Multilingual Learners (MLL)
We know how important it is for educators to work collaboratively, especially when it comes to focusing on their Multilingual Learner (MLL), or English Language Learner (ELL) population. Here at ANet we’re also learning and thinking about how to advocate for social justice and civil rights in light of an increasing cultural and linguistic diversity in the schools we serve. The resources below are a starting point for building a toolkit of holistic and equitable student support. To dig deeper, reach out to your ANet coach!
Multilingual Learners Resources
Develop an Expansive Mindset
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Collection of podcasts with current MLL topics.
Tips for Implementation: For those who prefer to listen instead of read, try a podcast to help you stay engaged with racial and linguistic diversity issues.
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Language Magazine’s Pass the Mic series raises issues related to Race, English language teaching, and learning.
Tips for Implementation: Use this article as a starting point to launch a broader discussion about the role equity plays within your learning community.
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Blog post that reveals the importance of finding strengths within your MLL community.
Tips for Implementation: Read this blog as an adult learning community to set the foundation for an assets-based approach.
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Multilingual Learners Resources
Learn About Second Language Development, Standards, and Assessment
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Easy to digest demographic infographics, webinars, conferences, and other key resources for MLLs from the Dept. of Ed.
Tips for Implementation: Get granular with the data in your area to be an effective leader of a school with a large MLL population. Subscribe to NCELA’s newsletter to know when new data is available.
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Each state’s standards and assessments describing proficiency levels.
Tips for Implementation: As a leader, reflect on how proficient your staff is in their understanding of English Language Proficiency. Find ways to stay “data-informed” and apply the data in meaningful ways.
AZELLA: Arizona
ELPAC: California
ELPA21: Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, West Virginia
LAS Links: Mississippi
NYSESLAT: New York
TELPAS: Texas
WIDA: All other states
Multilingual Learners Resources
Support MLLs with Making Meaning of Complex Text
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Guide including strategies and consideration, regarding the CCSS shifts, a lesson planning template, and exemplar.
Tips for Implementation: During a PLC, engage in a dialogue to gain a deeper understanding of the shifts and how they apply to MLLs and students with disabilities.
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One strategy to support MLLs with accessing complex texts.
Tips for Implementation: These strategies and supports can be implemented for all students within a close reading lesson.
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A 10-minute video that includes strategies such as sentence frames, repeated practice, real-world examples, and modeling during small group instruction.
Tips for Implementation: Watch in a grade- level meeting and discuss ways to apply these strategies to other reading and writing standards in an upcoming lesson.
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45-minute webinar focusing on how to effectively scaffold and support MLLs in accessing complex, knowledge-building texts.
Tips for Implementation: Reflect: Are there opportunities to use visual art as a conversation anchor in your classroom?
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Academic article focusing on strategies for accessing complex texts, evidence-based writing, speaking and listening, and vocabulary development.
Tips for Implementation: Use this academic paper as an opportunity for teachers to ground in research during a PLC and implement learnings in their classroom.
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Scaffolds and strategies for supporting vocabulary development and accessing complex text.
Tips for Implementation: Grade-level teaching teams can pick one strategy to use across content areas to ensure a streamlined experience for students.
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Multilingual Learners Resources
Support MLLs' Development of Mathematical Language
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Evidence-based routines that allow MLLs to develop their language skills while simultaneously engaging in grade-level mathematics.
Tips for Implementation: Use ANet’s guidance for each routine to learn more about each area.
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Annotated CCSS aligned math tasks for elementary, middle, and high school.
Tips for Implementation: Pick a task at one grade level to see how language development is supported within a high-quality task. What supports can you include in an upcoming task?
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Multilingual Learners Resources
Learn Strategies to Support MLLs Language Development Across Content Areas
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Tool that helps identify high-value words from academic texts, now featuring guidance on supporting MLLs.
Tips for Implementation: Use this tool during close reading planning to ensure a focus on high-impact vocabulary development.
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ELA, math, science, and social studies glossaries in 30+ languages.
Tips for Implementation: While these glossaries were developed as testing accommodations, instructional use is highly encouraged to build familiarity.
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Guidance on using the free WriteReader app to support MLLs.
Tips for Implementation: Reflect: How might a digital glossary support MLL students in your classroom? What steps would it take to implement effectively?
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Strategies including sentence frames, signal words, and word banks.
Tips for Implementation: Reflect: How might these strategies support MLL students in your classroom? What steps would it take to implement effectively?
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Four recommendations that address what works for MLLs during reading and content area instruction. Includes activities, examples, and research.
Tips for Implementation: Bring this research into professional learning settings to create a foundation for a strong MLL program across content areas.
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Strategies from an English Language Learner Specialist.
Tips for Implementation: Read WIDA’s “Can-Do” Descriptors to help craft language objectives for the students in your classroom.
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Multilingual Learners Resources
Evaluate Instructional Materials and Programs
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Tips for Implementation: For ELA, start your evaluation with the non-negotiable criteria (on page 13) and move forward from there based on time.
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Criteria for schools to determine whether instructional materials are appropriate for MLLs and are consistent with standards.
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Five-part video series describing the components of creating a systemic improvement plan for MLLs.
Tips for Implementation: District leaders can use these video series to help create, implement, and make mid-course corrections on a plan that moves beyond just compliance to one that provides coherence for all educators.
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Specific guidance for content development on key areas of English language development that must be embedded across a curriculum, in units, and in lessons.
Tips for Implementation: Explore these ELSF resources, including activities and scaffolds, aligned to the guidelines and systematically fold them into a comprehensive approach.
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Tool with reflection questions to support schools in considering how engaged students are with instructional materials.
Tips for Implementation: Divide these reflection questions across content teams to have a fuller picture of the way materials are serving (or not) your MLL population.
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Multilingual Learners Resources
Start a Book Club
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News updates, articles, book lists, videos and ideas
Disclaimer: Many of these links take you to external organizations. It is your responsibility to ensure you comply with any copyright or permissions restrictions before using these materials.
Designing for EVERY Student
Our role as educators is to support each other toward accomplishing educational equity. Asking and answering the question “why does equitable instruction in math/literacy and all content areas matter to me/my students?” is important to build a vision of excellence and actively advance instruction toward that vision. These definitions are designed to support in that work.
To engage in building a vision of equity with your team, explore our Equitable Instruction Infographic and Equitable Instruction Definitions to learn more.
Educational Equity
A guarantee that educators engage ALL students with meaningful support that they need to reach and exceed a common standard through high-quality instruction.
Institutional Equity
Leadership, practices and culture that guarantee educators engage ALL students with meaningful support they need to meet and exceed a common standard through high-quality instruction.
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