Ladybugs, Tornadoes, and Swirling Galaxies - English Language Learners Discover Their World Through Inquiry

"This book answers the question, “What's next in comprehension strategy instruction?” Content comprehension, that's what. Join Brad and Anne as they teach their kids to merge their thinking with social studies and science content to learn, understand and remember it. Step inside their rooms and see how seamlessly and joyously they create a mix of intellectual curiosity, passion for the real world and pure unadulterated fun to nurture engagement and long lasting learning. What a terrific read. I love this book!
—Stephanie Harvey, co-author of Strategies that Work

"Ladybugs, Tornadoes, and Swirling Galaxies is an engaging and vital resource for teachers endeavoring to address the needs not just of ELLs, but of all students in today's increasingly diverse schools. The cornerstone of literacy development for second language learners is the skillful mediation of conceptual knowledge through visual imagery and oral interaction, coupled with the representation of these ideas in text. As Brad and Anne describe their classrooms and their teaching, we see myriad examples of this in action, as well as the rationale behind it.
—Nancy L. Commins, author of Linguistic Diversity and Teaching

Brad Buhrow and Anne Garcia are primary teachers in a diverse school in Boulder, Colorado. In Ladybugs, Tornadoes and Swirling Galaxies, you will see how they blend comprehension instruction and ELL best practices to explore inquiry as a literacy pathway for English language learners.

As teachers and students engage in learning science and social studies content they also discover multiple ways to make meaning. The book is full of photographs of student artwork—including a color insert—that reveals the children's inquiry process, and demonstrates the important role of art as a sign system in ELL literacy and language acquisition.

Brad and Anne provide explicit detail on the process they use as they move step-by-step with students from personal narrative through the independent inquiry process. They also discuss use of the Gradual Release Model, authentic assessment, and bilingual identities.

Appendices in Spanish and English help to round out this informative and charming resource.