The National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE)’s 53rd Annual Conference – “Celebrating Heritage Language and Its Role in Promoting Multilingualism, Multiliteracy and Multiculturalism” – will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana on March 23 – 30, 2024. SEAL is a proud partner and will participate in two workshop sessions for educators, families and partners. See you there!
SEAL Sessions
Literacy Development for Dual Language Learners in Early Childhood Education: Critical and Urgent Considerations
Dr. Anya Hurwitz (SEAL), Martha Hernandez (Californians Together), Dr. Laurie Olsen (SEAL), Socorro Herrera (Kansas State University)
Friday, March 29, 2024 | 5:10 – 6:30 p.m. CST
This presentation focuses on critical research on literacy development for dual language learners in early childhood classrooms. With the expansion of preschool programs, it is crucial to address the needs of children whose home languages are not English. The session reviews and builds upon understandings of effective instruction and assessment for early literacy development, exploring frameworks to equip educators with tools to provide socially just education for students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Presenters highlight the latest research findings, address common misunderstandings, outline challenges, propose research-based pathways, and share exemplars of integrated language and literacy development.
Centering ELs in P3 Alignment – A framework to ensure equity-focused education preschool through early grades
Dr. Anya Hurwitz (SEAL), Martha Hernandez (Californians Together), Dr. Laurie Olsen (SEAL)
Saturday, March 30, 2024 | 8:00 – 9:20 a.m. CST
This session presents a new P-3 Framework for building systems for EL/DLL success across the crucial developmental phase ages 3 – 8, articulating pedagogical and system design principles based on effective practices for EL/DLLs, culturally and linguistically sustaining approaches, dual language development, and experience serving immigrant and EL communities. Leading experts discuss components of the Framework (curriculum/instruction, workforce, family/community partnerships, assessment, accountability) with field-based examples. Over a third of U.S. children 0-8 have non-English-speaking parents. This is a time of opportunity and urgency to adopt an EL-centered P3 framework, as significant investments in education are underway.
