Bridging Reading Gaps for English Learners

new!

3 Renewal Units | 45 Hours

Regular price
$199.00
Sale price
$199.00
Regular price
$199.00
Download Syllabus
  • ELL
  • Language Acquisition
  • New
Course Description:

What does it take to turn English Learners into confident, successful readers? This course delivers practical, research-backed strategies to accelerate reading development while honoring your students’ unique linguistic and cultural strengths.
You’ll explore how language acquisition drives literacy and discover how to bridge listening, speaking, reading, and writing to build a complete learning foundation. We’ll dive deep into designing instruction that strengthens vocabulary, background knowledge, and comprehension. You will also master using screening and diagnostic data to precisely target your students' needs.
Grounded in equity, this course emphasizes culturally responsive practices—from selecting diverse texts to building powerful family partnerships. You’ll walk away with a toolkit of adaptable frameworks and instructional tools designed to help ELs tackle complex texts and thrive academically.

Objectives:

By the end of this course, learners will:

  • Analyze ML profiles to better understand the diverse demographics, linguistic backgrounds, and identification systems that impact equity and access for multilingual learners.
  • Bridge language & literacy by applying theories of second language acquisition to understand how the four domains—reading, writing, listening, and speaking—interact during literacy development.
  • Design responsive foundational instruction by creating phonics, vocabulary, and grammar lessons that honor students’ home languages while building grade-level decoding and comprehension skills.
  • Develop strategies to build and leverage students’ background knowledge and schema to help them make meaning from complex texts.
  • Master equitable assessment by evaluating screening and diagnostic data to identify student strengths and design responsive instructional plans that remove learning barriers.
  • Select culturally sustaining texts and critically evaluate and choose instructional materials that affirm diverse racial, cultural, and linguistic identities.
  • Foster inclusive environments by reflecting on personal and institutional biases to create a classroom culture that centers student assets rather than deficits.
  • Partner with families by creating actionable engagement plans that position families as essential partners in their child’s literacy development.
  • Synthesize frameworks by integrating assessment, instruction, and identity into a cohesive framework that promotes equitable literacy outcomes in any teaching context.

To Enroll in a Course:

  • If you need a certificate of completion only ( for PTSB Renewal Units ), choose the Course Only option. Or…
  • If you need an official transcript, choose the Course & University Credits option. See our University Partners page for more information about our regionally accredited university partners.
  • Add the course to your cart.
  • When you are ready to check out, go to your cart, and click “Check Out”.
  • You will be asked to log into your account or create a new account.
  • Follow the enrollment and payment prompts. If you have a gift card or discount code, you will enter it at the end of the enrollment process.
  • Upon purchase, you will receive an email receipt and be able to log in to your course at eClassroom Sign in. You have 180 days (about 6 months) from your purchase to complete your course.

If you have any questions, check out our FAQs or email support@cecreditsonline.org.

Course + Credits Courses

  • We have partnered with a number of regionally-accredited universities who provide graduate-level professional development credits for our courses. See the University Partners tab. All courses taken for graduate credit receive both a Certificate of Completion and a University Transcript for your records.
  • Upon completion of your course, CE Credits Online will forward all the required documentation to the University you selected.
  • The University partner will process your course completion and provide a transcript that includes the name of the course, course number, number of credits, and your grade.
  • You will receive directions on how to receive your transcript in email form, and you can also review the University Partners section of our website for more information.
  • Your success is important to us, and we want to help you choose a course that fits your needs. Because state, district and school acceptances vary, we suggest confirming with the appropriate department ahead of time. Refunds aren’t available if the credits don’t meet your individual requirements.

Course Only Courses

  • We offer all of our courses as a Course Only option that can be used to meet your Wyoming PTSB recertification or professional development needs (always check with your district/state to determine eligibility).
  • Upon successful completion of your course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion for your records that will include the name of the course and number of professional development hours completed.
  • The Certificate of Completion acts as a record that verifies that a professional development course was taken and passed.

Obtaining Renewal Credits*

This must be done within 30 days of completing your CE Credits Online course(s)

Email or fax a copy of your Certificate of Completion to:

Email: ptsbworkshoprequests@wyo.gov

Courses & Enrollment

CE Credits Online offers graduate-level, regionally accredited professional development courses for K–12 educators seeking license renewal, and salary advancement.

Graduate-level, professional development credits are available through:

  • Adams State University
  • Augustana University
  • Cal Poly Humboldt
  • Valley City State University

We also offer district/state options:

Yes! Courses are self-paced and available year-round. Assignments are designed so
you don’t need a classroom to complete them.



You have up to 6 months (180 days) from the date of purchase to complete your course.

If your course expires, you can purchase a 30-day extension from your My Account page. You may purchase multiple extensions; however, all coursework must be completed within 1 year of the original purchase date.

  • Extension fees: $50 for 2- or 3-credit courses; $30 for 1-credit courses.
  • Extensions are no longer available after the 1-year deadline because courses are updated regularly and may be retired.

Starting 30 days before your course expires, sign in and go to My Account to buy a 30-day extension. The fee is $50 for 2- or 3-credit courses and $30 for 1-credit courses.

CE Credits Online does not limit the number of active courses. Your school or district may set limits on credits per term, so please verify your district’s policies before enrolling.

Browse courses at CE Credits Online. At the top, select Courses, then your state and if applicable, your district. Be sure to select your correct location to ensure you are enrolling in courses available to you.

Need help? Email support@cecreditsonline.org or call 425.788.7275 Ext. 104 (Mon–Fri, 8:00AM–4:00PM PST).

Full payment is required at the time of enrollment. However, we offer Shop Pay Installments, which allows you to split your payment into manageable installments.

If you have a district purchase order, you may email it to support@cecreditsonline.org. We’ll allow you to begin your course prior to payment once the PO is received.

No. Professional development courses do not qualify for student loans.

You’ll create your account during your first enrollment. To access your existing
account or eClassroom, go to our homepage, click Sign In, and select eClassroom
or My Account.



If your course has expired or you have no active courses. Go to My Account to renew or purchase an extension or contact support@cecreditsonline.org for help.

A computer or tablet; the latest version of Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari; high-speed internet; an email account; and a word processor (like Microsoft Word or Google Docs). If you use a Mac, macOS Sierra (10.12) or higher is required.

If you purchased your course within the last 15 days and haven’t submitted any graded work, we’ll refund your tuition minus a $30 processing fee per course. To request a refund, please email support@cecreditsonline.org.

Your success is important to us, and we want to help you choose a course that fits your needs. Because state, district and school acceptances vary, we suggest confirming with the appropriate department ahead of time. Refunds aren’t available if the credits don’t meet your individual requirements.