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?