New Speakers Added! Developing Educator Expertise to Work with ELs Webinar |
|
We have a great speaker lineup for our February 14 webinar with the National Research and Development Center to Improve Education for Secondary English Learners on developing teacher expertise to work with ELs. Hear from:
-
Dr. Aída Walqui, Senior Research Scientist, WestEd
-
Dr. George C. Bunch, Professor of Education and Department Chair, University of California, Santa Cruz
-
Dr. Alexandra Estrella, Superintendent, Norwalk Public Schools
-
Yael Glick, Teacher, New York City Public Schools
-
Leland Hartman, Senior Program Associate for English Language Arts, WestEd’s Teacher Professional Development Program
Professional learning that results in enhanced professional expertise should be aligned to strategic goals, ongoing, and address outcomes for knowledge, attitudes, skills, aspirations, and practices. When teachers apply standards and research to their work, develop the expertise essential to their roles, and prioritize coherence and alignment in instruction, the results are equitable and positive for all students. Panelists will present a model for the development of teacher expertise to serve ELs and share multimodal resources to plan and implement high-quality professional learning in pre-service and in-service programs.
|
|
This webinar will present the findings from the report In Search of Equity for English Learners, conducted by the Center for Equity for English Learners and Californians Together. School district leaders will share aspects of their Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAPs) that uplift and prioritize the needs of ELs with aspirational goals, actions, growth targets, professional development, and program components that create a road map for high-quality, comprehensive EL programs and practices. |
|
February 21–22
Hybrid Conference
|
Join NAELPA in Portland, OR, for their 2023 Hybrid Conference. The theme of this year’s conference is Assume Greatness: Diversity IS our Strength, featuring author and journalist Jo Napolitano as keynote speaker. The conference includes virtual pre-conferences in early February (exact dates to be announced soon), in-person and virtual presentations on February 22, and new this year—an exclusive in-person workshop with Dr. Michelle Yzquierdo on February 21. |
|
Join Early Childhood Professional Learning as they explore and bring together two frameworks: the Pyramid Model for social-emotional competence and WestEd’s Bridging Cultures framework. After looking at each framework separately, they will use them to guide an analysis of free online social and emotional learning resources. Participants will brainstorm practical steps and ideas for implementing culturally appropriate practices that also enhance children’s social-emotional development. |
|
February 22–25
Conference
|
The National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) Conference will take place in Portland, OR. The conference includes sessions for teachers in dual language, ESL, administrators, paraprofessionals, university professors, students, researchers, advocates, policymakers, and parents. |
|
Join the global community of English language professionals for TESOL 2023 in Portland, OR. Through an engaging in-person event, you will be able to choose from 900 in-person sessions, access 200 virtual sessions, and interact with exhibitors. |
|
|
Patch
More than one million ELs were enrolled in California’s public schools last year. Santa Clara County’s ELs saw mixed progress during the COVID-19 pandemic with regards to performance on California’s English language proficiency (ELP) assessment. In Santa Clara County school districts with the largest populations of ELs, data showed three districts had a drop in ELP test scores while the others saw an increase. The state average also increased by about 2%, and four out of the seven districts analyzed surpassed the state average in the 2021–22 school year. Advocates said this lack of consistency demonstrates that EL students need more resources and support, such as language support in content area courses.
|
|
Santa Fe New Mexican
A new report from the Santa Fe Data Platform indicates that a third of residents, or about 35,000 people, in the Santa Fe school district speak Spanish. This number is expected to rise 10% by 2030 to 40,000 people — a trend consistent with steady growth in the city’s Spanish-speaking population in the past 30 years. The news comes as state data shows proficiency rates in core subjects for ELs in the district — some of whom speak languages other than Spanish — remain among the lowest. Santa Fe Public Schools has been investing state funds to bolster its bilingual programs. The district also has worked to recruit staff certified to teach ELs. New Mexico has a long history of bilingual education, with enactment of the Bilingual Multicultural Education Act in 1973. The law encourages bilingualism and provides funding to support programs.
|
|
Texas Insider
State Rep. Bobby Guerra included plans for a seal of biliteracy in the legislative agenda he filed for the 88th session of the Texas State House of Representatives. HB 1069 creates a seal of biliteracy for students to indicate they have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation.
|
|
The Hook
Bilingual speakers juggle the knowledge of two languages at once. They harness two separate ways of thinking. Having full knowledge of a language includes knowing the words, sound system, writing system, grammar, and expressions. When a person acquires full knowledge, or even part knowledge, their brain exchanges information between the left and right sides. Language learning exercises and enhances the brain in a physical sense. Specifically, the regions of the brain involved in learning and speaking new languages. This article highlights the advantages that the learning and knowledge of multiple languages provides to its learners, with a focus on benefits to college students.
|
|
University of Connecticut
The purpose of this brief is to offer suggestions that will help schools engage multilingual and non-English-speaking parents and families to ensure their participation as full and equal partners. The brief identifies five barriers to building effective partnerships between schools and families. Each barrier is followed by a potential research-based solution. Each district and school may have different populations with vastly different needs; thus, it is important to be mindful of the cultural backgrounds of students and families each district serves. Respect and responsiveness are embedded throughout each recommendation to best honor and respond to the families engaging with districts.
|
|
WIDA
This edition of Conversations with Tim features a discussion between Tim Boals, WIDA founder and director, Jessica Lee Stovall, and Rita Kamani-Renedo. Both panelists are working on doctorate degrees at the Graduate School of Education at Stanford University. Jessica’s work focuses on the intersection of Black studies and education. Rita is working in the areas of race, inequality, and language in education, as well as curriculum and teacher education. The panelists joined Merideth Trahan, WIDA chief of staff, to talk about building classroom communities — everything from the how to the why. The panelists shared their thoughts on how to stay engaged and excited about teaching.
|
|
The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) at the University of Minnesota provides high-quality professional development for language teachers that link research and theory with practical applications for the classroom. This summer, CARLA will offer 15 institutes (online and in-person) on a wide range of topics: Teaching Language Through the Lens of Social Justice, Critical Approaches to Heritage Language Education, Teaching for Proficiency in Dual Language Immersion, Introduction to Dual Language Immersion, and more.
|
|
NABE is now accepting proposals for the DLS taking place June 2–3, in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The deadline to submit proposals is 6:00 p.m. CST on January 31. DLS 2023 topics include:
-
Administrator Strand: Building Leadership Opportunities; Recruitment & Retention of Highly Qualified Dual Language Teachers
-
Practitioner Strand: Enhancing Family Engagement in Dual Language Programs; Integrating STEM/STEAM in Dual Language Curriculum
|
|
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 17–20, in Milwaukee, WI. A curated virtual option will also be available. The call for proposals is now open, and the deadline is January 31. Registration for this event opens in spring 2023.
|
|
TESOL Press seeks two authors for a new product series geared toward English language teachers who are looking for classroom activities that require little to no preparation. Authors will provide extremely brief classroom tasks and activities related to specific language skills. The author(s) will be expected to write activities and cull and refine them from the TESOL Press catalogue. The products will be developed over a 1-year period, starting as soon as possible, with expected publication by the end of 2023. TESOL encourages co-author applications with diverse teaching backgrounds and contexts.
|
|
The Teacher Innovator Institute will welcome up to 30 teachers from across the United States in summer 2023. Spend 2 weeks in Washington, D.C., working with education and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) experts to explore the connections between informal STEAM education and authentic learning. Teachers will remain with the program for two summers, returning to Washington, D.C., in Year 2 to reconnect, develop their practice, and mentor the newest class of Teacher Innovators. There is no cost for teachers to participate and most expenses are paid by the Museum.
|
|
Center for Applied Linguistics
Washington, DC
|
|
Brenau University
Gainesville, GA
|
|
Podcast: Dual Language Education |
|
How can you position yourself as an advocate for quality dual language programs? Get useful teaching tips and ideas from Drs. Maria Coady, Marco Bravo, and Louise Lockard in OELA’s two-part podcast on dual language education. |
|
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 Tuesday, January 31, 2023 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
