Imagine two overlapping circles. One represents what the law permits or prohibits. The other represents what morality and ethics require. Where the circles overlap, actions are both legal and morally right. The Supreme Court asylum decision reminds us why that distinction matters. The hardest questions any society faces arise where …
Imagine being in a small boat when a surge of waves causes it to capsize. Survival depends not on a single act, but on a series of rapid, moment-to-moment decisions: conserving energy, regulating breath, timing movements between the powerful waves, drawing the attention of a nearby craft, and resisting panic.
College rarely prepares teachers, administrators, and other school professionals to work with children and youth who have experienced trauma, particularly those living under the constant fear of family separation. Yet across the country, educators are increasingly being asked to navigate the very real effects of fear, instability, and uncertainty on …
When Mrs. Moyner planned her math lesson, she recalled a colleague’s advice about displaying the vocabulary she wanted students to learn. She knew that English Language and Multilingual Learners (ELs/MLs) benefit from seeing key language in consistent, accessible locations. Using the teacher’s guide for her unit on fractional ratios, she …
In this timely episode, Tan Huynh interviews Colorín Colorado’s Lydia Breiseth and Dr. Debbie Zacarian, Ed.D., about the laws, policies, and regulations governing the education of multilingual learners (MLs). They discuss a new, reader-friendly guide that is fully available online and designed to be easily accessible and navigable for practitioners, …
Debbie Zacarian and Becki Cohn-Vargas Yorleni is a fourth grader who moved to New York from Nicaragua. At enrollment, her parents express concern about Yorleni feeling comfortable in school. They share that her brother’s recent death from cancer has affected Yorleni deeply, and that she has become much quieter. They …
I am excited to announce the launch of Elevating Strengths: Supporting Multilingual Learners Facing Adversity, a comprehensive self-paced online course designed for educators and professionals supporting multilingual learners impacted by trauma, violence, or chronic stress. This 10-hour course employs a strengths-based approach and provides practical, research-backed strategies to apply immediately to enhance …
A current proposal aims to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and Title III—the only federal funding specifically designated to support English Learners. Without this support, how can schools recruit and retain the qualified educators that English and multilingual learners need? This infographic breaks down what’s at stake for both …
Many multilingual learners (MLs) and their families face significant challenges and barriers that highlight the profound impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on vulnerable students. Failing to recognize the adversities that our MLs and their families are experiencing can limit our ability to support them effectively. Even with knowledge, we …
Currently, there is a proposal to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and Title III funding—the only federal funding source specifically designated to support English Learners. Are these eliminations likely to serve students well? This infographic breaks down why this matters and what’s at stake.
