Translanguaging, Effective Instruction, and Advocacy for English Language Learners
6 Principles
Know your learners
Create conditions for language learning
Design high-quality lessons for language development
Adapt lesson delivery as needed
Monitor & assess student language development
Engage & collaborate within a community of practice
Translanguaging Strategies
Preview - review
Quick explanations during whole-class or small group instruction
Quick explanations to individual students
Pull students aside to re-teach concepts
Read aloud books that reinforce concepts taught in English
Accept students' contributions in their home languages during class discussions
Label the classroom in English & the Students' home languages
Create Instructional Wall Displays in Home Langauges
Engage students in Cognate Word Study lessons
Use the home language to support writing w/ English
Accept initial writing in students' home language as they transition to English writing
Read-aloud home language versions of books used in class
Provide home language & dual language books for at home reading programs
Send home letters in the students home langauges
Allow students to help each other
Use computer software & internet resources
Seek bilingual parents or community volunteers
Provide bilingual dictionaries & mobile translation apps
Effective Programs & Advocacy
Advocating for ELLs
Ensure that ELLS attain proficient in English
Ensure that ELLS are given equal access to core curriculum
Value home languages & translanguaging practices
Value home cultures
Use multiple forms of ongoing authentic assessments
Have teachers who are fully credentialed & certified to work with ELLs
Teachers advocate for ELLs & their families
Ongoing professional development opportunities
Promote parental engagement
Understand federal and state policies that benefits ELLs
Use data to demonstrate progress
Work to change policies that are harmful to students
Serve on committees at the local & state level
Join professional organizations
Read professional literature
Stay connected through professional websites and social media platforms
Parental Engagement
Language barriers, discomfort with school, & work schedules can present challenges to active parental engagement
Parents should learn about US schools & education - Schools should address challenges in a culturally senstive way
Create family literacy programs
Hold parent & family nights throughout the year (going beyond normal Open House & PT conferences
Recommend parents to serve on school committees
Take or send parents to local and national conferences
Accommodate Parents' language needs
Action Research
Establish a clear purpose/topic
Have a specific question
Anticipate the outcome
Specify the type(s) of data to collect & how data will be collected
Reflect on results
Consider issues related to time
Collect data systematically & analyze
Generate practical solutions -> experiment & monitor
Share insights with colleagues
Key Takeaways, Connections & Reactions:
Promoting learners' growth in their home language can greatly benefit their growth in developing their skills in English - the two are not exclusive of each other
Teachers should utilize translanguaging strategies with the goal of supporting learners' growth in English and avoid building a dependency on the home language to complete tasks
Advocating for ELLs can happen in a number of ways - the key is to know your students, their families, and take action in supporting them
Teachers should not limit themselves to one strategy, rather should attempt using new methods that they believe will benefit their students & follow the steps to analyze and continue further research
Engaging families of ELLs can be challenging, but if teachers/schools do so in an authentic way with systems in place to make it a priority, it can greatly benefit ELLs learning experience and the broader school community
Questions to Consider
What best practices have teachers used to balance the demands of high stakes testing with authentic assessments at the high school level?
Has research indicated that learners who are struggling to grow benefit from the consistent use of one/a few approaches or that change is necessary?
Reading & writing in the home language is still practicing reading & writing skills and can translate to growth in English. Teacher's responsibility to oversee that growth is still happening.
What organizations/resources exist to support schools that are currently understaffed or underfunded to support ELLs & their families in NYC?