Recent data indicate that many adolescent English
language learners (ELLs) comprehend English texts
at only a limited literal level. The purpose of this
research synthesis was to systematically identify
and describe the research related to the English
reading comprehension of middle grades ELLs while
also making practical connections to instruction.
Parameters were established to determine whether
the collected research studies met the purpose of
the synthesis and the standards for quality research,
using the guiding principles for scientific research set
forth in the National Research Council’s Scientific
Research in Education. Three themes emerged
across the 11 identified studies: (a) the essential
role of vocabulary knowledge in ELLs’ English
reading comprehension, (b) the role of first language
and transfer in ELLs’ reading comprehension, and
(c) Three themes emerged across the 11 identified
studies: (a) the essential role of vocabulary knowledge
in ELLs’ English reading comprehension, (b) the
role of first language and transfer in ELLs’ reading
comprehension, and (c) the role of effective instruction
in enhancing ELLs’ English reading comprehension.
In this paper, we discuss the findings and their
implications for classroom instruction and note
substantive and methodological concerns that should
be addressed in future research.