University of Kwazulu-Natal

English Language Learners Nea

Bonisiwe Shabane
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english language learners nea

NEA believes all students deserve the tools and support to flourish. We advocate for our students by pushing for programs that address their unique needs, and we want educators to have every resource they need to connect with ELL students. ELL students are the fastest growing group of students in grades K-12. As their numbers increase, this responsibility is more important than ever. NEA was ahead of the curve in 1966 when we held a conference on bilingual education. We said loud and clear back then that non-English speaking students were not deficient.

The deficiency was in the materials, techniques, and the schools. Our advocacy led directly to the 1968 passage of the Bilingual Education Act, the first step in the attempt to address the needs of ELL students in a systematic way. Today, bilingual education is part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which focuses more strongly on closing the achievement gap between English learners and other students. NEA continues to champion ELL students in the community and the classroom and to advocate for the opportunities they deserve. As our 2015 report on English Language Learners declared, “These are America’s students, and the nation can’t afford to let them down.” Here are some resources to help educators connect with, mentor, and inspire every child.

Achievement gaps between English language learners (ELLs) and non-ELL students are deeply rooted, pervasive, complex, and challenging for National Education Association affiliates and members. The good news is that NEA is actively addressing the complex issues by engaging in research and advocacy and proposing strategies that we can pursue individually and collectively to help eliminate those gaps. All families want the best education for their children, and ELL families are no different. English Language Learners of all ethnicities cite education as a priority for their children, and for the majority of Hispanics—the largest group of ELLs in the nation—education outranked every other issue on national surveys. Families are your most valuable allies for advocating for the rights of ELL students. Use the following advocacy strategies as helpful starting points for partnering with ELL families and communities.

Be open to different forms of parental engagement. Families are involved in their childrens’ education in a variety of ways. Offer them a variety of opportunities for being involved. Dr. Christina Cipriano from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence explains why social-emotional learning for diverse language learners cannot simply be a translation of emotions, words, and terms since it wouldn't take into account the... To help learners from all cultures and backgrounds, the first and primary part of the SEL program approach includes full family engagement instead of considering it as an after-thought or add-on.

See the full interview with Dr. Cipriano on Reading Rockets. This is a program NEA makes available for affiliate use as a professional offering to educators. NEA Teaching ELL Student modules may already be offered through your local or state association. Please contact your state or local association if you are interested in getting a blended learning cohort started. Individual micro-credential topics include:

NEA Micro-credentials are offered at no cost to NEA members. Non-NEA members will be charged a $125.00 scoring fee per micro-credential at the time of submission. The full list of available NEA micro-credentials can be found at: https://nea.certificationbank.com/ A few years ago, at Hamilton Southeastern High School, in Indiana, a class of multilingual students were told to brainstorm in English only for their government class. Many of them were still developing English language skills and struggled to complete the project. The English learner's department chair, Rebecca Schroeder, stepped in.

She encouraged the teacher to allow students to use their first language as part of the process. The results surprised her colleague. “At first, she was telling them English only,” Schroeder explains. “I said, ‘Let them brainstorm in their first language.’” The educator soon came back to Schroeder, excited to show her what the students had developed. “Of course, these are smart, amazing humans.

Let them be them,” Schroeder says.

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NEA believes all students deserve the tools and support to flourish. We advocate for our students by pushing for programs that address their unique needs, and we want educators to have every resource they need to connect with ELL students. ELL students are the fastest growing group of students in grades K-12. As their numbers increase, this responsibility is more important than ever. NEA was ahead...

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The deficiency was in the materials, techniques, and the schools. Our advocacy led directly to the 1968 passage of the Bilingual Education Act, the first step in the attempt to address the needs of ELL students in a systematic way. Today, bilingual education is part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which focuses more strongly on closing the achievement gap between English learners and oth...

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Achievement gaps between English language learners (ELLs) and non-ELL students are deeply rooted, pervasive, complex, and challenging for National Education Association affiliates and members. The good news is that NEA is actively addressing the complex issues by engaging in research and advocacy and proposing strategies that we can pursue individually and collectively to help eliminate those gaps...

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Be open to different forms of parental engagement. Families are involved in their childrens’ education in a variety of ways. Offer them a variety of opportunities for being involved. Dr. Christina Cipriano from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence explains why social-emotional learning for diverse language learners cannot simply be a translation of emotions, words, and terms since it wouldn'...

See The Full Interview With Dr. Cipriano On Reading Rockets.

See the full interview with Dr. Cipriano on Reading Rockets. This is a program NEA makes available for affiliate use as a professional offering to educators. NEA Teaching ELL Student modules may already be offered through your local or state association. Please contact your state or local association if you are interested in getting a blended learning cohort started. Individual micro-credential to...