching diverse students in an age of uncertainty

  Some would say politics have little, if any, place in the classroom, outside of social studies classes…

  Wednesday, February 15, 2017

• Assigning homework to English learners

  Homework can be a controversial topic in education circles. Some — including parents and educators…

  Wednesday, February 01, 2017

• Using gestures to enhance language instruction

  Active engagement is an important tenet of instruction and learning — important in both learning and…

  Wednesday, January 04, 2017

• Using centers to differentiate for English learners

  Centers are used in multiple grade levels and in various subject areas as a way to provide small group…

  Wednesday, December 07, 2016

• Math is about numbers, so it’s easier for English learners, right?

  Mathematics is regarded as one of the core content areas that all students are expected to master as…

  Wednesday, October 19, 2016

• Increasing our focus on general academic vocabulary

  ​There has been much discussion around the topic of academic language instruction for English learners,…

  Wednesday, September 21, 2016

• Integrating and connecting standards to increase language learning

  The brain is a powerful and fascinating organ. As we encounter new stimuli throughout the day, our brain…

  Wednesday, August 17, 2016

• Starting the school year with English learners

  ​In just a few short weeks, schools will begin to fill up again with students ready for another year…

  Wednesday, July 20, 2016

• Brain-based strategies for English learners

  In the past two decades, knowledge of how the brain functions has increased tremendously. New, less invasive…

  Wednesday, June 22, 2016

• From interaction to discourse: Increase EL academic language proficiency

  In classrooms all over the country, teachers have their students answer questions and engage in classroom…

  Wednesday, May 25, 2016

• Fostering growth mindset with English learners

  Increasingly, the topics of growth mindset and grit have entered schools and classrooms across the country.…

  Wednesday, April 20, 2016

• Determining the linguistic demand of tasks

  Each school day, students are asked to engage in a variety of instructional tasks that require them to…

  Wednesday, March 16, 2016

• Engaging culturally and linguistically diverse parents and families

  Parental and familial involvement in schools has long been known to increase academic achievement and…

  Wednesday, February 10, 2016

• Which words matter most? Picking vocabulary for English learners

  Vocabulary is a hot topic in education. Teachers, parents, administrators and community members know…

  Thursday, January 14, 2016

• Assessment for English learners: Content, language or both?

  ​Ask teachers about the importance of assessment, and they will likely begin sharing about their daily…

  Wednesday, December 09, 2015

• Language register: What is it and why does it matter in education?

  Many teacher and parents today lament a lack of formality in student language, especially writing. Ask…

  Wednesday, November 18, 2015

• Close reading with English learners: Strategies

  In this era of more demanding standards for all students, close reading has become a common exercise…

  Wednesday, October 28, 2015

• Close reading with English learners: Challenges

  In this era of more demanding standards for all students, close reading has become a common exercise…

  Wednesday, October 21, 2015

• Classroom teacher and English learner teacher collaboration

  What is the best way to provide a high-quality education to English learners? Recent analyses of the…

  Wednesday, September 16, 2015

• Cultural competence in the classroom: A key 21st-century skill

  ​Schools today are becoming increasingly diverse. Any educator who has been working in schools for…

  Thursday, August 13, 2015

• What do school leaders need to know about English learners? The basics

  ​Each new school year, countless new administrators move into school leadership positions. There are…

  Thursday, July 09, 2015

• Effectively incorporating technology with English learners

  ​As the school year comes to a close for students across the United States, some districts are planning…

  Thursday, June 11, 2015

• Social emotional learning and English learners

  In recent years, schools have increased their discussion and focus on social and emotional learning.…

  Wednesday, May 13, 2015

• The 4 C’s of 21st century learning for ELLs: Creativity

  In this last article of the series, creativity and innovation will be discussed — with a particular…

  Wednesday, April 08, 2015

• The 4 C’s of 21st century learning for ELLs: Collaboration

  Critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity have been dubbed as the four C's of 21st…

  Wednesday, March 11, 2015

• The 4 C’s of 21st century learning for ELLs: Communication

  In the first part of this series, we explored critical thinking as an important skill that students will…

  Thursday, February 12, 2015

• The 4 C’s of 21st century learning for ELLs: Critical thinking

  We are preparing students for an unknown future. Consider how much has changed even in the past half-century.…

  Wednesday, January 21, 2015

• Lifelong learning: Inspiring the quest for knowledge

  What is a teacher's role? The answer to this question has seemed to expand over the past few decades.…

  Friday, December 12, 2014

• Teaching learning strategies to ELLs: What, why, when, how

  ​"Learning how to learn" is one of many goals educators have for their students. In fact, in a world…

  Tuesday, November 18, 2014

• Providing feedback to English learners: Why, when and how

  We learn by doing. More specifically, we learn by being taught, then practicing a skill or concept, receiving…

  Wednesday, October 15, 2014

• Transforming classroom management for ELLs: Strategies for success

  Classroom management is a phrase and concept all teachers are familiar with and know intimately. ​There…

  Wednesday, September 17, 2014

• Transforming classroom management for ELLs: The issues

  Classroom management is a phrase and concept all teachers are familiar with and know intimately. There…

  Thursday, September 11, 2014

• The importance of hands-on learning and movement for English learners

  Consider your most memorable learning experience in school. Did the experience involve a lecture or a…

  Wednesday, August 13, 2014

• Teaching writing to ELLs across the curriculum: Strategies for success

  Reading, writing, listening and speaking. Educators know the importance of these essential skills for…

  Tuesday, July 01, 2014

• Pay attention! How to actively teach listening skills

  If you ask teachers what their greatest frustrations are in the classroom, inevitably you will be told…

  Wednesday, June 04, 2014

• Sheltered instruction and English language development: Defining ELD

  Most educators agree that it is important to meet the needs of English learners in the classroom through…

  Wednesday, May 07, 2014

• Sheltered instruction and English language development: Key components

  ​Schools today are charged with meeting the needs of each child: the average, the gifted, the special-needs…

  Wednesday, April 23, 2014

• Learned helplessness in the classroom

  In an educational setting, students may feel that any effort is fruitless, as they do not understand…

  Wednesday, March 19, 2014

• The importance of guided practice in the classroom

  There is an old saying we are all familiar with: Practice makes perfect. In the classroom, students must…

  Wednesday, February 12, 2014

• Grouping students: Heterogeneous, homogeneous and random structures

  ​What is the typical classroom seating arrangement? Are students seated in neat rows, in a U shape,…

  Wednesday, January 15, 2014

• Compliance or engagement: When are students truly engaged in class?

  ​Consider a time that you felt you were extremely engaged in the task at hand. Were all of your thoughts,…

  Wednesday, December 11, 2013

• Scaffolding: Helping all students reach academic excellence

  Education can be seen as the act of helping students learn new content, concepts and skills over time…

  Thursday, November 07, 2013

• Comprehension: Do your English learners understand your instruction?

  Every teacher intuitively knows the importance of student comprehension of instruction. Without comprehension,…

  Thursday, October 10, 2013