English learners often connect strongly with themes in When the Legends Die, particularly the experience of being pulled between cultures and languages. Tom's struggle to express himself in a school that devalues his background can mirror challenges that some students know firsthand. Yet when it comes time to write about the novel, grammar and vocabulary gaps can obscure the quality of their ideas. Fair grading requires an approach that distinguishes understanding from language proficiency.

A useful starting point is to separate content criteria from language criteria in the rubric. Content criteria cover the claim, the evidence, and the explanation, while language criteria address grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure. Scoring them independently ensures that a student with excellent ideas and limited English is not penalized as heavily as one with weak ideas. It also makes feedback clearer, since each area is addressed on its own terms.

Teachers should also consider the scaffolds students have been given. Sentence frames, word banks, and graphic organizers help English learners access the task, and they should be available during writing and acceptable in the final product. A paper that uses a provided frame such as "Tom shows he is determined when..." demonstrates learning, not a shortcut. Treat these supports as part of the assignment rather than as a deviation.

Give Feedback at the Right Level

Feedback for English learners should be focused and manageable. Marking every error in a paper can be discouraging and rarely leads to improvement. Instead, choose one or two patterns, such as verb tense or article use, and address those. Praise for ideas and effective word choices helps maintain motivation.

• Score content and language on separate criteria
• Accept sentence frames and word banks as legitimate supports
• Focus language feedback on one or two recurring patterns
• Recognize strong ideas even when expressed in simple language
• Offer opportunities to revise after receiving targeted feedback

Use AI Feedback With Care

AI tools can be a helpful support for English learners when configured thoughtfully. A rubric that clearly separates content from language lets the tool provide comments on each, and teachers can ask for simplified wording suitable for the student's level. This allows feedback that a learner can actually read and use. The teacher remains responsible for ensuring that the comments are accurate and encouraging.

Caution is needed with any tool that rewrites student work, since the goal is for learners to develop their own language. Feedback should point to issues and suggest options rather than replace the student's sentences. Reviewing what the tool produces before sharing it protects against feedback that is too complex or discouraging. This keeps the focus on growth.

Draw on Students' Strengths and Experiences

English learners bring valuable perspectives to the novel, including experiences of language loss and cultural adaptation. Prompts that invite them to connect these experiences to Tom's story can lead to powerful writing, provided they remain comfortable doing so. Offer choices so that no one feels pressured to share personal details. Respecting boundaries builds trust and encourages engagement.

Encourage students to draft ideas in their home language when helpful and then translate or rework them in English. This practice can strengthen thinking and reduce the cognitive load of writing. Teachers do not need to speak every language to support the approach. The aim is to help students express what they understand.

Track Growth Over Time

Progress for English learners is best measured over time rather than through a single paper. Keep a portfolio of early and later writing to show development in both content and language. Reviewing growth with the student can be motivating and informative. It highlights achievements that a single grade might miss.

Share observations with colleagues who support English learners, such as ESL specialists. Coordinated feedback ensures consistency and helps students apply what they learn across subjects. A collaborative approach also gives you a fuller picture of each learner. The result is fairer assessment and stronger support.