Posts

Newcomers in U.S. Public Schools: A Guide for Educators

-
Image
Newcomer students—recent arrivals to the United States—often face a whirlwind of challenges as they adjust to a new country, culture, and school system. For educators, the responsibility of supporting these amazing students extends beyond academics. It requires empathy, cultural responsiveness, and a commitment to creating equitable learning opportunities. This blog explores the journey newcomers face, practical strategies for supporting them, and how we can embrace bilingual instruction to help students thrive academically and socially. Please know that this post is not an exhaustive list of the struggles Newcomers face and the strategies that educational institutions must take. Instead, this is a very basic springboard to ongoing work that should most definitely continue as educators receive more diverse students from around the world in their classrooms. Understanding the Newcomer Experience Newcomers arrive with a variety of backgrounds, languages, and educational experiences. Some...
Post a Comment
Read more

Is Racism Real in the United States? Exploring the Complexities

-
Image
Is Racism Real in the United States? Exploring the Complexities Racism in the United States is a deeply rooted issue, intertwined with both historical and systemic challenges. While some argue that racial inequality is driven purely by economic factors, my experiences and research reveals that race plays a significant role in shaping experiences and opportunities in America today. From education and employment to housing and criminal justice, racial disparities persist, underscoring the reality of racism. Stick with me and lets explore this topic a bit further.  Systemic Inequality in Numbers Statistics consistently show that people of color face disproportionate challenges. And, as many people have said; numbers do not lie. Lets look at the following: Mass Incarceration : Black Americans are incarcerated at rates nearly five times higher than white Americans. Hispanic and Indigenous communities also face disproportionately high incarceration rates due to systemic biases in the cri...
Post a Comment
Read more

Understanding and Supporting English Language Learners (ELLs): A Guide for Educators

-
Image
Understanding and Supporting English Language Learners (ELLs): In classrooms across the United States, over 5 million students are English Language Learners (ELLs), making up about 10% of the public school population. These students bring incredible diversity in culture, language, and perspective, enriching our classrooms. But they also face unique challenges that require thoughtful support from educators, families, and communities to succeed academically and socially. As educators, it’s important to ask ourselves: Are we meeting the needs of these learners? Are we helping them thrive, or unintentionally leaving them behind? By understanding the levels of language acquisition, the experiences of ELL students, and strategies for support, we can ensure their success. ELL Language Proficiency Levels: ELL students are not a monolith. Their proficiency in English varies greatly, and understanding where they fall on the spectrum of language development is key to providing the right support. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Embracing Dreams at Any Age

-
Image
My Journey of Passion, Persistence, and Poetic Pursuits In a world that often places restrictions based on age, amongst other things, is one of grit and determination and belief that there are no boundaries when it comes to the pursuit of your dreams.  I'm Melanie, and at 49, I'd like to think that I am breaking through the mold, proving that the pursuit of dreams is a timeless journey. With years spent shaping young minds as a teacher, my story takes a courageous turn before the pandemic hit us all. Fortunately, I decided to dive into the realm of electronic digital activities for learners. A push from a friend led me to creating digital boom cards and it was a life saver as I navigated the online teaching platform. Seeing that I was able to teach myself how to create digital activities, I thought,  "What else can I do?" That is when I pulled out my journal of old poetry I had written and decided that I wanted to publish my thoughts, my insights and my own cultural ...
1 comment
Read more

Navigating Challenges: English Language Learners in the U.S. Education System

-
Image
English language learners (ELLs) form a diverse group within the United States education system, bringing unique perspectives and backgrounds to the classroom. However, they also encounter distinct challenges that can impact their academic experience. In this blog post, we'll explore the hurdles faced by English language learners and delve into important strategies that teachers can employ to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment. Challenges Faced by English Language Learners:  Language Barrier: ELLs often face the immediate hurdle of a language barrier, impacting their ability to comprehend lessons, participate in class discussions, and complete assignments effectively. It is imperative that teachers find student native language level so that further instruction in English can take place. One tool that I have found useful is ENIL from the American Reading Company. It is a very self explanatory evaluation tool that looks at Spanish language independence level, fro...
Post a Comment
Read more

Teachers are Tired but Hopeful

-
Image
Teachers are Tired. Teachers have been tired and it has only gotten worse since COVID hit. Teachers, like so many other workers, are bearing the brunt of all of our country's problems, from personal beliefs to political beliefs, to the selfishness that has come out in droves amongst our citizens, and so much more. We see and hear so much and are faced with a barrage of problems for us to solve at the drop of a dime, leaving us to feel like an empty vessel upon returning home to our families.  It feels as if we are a dartboard in a crowded pub on a Saturday night, the unending pricks of sharp objects puncturing our true being, our sense of self, our sense of worth.  As I arrived home from work the other day, I helped my husband with dinner, threw a load in the wash, then went to pick up my son from football practice and stopped at the store on the way home.  I was feeling tired and knew that I was short with my son. On the ride home from the store, he asked me why I had be...
Post a Comment
Read more

Thinking about Publishing on Amazon KDP?

-
Image
  It has been a crazy rough year and you are tired of your 9 to 5. In fact, you have been dreaming about not only being your own boss but being able to work from home too!  Someone mentions your creativity and suggests you try creating books on the Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform . After all, what do you have to lose, right?  Before you quit your day job let's be clear about how KDP really works.  Let me back up a minute though. First of all, what is Amazon KDP? Well, to be short, it is Amazon's publishing platform. Authors who once found it difficult to share their work now have a world-reaching platform to share their work and better yet, Amazon offers high content books, ebooks, hardcover books, and also low and no content books as well. Hence, there is much to work with if you are someone searching for a new way to earn money. You may be someone who has struggled to find readers or an audience. What Amazon has done is given authors a huge playing f...
Post a Comment
Read more