Learn with Mel Hern

  Helping Older Struggling Readers: A Guide for Parents and Educators Is your child or student in upper elementary or middle school and still struggling with reading? It can feel disheartening to see them fall behind their peers. As students get older, the gap widens between their reading ability and the demands of the curriculum. However, there are effective strategies you can use to help these students build their reading skills and confidence. It may not be easy but it all students can improve upon their reading with targeted reading instruction. The Challenge for Older Readers By upper elementary and middle school, a student's reading struggles are often more complex than just a simple lack of phonics skills. The issue may stem from a combination of factors, including: Weaknesses in Foundational Skills: While they may have some basic decoding skills, they might struggle with multisyllabic words, fluency, or automaticity. This means they are still sounding out words that their ...

  Understanding the Unique Role of an ESL Teacher ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers serve as language instructors, cultural liaisons, emotional supporters, and advocates. Your role goes beyond teaching grammar or vocabulary—you're empowering students to access learning, feel safe, and belong. Bridging Language and Cultural Gaps Students enter your room with a wide range of English proficiency and cultural experiences. Begin the year by validating their identities. Use greetings in their home languages, display international flags, and share stories about yourself. This helps students relate to you and each other. ESL Teacher Responsibilities Beyond Academics Beyond academics, you’ll often: Help with school registration and interpretation Translate important documents Support students during behavior interventions Collaborate with school psychologists or social workers Start strong by making yourself visible and helpful in these ways. Preparing Your Cl...

Explore The importance of Multilingual Learning and How this administration can negatively impact the public education system as we know it for multilingual learners . Discover key solutions, advocacy steps, and real-life success stories.  Understanding Multilingual Learning: A Foundation for Success The Definition and Scope of Multilingual Education Multilingual learning refers to educational practices that support the development of proficiency in more than one language. This approach isn't just about acquiring new languages—it's about honoring the cultural and linguistic identities of students while equipping them with skills essential for today's globalized world. In the U.S., multilingual learners (MLs), often known as English Language Learners (ELLs), make up over 10% of the K–12 population. These students come from diverse backgrounds and bring rich linguistic assets into the classroom. Yet, they are often forced to conform to monolingual standards that disregard ...

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...

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...

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. ...