Raising the Bar for English Learners: Tips and Resources to Create Robust Pathways to Multilingualism | |
|
OELA is supporting and amplifying ED’s goal to create pathways for global engagement by working to provide every student with a pathway to multilingualism while ensuring equitable access to a high-quality education for ELs who have historically been underserved. In this newly released infographic, find key tips and resources to foster multilingualism for ELs. Topics include:
- Family engagement
- Early learning
- Dual language learning
- Seal of Biliteracy
| |
Launch of the “Being Bilingual is a Superpower” Initiative | |
|
In November, ED launched its “Being Bilingual is a Superpower" initiative to promote and further the understanding of being bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural as an educational and economic imperative for student success and global competitiveness and engagement.
The event commenced with a performance from Escuela Key Elementary, a dual-language (English/Spanish) immersion school for grades K–5. Secretary Cardona then shared his vision and ED’s efforts to provide every student a pathway to multilingualism. The event also featured a roundtable conversation with experts from around the country who had created and implemented the policies, processes, programs, and practices necessary for ELs and all students to have access to high-quality multilingual education.
| |
Loan Forgiveness Programs for Teachers | |
|
Did you know that ED has multiple federal student loan forgiveness programs for teachers, including Public Service Loan Forgiveness? Explore which ones you may be eligible for along with tips for weighing the options with this information provided by FAFSA.
| |
Developmentally appropriate classroom environments should embody authenticity, incorporate language-rich elements, embrace play-based approaches, and establish a foundation based on children's social, linguistic, and cultural wealth. This session breaks down these principles into three key areas: (a) the print reflected in the classroom, (b) culturally familiar visuals, and (c) the culturally relevant materials expected in a responsive classroom. Early childhood educators can employ practical strategies to incorporate children’s home language(s) and culture(s) throughout their classroom spaces. Registration Deadline: Noon on December 8, 2023. | |
Connect, learn, and recharge at the ultimate event for English language teaching (ELT) professionals. You'll have the incredible opportunity to meet and connect with ELT colleagues from all over the world. Not only that, but you'll also have access to 800+ educational sessions, three captivating keynote addresses, and 60+ exhibiting companies. Lock in advance savings for this Tampa, Florida, event by February 15, 2024. | |
Join the National Association of English Learner Program Administrators for the 2024 Hybrid Conference. The theme of this year's conference is “Leading Change in Multilingual Education.” In addition to the virtual offerings, the in-person conference will be Tuesday, March 26–Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The conference is in conjunction with the National Association for Bilingual Education Annual Conference. It will include keynote presentations from Dr. Jessica Costa and Crystal Gonzales as well as ED and OELA. | |
|
March 28–30
NABE 2024 Conference
Conference
| The National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) Annual Conference is a 3-day event scheduled to be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, from March 28–30. The conference will include educational sessions, inspiring keynote speakers, award competitions, and networking opportunities. Pre-conference events are also offered on March 26 and 27, in conjunction with the NAELPA Conference. Please note that the early bird registration period ends on December 4, 2023. For attendee registration and general conference information, you can contact mconf.reg.nabe@gmail.com. | |
Join the global community of ELT professionals for the Virtual TESOL 2024 International Convention & Expo April 11–12. You'll gain exclusive access to recordings of the three keynotes from the in-person convention and to 200+ other pre-recorded sessions. Please note that the virtual sessions are different from those presented in Tampa at the in-person convention. | |
|
The in-person conference is scheduled at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Brunswick May 29–31. Register for one, two, or all three days and take advantage of networking opportunities with colleagues. Stay updated on state and national initiatives, and don't miss the chance to explore the latest teaching tools by visiting the representatives at the sponsor and exhibitor booths.
Presentation topics will include General Interest, Content Area Instruction, Bilingual/ESL Pre-K through 12, Higher Education, and more. Register by February 2, 2024, at 10 p.m. for a discounted rate, which includes one free year of membership.
| |
|
October 15–18
WIDA Annual Conference
Conference
| The WIDA Annual Conference is the premier event for educators of Pre–K through grade 12 multilingual learners, giving educators from around the globe the opportunity to share best practices and discover innovative classroom strategies. The in-person conference will take place October 15–18, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A curated virtual track will also be available. | |
|
|
Her Campus
The Secretary of Education on Why the ED’s New Teacher Campaign is Important for Gen Z
There is currently a teacher shortage in the U.S., particularly when it comes to representing racial diversity in the classroom. ED has been working over the last couple of years to give American children and educators a better chance to face the rising challenges in the sector. Their new campaign, “Teachers: Leaders Shaping Lives,” aims to inspire the next generation of new and underrepresented educators. This campaign follows several other initiatives undertaken by the ED in recent years, such as increasing teacher pay, implementing student teacher apprenticeship programs, and establishing grant programs that target educator diversity. ED has already seen positive results from its efforts to help revitalize careers in education, such as increased teacher salaries and paid apprenticeships for student teachers.
| |
|
Tulsa World
English Language Learners Flourish in Tulsa’s Newcomer Academy
East Central High School’s Newcomer Academy is serving high school-age students who are new to the U.S. The academy works with students to build their English skills while also covering the academic courses required to earn a high school diploma. The program has a team of faculty members who teach English, math, and other core subjects that are specifically designed for newcomer students. The Newcomer Academy has more than 100 students enrolled, and numbers continue to increase. At the district level, newcomers are defined as multilingual students who have attended an American school for two years or less. With about half born in the United States, more than 4,200 students in Tulsa Public Schools meet this definition.
| |
|
New America
NEW RESOURCES: A New Look at Dual Language Learner Data Gaps
In 2018, New America provided nine recommendations for how state leaders can improve dual language learner (DLL) data practices in three areas: (a) screening, identifying, and tracking DLL enrollment; (b) evaluating program quality; and (c) assessing learning outcomes. Since then, no state has addressed all of the recommendations, and no single recommendation has been adopted by all states. This brief synthesizes recent interviews with state and national early childhood education leaders who are actively working to address DLL data gaps. Each section includes a summary of the original brief, an update on each recommendation, and emerging research or solutions in the topic area. The final section discusses three challenges to closing data gaps.
| |
|
Language Magazine
TIPS FOR EDUCATORS: No Benefit to Segregating English Learners
Grouping ELs together in classrooms has no impact—positive or negative—on reading development for elementary school students, according to a new study by a team of literacy education researchers from New York University. Using teacher reports on the percentage of ELs in their classrooms, the researchers examined whether high EL concentrations were linked to reading development. Their findings, published in Educational Researcher, indicate neither a positive nor a negative relationship between EL concentration and reading development.
| |
|
Edutopia
TIPS FOR EDUCATORS: Enhancing Collaboration Between Classroom Teachers and ELL Specialists
Studies have found that schools with a greater number of teacher collaborations result in higher student achievement outcomes in reading and math. Schools that have ELs can especially benefit from collaborative work between classroom teachers and teachers who specialize in working with ELs. In schools where ELs do not have access to a specialized EL teacher throughout their entire school day, such collaboration between adults is especially vital. This article offers suggestions for enhancing teamwork between teachers and EL specialists.
| |
|
Call for Proposals – 2024 WIDA Annual Conference
WIDA invites you to share your expertise as a presenter at the 2024 WIDA Annual Conference on October 15–18, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The knowledge and insight of WIDA educators and experts in the field are essential to the quality of the WIDA Annual Conference. The deadline to submit concurrent session and workshop proposals is January 24, 2024. Learn more and submit your proposal on the Present page of the conference website.
| |
|
WIDA Español Academy: Afirmando la experiencia bilingüe con el Marco DALE
In this two-day WIDA Español Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, educators link the pedagogical foundations of Marco de los estándares del desarrollo auténtico del lenguaje español de WIDA (Marco DALE) to the instruction of bi/multilingual students. Day two features a local school visit to observe pedagogical foundations like multiliteracies and transculturalism in action within a dual language or bilingual education program. This academy will be delivered in Spanish.
| |
|
Universidad de Alcalá Teach & Learn in Spain Graduate Program
Teach & Learn in Spain is a graduate program designed for native or near-native English speakers. Through the program, students earn a Master’s Degree while gaining experience in a school in the Madrid region as a language assistant. The application period will be open from January 10, 2024, to March 20, 2024. The program begins on September 1, 2024, and concludes on July 1, 2025. For further inquiries, please contact Angela Sauciuc, Director of Programs and Teacher Training, at angela.sauciuc@institutofranklin.
| |
|
University of Colorado Denver’s PhD in Early Childhood Policy
Are you interested in earning a PhD in Early Childhood Policy? The University of Colorado Denver offers a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program that focuses on Early Childhood Policy. This program emphasizes that specialized attention to policy and systems is crucial to achieving quality, equity, and scale in the field. Fellowships are also available for BIPOC students and those who have historically been underserved by doctoral education.
| |
|
Leadership for Welcoming Newcomer Students: 6 Steps to Take
Does your school embrace asylees, refugees, and other newcomer students? If so, there are immediate steps that you can take to create a supportive school environment. Internationals Network presents six recommended steps from school leaders. By implementing these steps, you can create a welcoming and inclusive environment for newcomer students, fostering their academic success and overall well-being.
| |
|
Newcomer Welcome Toolkit
As schools in the United States are currently responding to the growing enrollment of newcomer students, including immigrants, asylees, and refugees from all over the world, Internationals Network for Public Schools presents this Newcomer Welcome Kit curated by school leaders for school leaders. In this kit, you’ll find strategies and resources that were developed and vetted by leaders across Internationals Network to aid you, your staff, and community partners, as well as customizable samples of Internationals resources and tip sheets about how to implement strategies.
| |
State Seal of Biliteracy Infographic | |
|
A new infographic from OELA provides a deep dive into the State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB). The SSB is an award given by a State Educational Agency to recognize students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. It discusses strategies for school districts to increase the number of students earning SSBs and explores connections between dual-language programs and the Seal.
| |
|
Subscribe to NCELA Nexus
Did you receive the Nexus from a colleague? You can subscribe here.
| |
|
Submit Your News
Do you have news to share with the Nexus community?
Send your alerts, upcoming events, resources, and job postings to AskNCELA
by Monday, December 11 for inclusion in the next edition of Nexus.
| |
National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition (NCELA)
| |
Disclaimer: NCELA Nexus is intended to share information that can be of use to educators, parents, learners, leaders, and other stakeholders in their efforts to ensure that every student, including ELs, is provided with the highest quality education and expanded opportunities to succeed. The information and materials presented on NCELA Nexus do not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by NCELA, the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA), or the U.S. Department of Education.
| | | | |
