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Supporting Multi Language Learners with Structured Literacy: Dandelion World Lesson Plans By Camille Casey of Crafting Minds Group

Camille Casey

Camille Casey has worked in education for seven years as a special education teacher, literacy tutor, and grade-level leader and coordinator. She bega...n her career as an English Language Arts teacher and Orton-Gillingham tutor at the Carroll School working with children with dyslexia. After school, Camille continued her work as a private tutor, supporting students and collaborating with families to navigate their child’s dyslexia diagnosis and the IEP process. As a grade-level leader and coordinator, she collaborated with teachers to develop and align curricula and provided 1:1 support to new teachers. Motivated to help students nationwide improve their reading and writing skills, Camille earned a Master of Education with a focus on Language and Literacy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Camille excels in creating multi-sensory, engaging curricula that meet diverse student needs and integrate technology to enhance learning. She is equally committed to developing effective and manageable curricula for teachers, ensuring both student and teacher success. Read more

Supporting Multi Language Learners with Structured Literacy: Dandelion World Lesson Plans By Camille Casey of Crafting Minds Group

Recognising Reading Challenges in Multi Language Learners

Multi Language Learners (MLLs) often face challenges in reading and language development. They may apply phonetic rules from their native language, struggle with comprehension due to limited vocabulary, or find decoding difficult when encountering unfamiliar sounds. These obstacles can lower confidence and hinder verbal expression, impacting overall reading progress. Recognising these challenges is the first step in providing effective support.


Structured Literacy Approach

For MLLs, learning to read in English presents unique challenges. Structured Literacy, an evidence-based approach, provides the explicit, systematic instruction these students need to build strong decoding skills and deepen their language comprehension. By incorporating explicit phonics instruction, targeted vocabulary development, and consistent oral and written language modelling, educators can provide MLLs with the tools they need to succeed.


Effective Literacy Interventions for Multi Language Learners

While Structured Literacy benefits all students, MLLs require targeted strategies to bridge the gap between oral language acquisition and reading proficiency. One research-backed approach is the PLUSS Framework, developed by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs:

  • Pre-teach vocabulary & activate background knowledge to improve comprehension.

  • Language use and modelling support to enhance oral language development.

  • Use of visuals to reinforce concepts and build connections.

  • Systematic and explicit instruction to provide clarity and consistency.

  • Strategic use of students’ first language (L1) (e.g., using cognates) to aid understanding.


Introducing Decoding Duo: A Structured Literacy Resource

To support educators working with MLLs, Crafting Minds Group has developed Decoding Duo, a series of pre-planned, structured literacy lessons with accompanying teaching slides for Dandelion World (Books 1-7). These ready-to-use, digital resources are ideal for small group instruction and Tier 2 intervention, offering structured phonics and vocabulary instruction that helps students build literacy skills with confidence.


How the Lesson Plans Support MLLs

The Decoding Duo lesson plans follow a Structured Literacy framework specifically designed to support multilingual learners by integrating:

  • Background-building activities to activate prior knowledge and provide context.

  • Explicit vocabulary instruction to support language acquisition alongside phonics.

  • Blending, segmenting and spelling practice to reinforce phonemic awareness & decoding.

  • Trick word instruction to help students recognise high-frequency words.

  • Sentence reading and comprehension tasks to develop fluency and syntactical understanding.

  • Additional print resources for extended practice and reinforcement.

By incorporating these elements, the lessons make phonics instruction more accessible while simultaneously strengthening vocabulary development—two critical areas for ELL success.


Free Webinar: Learn More!

Want to explore how to implement these lesson plans in your classroom? Join Crafting Minds Group’s to learn practical strategies for teaching English Language Learners using decodable texts.

March 26 – 3:45 PM (EST) [Register Here]
March 27 – 7:00 PM (EST) [Register Here]

 

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