2020 Fall Newsletter
Response to Covid-19

As we navigate these uncertain times, SEAL remains steadfast in our commitment to serving our English Learner/Dual Language Learner students along with their teachers, families, and school communities. SEAL is working to adapt our programs, resources, and services to online formats and distance learning contexts to support our partners and school communities across the state.
Spotlight: Check out some SEAL Teacher magic!

Here is a beautiful example of a content based chant that promotes academic oral language development that is culturally responsive, relevant, joyful, and engaging. This is a video of Vanessa Sanchez who is part of the 2nd grade team at Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion Elementary School in Redwood City. Her colleague Albert Lopez wrote the chant, and the entire second grade team used this as part of their unit on Government and Leaders.

Reimaging Distance Learning that Centralizes DLL/ELs

Throughout this fall our focus is to reimagine distance learning that centralizes Dual Language/English Learners. As a part of this effort, we are excited to share public versions of our TK through 6th grade Return to School (RTS) Toolkits. They include everything needed to create safe and affirming virtual classrooms that centralize the needs of Dual Language/English Learners while supporting ALL student learning. The RTS Toolkits can be used in either English or Bilingual/Dual Language distance learning context. They are fully developed SEAL units complete with live-linked pacing guides and strategies that are ready to use. Click here to access, and please share them widely. We will be sharing more resources with the field throughout the fall!


“In a world that was so new to me with so many new pieces to learn in terms of technology and distance learning, the Return To School unit was such a gift. The unit was complete with so many details built out- thank you all for this wonderful unit.”
-Kelli Dorsey, 2nd Grade SEAL Teacher

Announcements:
New DLL Professional Development Series

Thanks to a new CDE Dual Language Learner Professional Development grant, SEAL is launching a new virtual PD series to Support Dual Language Learners throughout the pandemic! This Professional Learning Series for preschool educators is designed to increase system capacity and to improve educator effectiveness. The four topic-based learning summit sessions will discuss partnering with families, addressing complex oral language development, providing children with interesting complex text, and making language "visible". Learn more here!
EL RISE!
In partnership with Californians Together and LMU’s Center for Equity for English Learners (CEEL), we are thrilled to announce that our collaborative initiative, EL RISE (English Learner Roadmap Implementation for System Excellence) is off and running! CDE awarded this three-year Educator Workforce Investment Grant, through which we will be partnering with county offices of education and districts across the state to support implementation of the EL Roadmap. In just three short months, our efforts have already reached 2633 participants - and counting!
Don't forget to check out our SEAL Blog page! We have new pieces that we recently co-authored with Early Edge California and Advancement Project California, and more to come!