Posts Tagged ‘newcomers’
The Future of Technology in English Learner Instruction, Part 1
Estimated Reading Time: 7 mins, 30 seconds Artificial Intelligence (AI) has quickly permeated our everyday lives. Just a short time ago, it was a futuristic concept. Now, aspects of AI are in your smartphones, in your email, and, increasingly, in the tools you use in your classroom. The question isn’t whether AI will impact education…
Read MoreThinking Beyond Test Prep: Steps to Improve Academic and Summative ELP Assessment Outcomes
Estimated Reading Time: 4 mins, 10 seconds Preparing English learners for high-stakes summative language proficiency assessments, such as the ACCESS, ELPAC, and ELPA21, requires more than just last-minute test preparation. Instead, the most successful approaches begin early in the school year with assessment readiness integrated into everyday language and academic instruction. While progress or reclassification…
Read MoreBICS vs. CALP: What Every Teacher Needs to Know to Support English Language Development
Estimated Reading Time: 4 mins, 30 seconds Ever wonder why some English learners seem fluent in conversation but still struggle in academic classes? If you’ve noticed this phenomenon in your middle or high school classroom, you’re observing a critical distinction in language development. That sophomore who confidently chats with peers at lunch might still find…
Read MoreHow to Coach Content Teachers: A Practical Guide for ELD Specialists
Estimated Reading Time: 8 mins, 20 seconds “How can I help my content teachers with strategies to support our English learner students?” This question surfaces regularly in ELD teacher communities, and for good reason. You recognize that your English learners need more than what they’re currently receiving in content area classrooms, but approaching colleagues about…
Read MoreCreating a Safe Haven: Supporting Students’ Emotional Needs During Challenging Times
Estimated Reading Time: 5 mins, 50 seconds Your ELD classroom should feel like a sanctuary for English learners; a place where they can shut out the outside world and focus on learning and practicing English without judgment. In today’s climate of heightened community concerns and uncertainty, middle and high school English learners are struggling more…
Read MoreMaximizing Minutes: High-Impact Strategies for Time-Crunched ELD Teachers
Estimated Reading Time: 5 mins, 40 seconds In an ideal world, English learners would receive hours of focused language instruction daily. The reality is starkly different. In fact, these students in the secondary grades often receive less than 90 minutes weekly for language development. EL teachers and specialists might see them for just one period…
Read MoreCreating a Culturally Inclusive Classroom: Supporting Newcomer English Learners
Estimated Reading Time: 6 mins, 50 seconds Welcoming newcomer English learners into a middle or high school setting is about more than just teaching language—it’s about helping them navigate a new cultural landscape while ensuring they feel valued for who they are. Acculturation doesn’t mean abandoning one’s home culture but rather learning to balance and…
Read MoreThree Daily Classroom Strategies to Create Safe Learning Spaces
Estimated Reading Time: 7 mins, 53 seconds In today’s climate of uncertainty and heightened fear around immigration enforcement, many English learners carry the weight of anxiety that reaches far beyond academic challenges. For students whose families may be at risk due to new strict immigration policies, the classroom can become one of the few places…
Read MoreFocus on What Matters Webinar: What to Teach ELLs of Varying Levels
Estimated Reading Time: 9 mins, 10 seconds As ELD educators, one of our most important responsibilities is imparting our English language learners with the language skills they need to succeed – both in and outside our classrooms. At our recent webinar, three veteran ELD educators shared insights gained from decades of experience working with ELL…
Read MoreInsights from the Webinar: Proven Strategies for Supporting Secondary Newcomers and SLIFEs
Estimated Reading Time: 4 mins, 20 seconds In a recent webinar, we discussed how teachers and administrators can better support newcomer multilingual language learners as they transition to a new academic environment. We were honored to have three highly experienced current and former ELD educators with decades of classroom experience as our speakers: David Noyes,…
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