March 2023

In the News

The Language of Equity: A district’s journey to truly serve its English learners

English learners are among the fastest-growing student populations in the United States, including in the South. Through the lens of one Alabama town, this special reporting project from Education Week tells a uniquely American education story about how the district used its pandemic relief funds to fill in needed gaps for its increased EL population.

 

Tough Topics in the News

• 15 Tips for Talking with Children About Violence


• Mississippi Tornado: Resources for Schools


• Natural Disasters in Ecuador: Resources for Schools


• Natural Disaster Resources for Schools: Partnering with Multilingual Families

 

Understanding the Backgrounds of Venezuelan Students & Families (Immigrant Connections)

As the Venezuelan community continues to grow across the U.S., this article takes a closer look at why Venezuelans are coming to the U.S., what experiences many of them of have had on their difficult journeys, and how to support Venezuelan students.

 

This Month's Highlights

César Chávez Day

• The Legacy of César Chávez


• Migrant Farmworker Families: Books for Kids


• Migrant Stories for Young Adults

Recommended Resources

New webinar! Partnering with Indigenous Families from Latin America: Resources for Schools

In recent years, U.S. schools have seen an increase in the number of Indigenous students from Latin America. In this 2023 Share My Lesson Virtual Conference session, participants will learn about some of the unique considerations related to partnering with Indigenous families and learn about some of Colorín Colorado's new resources focused on engaging Indigenous families. (This webinar is now available on demand and for professional development credit.)

 

Research Updates

Narrowing Down to Find Common Ground: Shared Agreements for Effective Literacy Instruction in California

This new working paper released by Pivot Learning reflects collective consensus among leading literacy experts on key topics concerning (1) literacy and multilingual and English learner students; (2) early screening and assessment; and (3) foundational skills.

To learn more about the paper and how it was developed, see EdSource's recent article, Can common ground be found on teaching reading in California?

 

In the Classroom 

Updated! Literacy Instruction for ELLs

^{Image credit: Photo by Allison Shelley for EDUimages}

• Getting to Know Your Students' Language and Literacy Backgrounds


• Reading 101 for English Language Learners


• Literacy Instruction for ELLs: Implementation and Advocacy


• If ELLs Need Additional Literacy Support


• Choosing Diverse Books for Your ELLs: Tips for Educators

Family engagement

• 10 Ways Schools Can Partner with Multilingual Families Around Literacy


• 12 Strategies for Including ELLs in Literacy Celebrations

 

Family Resources and Outreach

Reading 101 for Families: Now in Spanish!

Reading 101 for Families is a Reading Rockets guide that shares engaging activities families can do to support their children’s literacy development at different ages and stages, featuring numerous ideas, videos, booklists, and more!

The guide is now available in Spanish on Colorín Colorado (titled Aprender a leer, or "Learn to Read") and features extensive Spanish-language resources as well. This project was made possible with the support of the National Education Association.

 

Books and Authors

Book of the Month

By Claribel A. Ortega 
Illustrated by Rose Bousamra

Marlene loves three things: books, her cool Tía Ruby and hanging out with her best friend Camila. But according to her mother, Paola, the only thing she needs to focus on is school and "growing up." That means straightening her hair every weekend so she could have "presentable" and "good hair." But Marlene hates being in the salon and doesn't understand why her curls are not considered pretty by those around her. With a few hiccups, a dash of embarrassment, and the much-needed help of Camila and Tia Ruby, she slowly starts a journey to learn to appreciate and proudly wear her curly hair. Winner of the 2023 Pura Belpré Author Award.

Lucía zips through the playground in her cape just like the boys, but when they tell her "girls can't be superheroes," suddenly she doesn't feel so mighty. That's when her beloved abuela reveals a dazzling secret: Lucía comes from a family of luchadoras, the bold and valiant women of the Mexican lucha libre tradition. Cloaked in a flashy new disguise, Lucía returns as a recess sensation! But when she's confronted with a case of injustice, Lucía must decide if she can stay true to the ways of the luchadora and fight for what is right, even if it means breaking the sacred rule of never revealing the identity behind her mask.

Read Across America: Reading Diverse Books All Year Long!