Two trends are undeniably apparent in the educational field.  One is the growing population of English Language Learners (ELL) in the classroom and the other is the explosive increase in the use of technology.  One school in Crescent City has made significant gains in reading by integrating the use of technology into the reading instruction while focusing on the specific learning needs of their English Language Learner population.  Middleton-Burney is a Reading First School located in Putnam County, Florida. This K-3 school has a population of over 700 students with 52% of those students being Hispanic.  The principal, Carolyn Radtke, and the reading coach, Jan Guzman, are wonderful examples of instructional leaders who support the teachers in educating Middleton-Burney’s English Language Learners through the power of technology in teaching reading.

English Language Learners at Middleton-Burney are given an opportunity to communicate and interact within the 90 minute reading block through computer based projects. This allows students to benefit from one another’s knowledge and practice verbal skills. Teachers at Middleton-Burney use laptops and smart boards to incorporate web lessons throughout the reading block so that English Language Learners have the advantage of increased interaction within a positive safe learning environment. Pictured below is Jan Guzman, the Reading First Coach, assisting a Middleton-Burney student from Ms. Dean’s class at the smart board reading center.