The grant project is known as Bridging for Language Outcomes in the Classroom (BLOOM).  Their primary aim is to fully develop a language and literacy intervention for young English language learners (ELLs) that leverages Spanish and technology to provide intensive vocabulary instruction.  They will also refine and test a feasible plan of implementation in authentic classrooms.  Gadsden County schools will partner in field testing the prototype e-book language lessons in combination with the Panhandle Area Educational Consortium on Migrant Education.

Over the next three years, with the support of the new grant, Project BLOOM will develop and implement Spanish enhanced vocabulary lessons in predominantly Spanish speaking elementary schools in Florida.  The team will test outcomes and refine components of instruction to derive the best method utilizing the student’s stronger language as a transitional venue for facilitating English language learning.

Jackson, BLOOM principal investigator, remarked “ELLs from high poverty backgrounds are particularly underserved and at-risk for academic failure.  We are excited about the potential impact of developing intensive effective vocabulary instruction to improve outcomes of young ELLs.  We look forward to collaborating across departments at FSU to work together to enhance bilingual language development.”

Co-investigators from different departments at FSU have key roles on the project:

• Dr. Gretchen Sunderman, associate professor of Spanish in the FSU Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics,
• Dr, Jonathan Adams, associate professor in the FSU School of Communication, and
• Dr. Yaacov Petscher, director of research at the FSU Florida Center for Reading Research.

 

 

 

 

 

The full project abstract is available at:
news.cci.fsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Project-Abstract-Facilitating-Language-Literacy-Outcomes-for-English-Language-Learners.pdf