ELL News Headlines

Throughout the week, Colorín Colorado gathers news headlines related to English language learners from around the country. The ELL Headlines are posted Monday through Friday and are available for free!

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Creating a welcoming environment for linguistically diverse families of students in special education

In her recent book, Partnering with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families in Special Education, Kristin Vogel-Campbell notes the difficulties that parents of students with disabilities face when there is a language barrier. Vogel-Campbell, a 20-year veteran of special education, has seen a higher level of agency, access and knowledge of the special education system among white and English-speaking parents of children with disabilities.

Free PBS KIDS professional learning is paying off for early childhood educators and providers

In Wisconsin, certified early care providers and early childhood educators are required to complete annual continuing education through the Wisconsin Registry. For many, it can be a challenge to find budget-friendly courses that fit into their schedules. To help bridge the gap between accessibility and high-quality professional learning, PBS Wisconsin Education offers free PBS KIDS self-paced learning courses through the Wisconsin Registry. Since October 2022, educators and providers have earned more than 2,700 registry credits. Courses cover topics including social and emotional development, literacy and science.

Indianapolis Public Schools plans new approach to teaching English learners

At Lew Wallace School 107, principal Arthur Hinton sees students come from all over the world. The sounds of Spanish, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, and Arabic can fill the halls of the K-6 school on the west side of Indianapolis, near the “international marketplace” neighborhood. In recent years, the school has attracted more students whose families hail from Haiti, speaking French or Creole.

Los Angeles students get free instruments. An Oscar-nominated film shows who keeps them working.

In the opening scene of "The Last Repair Shop," a young girl with beads in her braids smiles at the camera. "I love the violin. … If I didn't have my violin from school, I would probably, I don't know what I’d do. Don't even jinx me with that." The Oscar-nominated short documentary, directed by Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers, tells the story of the technicians who clean and repair more than 100,000 instruments for the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The Science of Reading and English Learners: 3 Takeaways for Policy and Classroom Practice

Young English learners face a two-fold challenge in learning to read. They need to learn how to map spoken sounds to written letters, the phonics skills that allow them to decode words on the page, just as native English speakers do. But at the same time, they’re also developing new language skills in English—knowledge that’s essential to their ability to understand written text. How to address these dual priorities was the subject of an Education Week webinar on March 4. Two experts in the field discussed a joint statement, authored by advocates for the science of reading and advocates for English learners, that outlines guiding tenets for classroom practice.

Fasting and Feasting: 6 Picture Books About Ramadan

This selection of picture books features various traditions and ways to celebrate the holy month, showing young readers the diversity within the Muslim community while celebrating the shared principles.

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