Posted inEnglish Language Learners

Fluent in Expression, Rich in Identity: How Stories Transform English Learners

English Learners: In the bustling library at Kennedy High School in Richmond, CA, Carlos, a determined senior, recently embarked on an inspiring journey. He was preparing a presentation for the upcoming Latinx Heritage Month Celebration, eager to present options for cultural games that his peers could vote on. He came to me to help him […]

Posted inEnglish Language Learners

English in America: Is English Really our “Official” Language in Schools?

English, the “Official” American Language  Although the United States does not have an official language, everyone knows that English is the language of the land. Despite our history of multilingual immigrants who later became Americans, English has always been the “American language.”  Our school system has reinforced this idea and has caused many challenges for […]

Posted inClassroom Management, Common Core, Elementary School, English Language Learners, ESOL, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Kindergarten, Literacy, Special Education, Technology

5 Ways to Use Emojis in the Classroom

I realized almost immediately that I wasn’t getting through to my Kindergartners… again. I asked a class full of 5-year-olds to identify feeling words, and I got the same generic responses – happy, sad, mad. Year after year, I struggle with how to teach my primary students, especially my English Language Learners, to use precise […]

Posted inEnglish Language Learners, ESOL, Featured

2015: A Year in Which an ELL Teacher Goes from “Failure” to “Success”

By Guest Writer Jennifer Healey This New Year’s Eve, I deserved an extra glass of champagne. I toasted myself for my success as an educator. After years of “failure,” in 2015 I was deemed a “successful” teacher by the illustrious Oregon Department of Education. It all went by so fast! It seems like only yesterday I […]