I am an English Language Learner (ELL). Because of this, I know first-hand what it is like for students to feel they lack engaging materials that allow them to develop their English reading skills at their own pace. I also understand the frustration parents often feel. Growing up in Puerto Rico, I saw my mother’s frustration when she struggled to help me with my English homework.

Learning in a new language can be both exciting and beneficial. Yet more often than not, teachers are faced with the difficulty of not having the right tools. In many cases, the academic materials available to students do not respond to their needs.

The initial excitement of learning a language can quickly turn to frustration for both students and teachers. It can leave parents feeling helpless. In 2013, there were 4.4 million ELL students in the United States, 71 percent of them from Spanish-speaking families. These families…