how teachers can advocate for english learners · how teachers can advocate for english learners...

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@SupportEduc www.GetSupportEd.net @GetSupportEd.net

How Teachers Can Advocate for English Learners

Diane Staehr Fenner, Ph.D.April 19, 2018

#Advocacy4ELs

www.GetSupportEd.net

• What is your role? (Choose only one.)

– ESOL teacher– Content or grade level teacher– Building administrator– District administrator– Higher education– Adult education– Consultant or researcher– Other

2#Advocacy4ELs

Poll #1: About You

www.GetSupportEd.net 3

Before We Get Started: Zoom Tips

Click the ‘Q&A’ button to ask content questions at any point.

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Our Webinar Agenda• Welcome & why advocate for ELs • Defining EL advocacy• Isolating your EL advocacy issue• Highlighting 3 key EL advocacy issues• Steps and tools to advocate for ELs for each issue• Applying your EL advocacy skills• General Q & A • Wrap up

This webinar is being recorded.

4#Advocacy4ELs

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Contents of Webinar Handout• EL Scheduling tool

• Suggested scaffolds at each proficiency level

• EL formative assessment checklist

• Computer-based EL assessment recommendations

• EL advocacy action plan

5getsupported.net/free-tools/

www.GetSupportEd.net 6https://tinyurl.com/ELAdvocacy

Our EL Advocacy Padlet

https://tinyurl.com/ELAdvocacy


Today’s Presenter


A Little About Me and My EL Advocacy Story


1. Need for Advocacy2. Creating a Shared Sense of

Responsibility3. How Teachers Can

Collaborate4. Advocacy Overview for

Administrators5. Increasing EL Families’

Involvement as Advocates6. Advocacy Through Effective

Instruction7. Advocating for ELs in

Assessment8. Advocacy for ELs’ Success

Beyond Grade 12

Advocating for English Learners

Defining EL Advocacy


How do you define EL advocacy? Enter your definition in the chat box.

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Advocacy• Comes from the Latin advocatus, meaning “one called

to aid” • Speaking or acting on behalf of anotherAdvocate cognates: abogado, advogado, avocat

Origin of Word “Advocacy”

Getty Images

www.GetSupportEd.net 13Staehr Fenner, 2014

EL Educator Voices

I’m the biggest supporter of ELs’ education in my school. My advocacy for them sometimes gets me in trouble; administration gets tired of hearing me.

I help ELs navigate the school environment.

I am the anchor for my ELs.

I am the advocate who goes to bat for the ELs with their content teachers.



Working for ELs’

equitable and excellent

education by taking

appropriate actions on

their behalf

Having a deep understandingabout each EL and family’s

background to be able to know

which appropriate action to

take

Stepping in and providing a

voice for those students—

and their families—who have

not yet developed their own

strong voice in their

education


Scaffolded Advocacy for ELs


EL a

nd Fa

mily

Nee

ds

Amount of Advocacy

Staehr Fenner, 2014

Amount of EL Advocacy


1 • Isolate the issue

2 • Choose your allies

3 • Be clear on the rights of ELs

4 • Organize and educate others

5 • Identify your outlets for change

National Education Association, 2015

NEA 5 Step EL Advocacy Framework

Isolating Your EL Advocacy Issue

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Group of educators advocating for ELs in the

district

Group of educators advocating for ELs in the

school

Same teacher advocating for ELs and teachers outside his

or her classroom

19Staehr Fenner, 2014

EL Advocacy Ripple Effect

One teacher advocating for ELs in his or her

classroom


1. What do I have control over in my environment?2. What do I not have control over in my environment?

20Gorski, 2012

Prioritizing EL Advocacy: Your Sphere of Influence


1. What do you have control over in your environment? 2. How would you describe your current sphere of

influence (classroom, grade, school, district, etc.)? 3. Who could your allies be to widen your sphere of

influence to further support ELs?

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Reflecting on EL Advocacy

3 Key EL Advocacy Issues


National EL Advocacy Issues


• Which EL advocacy issue is the most important to you? (Only choose 1):

– Inclusive programming & instruction for ELs– Knowing where and how to start advocating for ELs– ELs’ success beyond grade 12– Equitable assessment of ELs– Assets-based perspective of ELs– EL family engagement– Cultural awareness of ELs & their families– Other

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EL Advocacy Poll #2: Global Issues


1. Inclusive programming and instruction for ELs

2. Equitable assessment of ELs

3. Knowing where and how to start advocating

Three Key EL Advocacy Issues


EL advocacy issues:• Programming in different

contexts• All teachers are teachers

of ELs• Effective strategies• Collaboration

1. Inclusive Programming and Instruction for ELs


EL advocacy issues:• Validity of assessments• Scaffolding assessments• Equitable grading of ELs• Computer-based

assessments

2. Equitable Assessment of ELs


EL advocacy issues:• Practical steps• Leveraging expertise• Finding allies • Building trust

3. Knowing Where and How to Start Advocating


• Which EL advocacy issue of the 3 mentioned is most important to you?

– Inclusive programming and instruction for ELs– Equitable assessment of ELs– Knowing where and how to start advocating for ELs

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EL Advocacy Poll #3: Narrowing Down Issues

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Steps & Tools to Advocate for ELs for Each Issue

www.GetSupportEd.net 31getsupported.net/free-tools/

1. Recommendations for Scheduling ELs

www.GetSupportEd.net 32Staehr Fenner & Snyder, 2017

1. Suggested Scaffolds at Each Proficiency Level


2. EL Formative Assessment Checklist

www.GetSupportEd.net 34Staehr Fenner & Snyder, 2017

2. Computer-Based EL Assessment Recommendations


3. Sharing the Responsibility and the Joy

Sharing responsibility

and joy for ELs’ education

Educators’ reflection on

their own culture and its impact

on their teaching

Educators’ beliefs and

expectations about language

and working with ELs

Empathy for ELs and their families

Collaboration among ESOL

teachers, content

teachers, and administrators

www.GetSupportEd.net 36Adapted from Staehr Fenner, 2014

3. EL Advocacy Action Plan

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Applying Your EL Advocacy Skills


Apply 5 NEA advocacy steps

Discuss how you would use an advocacy tool

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EL Advocacy Application

Choose one EL advocacy issue


Issues: • Inclusive

programming & instruction for ELs

• Equitable assessment of ELs

• Knowing where and how to start advocating for ELs

Advocacy Application

5 Steps


• In which area of EL advocacy do you need the most support?

– Isolating the issue– Choosing your allies– Being clear on the rights of ELs– Organizing and educating others– Identifying your outlets for change

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EL Advocacy Poll #4: Support Needed

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Q & A and Wrap Up


• Use the Q & A feature to ask questions: Do you have any remaining questions, comments, or suggestions about advocating for ELs?

42#Advocacy4ELs

General Q & A


• July 2 – August 10• 10 PD hours• Self-paced• Extension of book• Online PLC• Facilitators

getsupported.net/professional-development-online/

Online Course: Effectively Advocating for English Learners


Our Online Professional Development

Course dates: July 2 - August 10, 2018

Move at your own pace while learning research-based strategies and best practices for supporting EL academic and language achievement!

Visit our website to learn more!

10-hour, six-week online courses


Like Our Facebook Page

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Let’s continue to collaborate! Like our Facebook page to share resources, ideas, and innovative ways to facilitate our ELs’ success and well-being.


• Recommended Books & Guides

• Articles & Blog Posts

• Related Videos• Additional

Resources

http://www.colorincolorado.org/advocacy-ells-recommended-resources

Colorín Colorado Advocacy Resources

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@[email protected]


Diane Staehr Fenner

[email protected]

how teachers can advocate for english learners · how teachers can advocate for english learners...

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