Did you think we forgot about you last week? Not a chance, but we did change our release day for "What We're Reading". Moving forward, expect future editions to land here every other Monday. If you'd like this newsletter delivered directly to your inbox, join our ELL Community by taking the pledge to advocate for ELLs.

In this edition - starting the school year right for all students, valuing newcomers, exploring ELL data by state, and much more.

Teaching and Learning 

• In this Education Dive brief, Amelia Harper highlights strategies to help ELLs deal with "transition shock" - a great resource as we begin to form relationships with students.

• From the Edutopia archives, Todd Finley discusses strategies to help remember students names, and it applies to all students.

• ELL Teacher, PD provider, and keynote speaker Emily Francis writes about using a "heart-first approach" when working with newcomers in an article featured in Middle Web. For more from Emily, check out our Highest Aspirations podcast episode with her.

• Chicago Tribune contributor David Gleisner highlights library programs that help newcomers with language learning and cultural support.

• Education Week features ELL teacher and writer Wendi Pillars in a blog post titled, "Valuing our English Language Learners by Learning to Listen".

• In EdSurge, Michael Moody explores the power of a growth mindset to address issues of equity in schools.

• From Edutopia, Billy Corcoran and Mindy Ahrens share a video project that encourages students to tell their stories. Check out an this example about a teenager trying to understand what it means to be Mexican-American.

• On the Highest Aspirations podcast, Hamline University's Amy Stolpestad and Michelle Benegas discuss preparing ELL teachers to become teacher leaders.

Policy and Practice

• In his Gates Notes blog, Bill Gates shares what he learned about teaching newcomers after meeting with Washington state Teacher of the Year Mandy Manning.

• The Migration Policy Institute has released a handy report that outlines ELL demographics, outcomes, and and accountability policies by state.

• This article from The Huffington Post's Rebecca Klein highlights the radical differences in the way school districts handle undocumented students.

• From The Desert Sun, Joseph Hong lays out the benefits of bilingual education programs in California and why they work for all students.

ELL Spotlight

• NPR tells the story of Angel Benavides, a Texas student from a family of migrant workers who is working hard to reach his highest aspirations. 

• From The New Yorker, Judith Thurman shares a longer piece titled, "The Mystery of People Who Speak Dozens of Languages" and what they can teach the rest of us.

• Great news from Ellevation partner McAllen Independent School District in Texas, who scored an A on the state's new report card despite significant immigration challenges. Congratulations!

If you prefer taking in your news through video, check out the latest edition of Ellevation's Whiteboard Wednesday for ELL news and resources in less than 5 minutes.