Multilingual Learners
Information & Supports
Our Vision:
The vision of the Multilingual Learner (MLL) program in the South Kingstown School Department is dedicated to meeting the linguistic, cultural, and educational needs of multicultural and multilingual students and families. We are dedicated to empowering Multilingual Learners to master social and academic English; achieve academic success; accomplish personal goals focused on college and career readiness; and navigate diverse local and global communities. We foster a supportive, inclusive environment that affirms and respects students’ cultural richness and linguistic assets.
What We Do:
Multilingual Specialists work with multilingual learners (MLLs) in their content area classes to make content accessible while students are acquiring and building academic and social English language proficiency. Specialists provide research-validated, systematic, explicit, and sustained language instruction to MLLs, designed specifically to develop social, instructional, and academic language within the four language domains (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) in conjunction with subject matter content (language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies). Language-focused lessons aligned to the WIDA English Language Development Standards and grade level core-content standards enable MLL students to become successful individuals in the mainstream classroom, overall school environment, and community at large.
Who We Are:
Resources for Families:
What is WIDA ACCESS? ACCESS is an English Language proficiency assessment taken annually by English Learners in Rhode Island Public Schools.
¡Colorín colorado!: Educational bilingual parent resources that offer tips on helping your child to learn to read, succeed in school, and learn a new language. Also available is information about the U.S. school system and ideas on how to build a relationship with your child’s teacher and school.
Resources for Educators:
RITELL is a nonprofit professional association of educators of English Learners in Rhode Island. Our members include educators in PK-12 schools, adult education, workplace programs, private language schools, and institutions of higher learning, as well as pre-service and in-service teacher educators.
Tools and supports to help educators and multilingual learners succeed.
¡Colorín colorado! a bilingual site for educators and families of English Language Learners that includes ELL strategies and best practices
Also, teachers can find more information for Increasing Academic Language Knowledge for English Language Learner Success.
MORE MLL TEACHING STRATEGIES:
Teaching English Language Learners
Communicating with ELL Families: 10 Strategies for Schools | NEA
How to Use Technology to Engage Multilingual Families | NEA
4 Strategies for Scaffolding Instruction for ELs
Nine Mistakes Educators Make When Teaching English-Language Learners (Opinion)
A Strength-Based Approach to Teaching English Learners
6 ELL Scaffolding Strategies to Use With Your Students
9 Scaffolding Strategies for Teachers (that work in 2021)
From the National Educational Association: English Language Learners: Culture, Equity, and Language
The National Education Association (NEA) is more than 3 million people—educators, students, activists, workers, parents, neighbors, friends—who believe in opportunity for all students and in the power of public education to transform lives and create a more just and inclusive society.