Weekly Insider: May 12, 2020
Supporting the Needs of English and Multilingual Language Learners
As many schools have experienced closures in the past months, school leaders and educators across the country have made exceptional efforts to continue supporting students and providing learning opportunities via distance learning. While distance learning can be challenging for all students, it can be especially difficult for English learner (EL) students, who typically receive specialized support and instruction.
English learner students and their families face many unique barriers, often including limited access to the technology and devices required to receive online instruction. Furthermore, teachers often don’t speak their native languages, limiting their ability to easily communicate or share resources with EL students and their families. Without ongoing specialized support and resources available to them, these students are particularly vulnerable to experiencing slowed academic and social-emotional progress during times of distance learning.
To help school leaders, educators and staff who work with EL students and families, we have compiled a number of resources below.
New Resources
Larry Ferlazzo’s Tips for Remote Teaching with ELL Students
In this short video, a teacher offers advice for connecting with and supporting ELL students and their families, despite language barriers and other challenges that may exist.
Supporting EL’s Social-Emotional Learning in a Virtual Classroom
Many teachers and students have made a quick shift to virtual classrooms. As with all teachers, teachers of English learners may need to consider new strategies for supporting their students’ social-emotional learning within a virtual classroom.
How Teachers are Trying to Reach English Language Learners During Pandemic
As schools and teachers try to adjust to online teaching, many struggle with the face that much of the educational software used is not specific to the needs of ELL students. Find ideas and strategies that many teachers are using to support the needs of their English learners.
Supporting Multilingual Learners/English Language Learners During the COVID-19 Shutdown
Multilingual learners and English language learners are among the most vulnerable students in terms of slowed academic progress due to school closures. This document offers recommendations and guidance to consider ways to best continue MLLs/ELLs’ language and literacy development.
Grant Alerts
COVID-19 Response Student Success Grants | The NEA Foundation
Grants to help educators adapt to educational challenges due to the effects of COVID-19 on teaching and learning. Learn more.
Deadline: July 15, 2020
Emergency Grants | No Kid Hungry
Emergency grants available for school districts and organizations working to sustain nutrition programs for children during current school closures. Learn more.
Deadline: Rolling
Emergency School Nutrition Funding Grants | GENYOUth
Funding to help supply resources for meal distribution and delivery to ensure students continue to have access to healthy meals. Learn more.
Deadline: Rolling
Community COVID Youth-Led Mini-Grants | Peace First
Rapid response grants available to help young people lead projects that address community impacts of COVID-19, such as providing meals to elderly neighbors, launching digital mental health campaigns, etc. Available to young people between ages 13-25. Learn more.
Deadline: Ongoing
Relatives as Parents Program | Brookdale Foundation Group
Funding to help organizations to develop or expand services for grandparents or surrogate parents taking on responsibility of supporting the health and wellbeing of youth. Learn more.
Deadline: June 10, 2020
*The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools does not administer these funding opportunities. Please refer to each organization for further direction and details.