Teacher Discussion Forums

I like how Freeman and Dixon-Marquez made the administrators, educators and parents take ownership in implementing the dual-language program. It makes so much sense for them to have input. The SDP realizes that we live in a multicultural/multilingual global society and was open to implementing the d...

Yes, absolutely teach about American events as well as American culture. Try to incorporate it in as many lessons as you can. It gives ELLs an opportunity to speak about similar events in their home countries because it would be something they know about. It is also time for the teacher to be creati...

I so agree with your posting. Our class was required to write a letter to our local congressman or senator regarding a current Bilingual Education or Language Policy issue. I decided to write my local senator regarding Bill #HR 3753 – Providing Resources to Improve Dual Language Education Act of 200...

I find it so typical how districts knowingly put into place a structure that has been proven ineffective. Eastlake’s Newcomer Program sounds like the Early-Exit/Transitional Bilingual Education model in which students are transitioned out basically before they are ready, “sink or swim.” As mentioned...

Dual language programs appear to be the trend in California. I find it interesting that after Proposition 227 was implemented in California, the number of dual language programs have increased. To me I see it as proponents of dual language programs looking for other means to service a large populati...

I am curious as to why the ESL teacher is not testing to see if the EL would benefit from bilingual education as opposed to special education. Does your district have bilingual education? I believe the child study team test for learning disabilities as a result of being mentally challenged, physical...

Unfortunately the pendulum has been swinging back and forth for more than 40 years in regard to ESL, BE and EO. It would seem every state and local district is interpreting the law as they see fit. Many times laws have language that could prove beneficial but because no one is questioning the system...

In regard to the EL achievement gap, the readings indicate that based on the data, the gaps are sizable in all content areas but are larger in reading than in math. My thinking on the smaller gap in math could be due to the universal language of mathematics. One teacher in my class explained that he...

In regards to your question, “How does the school you teach at, or yourself as a teacher, maintain the child's native language,” I am fortunate to teach Spanish to K-4 graders and because we offer world language to elementary students, not only are the NNS (non-native speakers) getting exposed to th...

In my opinion, English only proposition laws of California, Arizona and Massachusetts leave too much open for interpretation. Implementation of which varies from state to state and/or district to district. Even though these laws may actually allow for bilingual education under the right conditions, ...

My opinion is that ELs should surround themselves in the American culture, which includes not only movies, but books, magazines, television, and music. Just hanging out at our malls provides a wealth of information regarding the American culture. My mother came to this country in the 1940s and there...

I am presently reading Forbidden Language for my class and I was amazed at the statistics concerning the history of bilingual education. The fact that bilingual education (f/k/a Title VII) has been in existence since 1968 and is still an issue with cycles of acceptance and rejection in many states i...