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Advocacy and Collective Efficacy can go a long way to assist our ELL students

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  Advocacy and Collective Efficacy can go a long way to assist our ELL students Advocacy is a powerful word. Advocacy for ELLs is very influential and can lead to positive results for the entire school community. If even one or two teachers stand up for the ELL students, this can yield a favorable outcome.  If one or two teachers get together and decide that they want to create change, they can influence other teachers to feel the same. If all teachers agree and begin to actively work together for a goal, there is collective efficacy. According to the article Creating a Culture of Creativity Risk-taking and Innovation, “ Schools will improve for the benefit of every student only when every leader and every teacher are members where the culture reflects a synergy in problem solving and emotional and practical support.” I would love to see this happen at my school! I would love to get our staff together to discuss how we can arrange for more funding for ELL students. Of course...
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UDL and technology go hand in hand

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  UDL and technology go hand in hand All teachers regardless of what subject that they are teaching are having to adapt their teaching to accommodate ELL learners. For myself, as a teacher-librarian in a teaching context with many ELL students, I have had to adapt my teaching and have more understanding of UDL. UDL, Universal Design for Learning, is basically the concept that students need to be able to show their learning in a variety of ways, and that there needs to be differentiation and access to technology to support this learning. For me personally this has required me to completely rejig my programming this year. I have learned about how “ Story Studio” can assist in helping students to demonstrate what they have learned by using various materials such as pipe cleaners, Play-Doh, figurines, gems and other objects.  I have been using technology as well to teach ELL students by using translation services and also reading applications such as EPIC for kids that also have c...
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Culturally Inclusive Learning Environments help to support equity in schools

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  Culturally inclusive learning environments help to support equity in schools From what I have read and experienced, my understanding is that if educators can find ways to be inclusive of new ELL students’ cultural backgrounds, this can help to ensure equity for all. It is very important for teachers and school personnel to get to know their new ELL students and develop a rapport with them. To do so means that one needs to understand where they come from, and more about their cultural practices. To this end, my personal belief is that educators need to spend time educating all students about all cultures, and not just the culture of the newly arrived ELL students. If we want our students to be global citizens, it is incumbent upon us to encourage them to be aware of other cultures and cultural practices. In this way, teachers should be teaching students about holidays such as Ramadan, Eid, Vasaikhi, Chinese New Year, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas, Easter, Passover, etc.  Accor...
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