Before we get started with this special episode of Highest Aspirations, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the unprecedented impact the current COVID-19 situation is having on our schools and communities. It’s heartbreaking that the widespread school closures, though understandable in the current health environment, will make it difficult for students to access the many services and relationships their schools provide.

If you’d like to share what you are doing to help support students and their families during this crisis, or just share your own story, we’d love to hear from you. We’ll share as many stories as we can on the Highest Aspirations podcast so we can support each other remotely until we can come together again. If you’d like to participate, go to bit.ly/ELLHelper - it only takes two minutes.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What affordances does online learning provide that traditional classes may now? How might online learning help English learners keep learning during long term school closures like the ones we are seeing with the COVID-19 outbreak? What tech tools can teachers use to help support English learners while they are not able to come to school? We discuss these issues and much more with Dr. Gretchen Oliver and Dr. Karen Gregory of Clarkson University on this special episode of Highest Aspirations.

Connect with Gretchen and Karen:

• Twitter: @gretchenpoliver
• Twitter: @kmpgregory
• Clarkson University Website - Gretchen Oliver 
• Clarkson University Website - Karen Gregory 

During our conversation, we referenced the following books and resources:

• English Language Learners and the New Standards:  Developing Language, Content Knowledge, and Analytical Practices in the Classroom, by Margaret Heritage, Aida Walqui, and Robert Linquanti
• Doing and Talking Math and Science:  Strengthening Language Strengthening Reasoning (website), by Rita MacDonald and her team
• Using Understanding by Design in the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Classroom, by Amy J. Heineke and Jay McTighe
• Educating Emergent Bilinguals, by Ofelia Garcia
• Language and Learning in the Digital Age, by James Gee & Elisabeth Hayes

Gretchen Oliver is the Assistant Director of TESOL programs and an Assistant Professor in the Education Department at Clarkson University, Capital Region Campus, in Schenectady NY. She has prior experience as a K- 12 French teacher and taught English as Foreign Language in Grenoble, France. Dr. Oliver's research focuses on teaching STEM to English learners, teacher education and professional development, and ESOL-focused leadership practices.

Karen Gregory is the Director of TESOL programs and an Assistant Professor in the Education Department at Clarkson University, Capital Region Campus, in Schenectady NY. She has prior experience as a K- 12 Spanish and ENL teacher. Dr. Gregory's research focuses on content instruction for English learners, teacher professional development, and whole school improvement.

Finally, please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. This will help us continue bringing you the best topics and guests on Highest Aspirations.