Advocating for ELLs
8 Ways to Advocate for MLs - Serving Multilingual Learners of All Ages (valentinaesl.com)
Advocacy involves increasing awareness about ENL education, teaching colleagues and others about ELLs, supporting and defending families, and taking action to create change in an effort to increase success for ELLs and their families.
The Power of Languages - International School of Boston (isbos.org)
Did You Know?
Being bilingual improves both children’s cognitive skills and their social abilities.
Multilingual children are often better at communication than children with one language.
Children in multilingual environments tend to practice considering the perspectives of others.
Learning a second language increases a child’s cultural awareness.
Neurobiology research shows that speaking two languages from early childhood may delay age‐related dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Multilingual children have a heightened ability to monitor their surroundings.
The Importance of Our Language Choices (edumatch.org)
Social & Emotional Support for ELLs and Immigrant Students | Colorín Colorado (colorincolorado.org)
Advocacy for ELLs-Mega Resources Do Children Soak Up Language Like A Sponge?
Increasing ELL student motivation to do well. What to do when students make spoken errors.
Tech Tools for translation and teaching.
Identification process of ELL eligibility for Special Education; and five myths about ELLs and Special Education
Translation of all school form letters and information packets into home languages using the many available translation tools. .
Mantras and Metaphors for Collaboration Tan Huynh highlights helpful ideas regarding collaboration in co-teaching.
What Teachers Can Do to Boost Student Motivation 4 excellent videos by Larry Ferlazzo and Katie Hull Sypnieski
When Advocating for ELLs, Discussion Topics May Include:
· Establish guidelines regarding the decision to retain ELL students. Include legal guidelines (retention cannot be because the student does not know English) and how to give added supports to ELLs in advance of a retention discussion.
· Monthly teacher tips and ELL training programs in staff meetings.
· Explain the concept that every teacher is a language teacher; increased ELL parent involvement in the school and community.
· Shifting teachers/all staff from a deficit perspective regarding Ells to an asset based mindset.
· Establish stronger relationships between ELL parents, schools and the community. Advice for school leaders.
· Ensure that ELLs at the lower levels of language proficiency receive adequate support to be successful. Explain what that looks
like, including proper scheduling of ENL class time and all subjects needed for graduation..
· Plan for a Multicultural event. Academic Language Checklist.
· Increase cultural awareness. Success stories for working with SIFE students. New SIFE Manual from BRIDGES.
· Advocate for ELL students’ mental and emotional health as a result of acculturation, traumatic experiences, bullying, etc.
· Assessing understanding throughout the lesson. How Can We Fairly Assess ELLs?
Advocating for ELLs (and Also ENL Teachers) : Topics From Regional ENL Blogs
Using a Culture Fair to Engage Teachers, Parents, Students and the Community-West Genesee CSD has an annual culture fair in early March. The entire community gets involved on a Saturday afternoon in the high school gymnasium. It is an excitng event offering foods from many cultures, dancing, music, games and much more! https://www.westgenesee.org/west-genesee-celebrates-diversity-at-the-upcoming-11th-annual-culture-fair/
Co-Teaching in a High School Science Class - A wonderful success story between an ENL teacher and a Science Teacher at Nottingham High School.
Getting to Know the Northern ENL PLC: The Northern ENL PLC began in 2012, and has grown to over 120 members, ranging from Watertown to Binghamton and Utica to Sodus. Their mission is to provide an environment where ENL professionals can come together to share and collaborate through a support system.
Integrating School and Community for ELL Success- Katie Knapp is an Elementary ENL teacher from the Liverpool School District. She talks about the many ways that the district collaborates with the community to help ELLs/MLLs and their families.
End of the Year Reflection by Two ENL Teachers- Kari Free, ENL teacher from Oswego City School District, and Lori Dotterer, ENL teacher from Jamesville-Dewitt Central School District at that time,talked about their high school teaching experiences. They reflected on some of their biggest successes and share a few of their greatest learning experiences.
Culturally Responsive Teaching-Why is It Important? Linda Vaught is a seasoned ENL teacher from the Solvay Union Free School District, talks about her experiences with culturally responsive teaching.
How an ENL Teacher Prepares for the New School Year Kelly O'Connor shares her experiences and ideas.
Two First Year ENL Teachers Reflect Back on Their Experiences This month two first year ENL teachers, Jessica Ambrose from Fayetteville-Manlius School District and Jennifer Riesbeck, from the Binghamton City School District talk about what they learned.
Discover College Day Collaboration with SUNY Oswego & Oswego City School District - Every Columbus Day since 2007, the CiTi (Oswego) METS took Migrant and ENL students from the northern region to SUNY Oswego for a full day of learning about college life. It is their goal to inform and encourage our students to consider going to college!
Making Grammar Relevant Again Laura Stevens talks about how important it is for the foundational skills of grammar and vocabulary to be continuous throughout all of the grades. For example, ELLs do not effectively learn vocabulary by looking up words in the dictionary and writing the meaning down.
What One PLC Member Does for Summer Learning- Pat Marzola, an Elementary ENL teacher from West Genesee Central School District, tells us about what she does to expand her horizons over her recent summers!