What We're Reading - April 18, 2018
In the spirit of Continuous Learning, we are proud to offer this bi-weekly newsletter of curated articles that directly impact our work with English Language Learners. We hope you find this resource useful as you continue your work of supporting our students around the country.
Since publishing our last edition on April 4th, we have been hard at work putting together our upcoming series on family and community engagement for English Language Learners. Look for new blog posts and Highest Aspirations podcast episodes on that topic starting next week. In the meantime, you can listen to our series on dual language programs and subscribe to the podcast now by clicking here.
Policy and Practice
- In an article for The 74 Million, ELL Community contributor Conor Williams provides evidence explaining why English-only programs have not been effective. Listen to our interview with Williams on dual language programs here.
- Education Week has put together a series called "Putting Puerto Rico's Schools Back on Track", a collection of articles and videos that highlight some of the major issues impacting schools on the island.
- From Chicago Booth Review, Megan E. Doherty outlines research suggesting that programs like DACA "had a significant impact on the schooling, work, and fertility decisions of undocumented youth."
- From New America, Amaya Garcia and Alexandra Manuel highlight efforts by policy makers in Washington to launch a "Paraeducator Board". Among other things, the board is tasked with developing requirements and policies for ELL certification for paraeducators.
- New America's Janie T. Carnock outlines challenges and provides recommendations for identifying young dual language learners, a group that has been difficult to track.
Teaching and Learning
- From Education Week Teacher, Larry Ferlazzo and Katie Hull Sypnieski outline some activities designed to help ELLs end the school year strong.
- In Multibriefs, Sheilamary Koch shares some examples of the power of games as teaching tools for ELLs.
- In Education Week, Anthony Brandt and David Eagleman discuss the need to democratize creativity, inventiveness, and ingenuity in schools to increase opportunities for all students.
- The Frederick Post highlights new homegrown teacher programs to address teacher shortages in Ellevation partner district Frederick County, MD.
ELL Spotlight
- In Norway, educators are facing many of the same challenges we face in the US. In an article from Edutopia, Elaine Fleischer explains how her Bridges program connects Norweigans to new immigrants and refugees.
- The Independent Tribune reports on ELLs getting a valuable college experience at UNC Charlotte in Ellevation partner district Cabarrus County, NC.
- From The Morning Call in Allentown, PA, a new program is helping newcomers from hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico get a new start with their education.
- From LA School Report, Esmeralda Fabián Romero tells the story of school leader Ruben Alonzo's journey from Texas to California to open an innovative school for English Language Learners.
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What are you reading? Leave a comment below and share on social media using the hashtag #ELLReads!
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