Reading Rockets–NEA Guide
Supporting English Language Learners Through COVID-19: Resources for Educators

How can families and educators address the impacts of school closures, hybrid schedules, and the other ways the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting English language learners? What kinds of support might be helpful during the 2020-2021 school year and beyond?
ELL and COVID-19 resources
This updated resource section from Colorín Colorado includes information on:
- distance learning for ELLs
- communicating and partnering with families
- social-emotional supports for ELLs and immigrant students.
Guide: distance learning for ELLs
These articles offer planning tools, strategies, recommended resources, and much more.
Instruction for ELLs
- What You Need to Know
- Distance Learning Needs Assessment
- How to Expand ELLs' Access to Technology for Distance Learning
- Planning Instruction
- Offline Learning at Home
- Challenges and Opportunities
- Recommended Resources
- Privacy Considerations for ELLs/Immigrant Students
Building Partnerships with ELL Families
More recommended resources
- Educating English Learners during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Policy Ideas for States and School Districts (Migration Policy Institute)
- Supporting English Learners in the COVID-19 Crisis (Council of Great City Schools)
- COVID-19: Evidence-Based Practices (DOEd Regional Education Laboratories)
- COVID-19 & Immigrant Communities: Your Questions Answered (NEA)
- Reflection Tools for ELs Returning to School in 2020 (SupportEd)
- Larry Ferlazzo: Grading ELLs in Content Classes (Education Week)
- 5 Effective Modeling Strategies for ELLs (Edutopia)
- PD Opportunities for EL Teachers During Summer (TESOL Blog)
Social media networks for ELL educators
#ELLChat: Archives from Twitter Chats
A number of Twitter #ELLchat discussions have focused on distance learning. Learn more about #ELLchat from this overview. (You don't need a Twitter account to browse those resources.)