Do your ELL students struggle with reading comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency—leaving you unsure how to support them?

In this episode of the Equipping ELLs Podcast, Beth Vaucher tackles one of the toughest challenges for English learners: developing strong reading skills. As part of our series on supporting ELLs, Beth shares why reading is not just about decoding words, but about building comprehension, vocabulary, and academic language. You'll learn how to identify exactly where your students are on their reading journey and how to meet them with the right support.

Beth breaks down five simple, high-impact reading routines that work for all levels, including pre-reading vocabulary previews, guided annotation, interactive read-alouds, visual story mapping, and daily fluency practice. These strategies will help your ELLs overcome common obstacles like limited background knowledge and unfamiliar phonics patterns while gaining confidence as readers. Beth also explains why patience, consistent routines, and targeted instruction are essential to help ELLs thrive.

By the end of this episode, you’ll have practical tools to make your reading lessons more effective, engaging, and accessible. Plus, don’t miss the free set of printable reading routines at inspiringyounglearners.com/reading to easily implement these strategies in your classroom. If you’re ready to stop feeling stuck and start seeing growth in your ELLs’ reading skills, this episode is for you.

Resources and Links

170. 5 Essential Reading Routines for Supporting ELL Readers