Welcome to December! In this edition of What We're Reading, we bring you actionable strategies to support ELLs, research on "superdiversity", some surprising benefits of learning a new language, and more.

 Policy and Practice

• In a powerful piece of educational journalism from Education Week, Alex Granados spotlights the challenge of keeping young migrant workers out of the fields and in school.

• New America's Ingrid T. Colón provides key takeaways from the La Cosecha Dual Language Conference in Albequerque, NM. As dual language programs continue to gain popularity, so does the conference. 

• From The Buffalo News - like many districts across the country, Buffalo Public Schools are trying to create and nurture programs to support the students and families who speak 83 different languages. 

• The Migration Policy Institute released a report on Minnesota's growing dual language learner population and what policy makers and practitioners are doing to address challenges. 

• From The Daily Nebraskan, Sadiyah Ali reports on workshops to support K-12 educators working with English Language Learners through the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Teaching and Learning

• Knowable Magazine's Ramin Skibba discusses how a second language can boost the brain for people of all ages. There is even a hypothesis that learning a new language later in life may help keep Alzheimer's at bay. 

• From Education Week Classroom Q & A, Larry Ferlazzo brings in a panel of 3 educators to discuss what effective feedback on writing assignments looks like - and what it does not.

• From Middle Web, Professional Development Specialist and ELL Community contributor Valentina Gonzalez provides actionable strategies to help support struggling middle level EL readers.

• In a guest post on Larry Ferlazzo's EduBlog, Sarah Said highlights the importance of brain breaks and energizers in classrooms supporting English Language Learners.

ELL Spotlight

• Chalkbeat's Reema Amin reports on New York City Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza's decision to hire a new deputy chief academic officer for the city's Division of Multilingual Learners department.

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