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Advocacy Advocacy

What is advocacy? Importance to MLs SupportEd’s approach

Academic language is more formal and complex language that is used in academic settings. This language also tends to be more abstract, less contextualized, and more nuanced than the language used in social settings. Academic language is broken down into several dimensions—word, sentence, discourse, and sociocultural context.

If MLs are going to effectively engage with complex, grade-level texts and complete standards-based content tasks, they need to develop understanding of the academic language in each dimension necessary for these tasks. By teaching academic language, MLs gain access to the language of power and open doors to post-secondary opportunities.

In order to teach academic language, you must be able to identify the language demands of the text and tasks MLs will be engaging with in the unit or lesson. SupportEd provides various solutions and practical tools to help build your understanding of academic language and strategies to support your MLs’ development of academic language. For a more detailed understanding of scaffolding for MLs, check out chapters 5 and 6 of Unlocking English Learners’ Potential.

Printables Printables

NEA/CC Advocacy Case Study

This case study was developed based on a compilation of responses that we received to a survey in which teachers shared their experiences of educating MLs during the crisis. The study shares real stories of how teachers are advocating for MLs.

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Advocating for English Learners PLC and Book Study Questions

To help guide educators’ discussions around the topics in the book, Advocating for English Learners we’ve designed discussion questions framed around the book’s chapters. We encourage you to download this useful list of questions and launch your own groups to focus on advocating for English Learners.

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The State of EL Advocacy

This infographicprovides insight into nationwide EL advocacy challenges and suggestions to address common advocacy issues in your contexts.

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Family Engagement Barriers & Solutions

This one-page guide displays Possible barriers to ML Family engagement and solutions.

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Community Walk Student Planning Template

A community walk helps teachers learn more about students’ communities and cultures. What important things do we want our
teachers to learn aboutour communities?

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Maximizing Resources and Serving Students Effectively

Creating a schedule that will meet the needs of your English learner population can be quite a challenge! This infographic presents some best practices in designing effective schedules so you will be able to effectively leverage ESOL/bilingual teachers to meet the educational needs of your English learners in all of their classes.

Books Books

Advocating for English Learners Advocating for English Learners

This book demystifies the techniques of advocacy for ELs, including ashared sense of responsibility for EL success, an overview for administrators with influencing policy and fostering a culture that meets EL needs, and advocacy for ELs’ success beyond Grade 12 —Equipping ELs for life after graduation.

Courses Courses

Advocating for English Learners (Book Study) Advocating for English Learners (Book Study)

Designed for educators who are looking for strategies to become a stronger advocate for English learners (ELs) and their families

Effectively Advocating for MLs Effectively Advocating for MLs

This course explores the concept of advocacy and delve into issues and solutions specific to MLs.

Supporting ELs’ Pathways to Graduation Supporting ELs’ Pathways to Graduation

Reflect on and refine your approach to supporting ELs on their path to high school graduation with this course.

Webinars Webinars

How Teachers Can Advocate for English Learners (ELs) How Teachers Can Advocate for English Learners (ELs)

Explore common challenges faced by educators when advocating for ELs. Gain practical tools for EL advocacy that you can implement into your schools and districts immediately.

  • Defining EL advocacy
  • Isolating your EL advocacy issue
  • Highlighting 3 key EL advocacy issues
  • Advocating for ELs using steps and tools designed for each issue
  • Applying your EL advocacy skills
  • Presenter: Diane Staehr Fenner

Articles Articles