How Launch-and-Link-to-Literacy
Help High School Learners
When working with high school English Learners (ELs) who are still developing beginning English skills, the right lesson design makes all the difference. Launch-to-Literacy and Link-to-Literacy lessons are designed to address these unique needs while maintaining rigor, respect, and engagement.
Here are Five Key Points
1. They Target the Student’s True Reading Level, Not Their Age
- Teaching decoding of short i vowel patterns
- Providing structured phonics practice using simple, decodable words and sentences
- Delivering systematic and explicit instruction, an approach proven to accelerate progress for older struggling readers and EL
2. They Build English Language and Literacy Together
- Introducing new phonics patterns in context
- Pairing decoding practice with oral vocabulary (e.g., insect, milk, cricket, inch)
- Using sentence-level reading that builds comprehension while reinforcing new sounds
3. They Provide Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing Integration
- Listening: Students hear models of the /ĭ/ sound and listen to peers read
- Speaking: Sentence prompts and oral responses (e.g., “Kim is/is not correct”) encourage academic language
- Reading: Students decode, identify patterns, and read for meaning
- Writing: Students apply learning by writing sentences with short i words
4. They Support Confidence and Engagement
- Setting clear, achievable goals (“We will read short i words”)
- Using scaffolded activities that lead to quick wins
- Including neutral, age-respectful topics (e.g., snacks, measuring, animals)
5. They Build Transferable Skills
- Decoding common academic words (inch, insect, chip)
- Improving spelling and writing in other classes
- Supporting comprehension by reducing the decoding barrier
Learn more about Launch to Literacy and Link to Literacy:
