Full Answer Section

• Advocacy for English Language Learners (ELLs):

While I don’t have specific knowledge of the advocacy groups in Florida during the 1980s, the 1990 Florida Consent Decree likely addressed issues like access to quality language instruction, parental involvement, and appropriate assessments for ELL students.

• Translanguaging:

Translanguaging refers to the flexible use of a multilingual learner’s entire linguistic repertoire, including their first language (L1) and the target language (L2) in learning situations. I believe it’s a powerful tool. It allows students to leverage their existing knowledge and express themselves comfortably.

• Scaffolding with Translanguaging:

By allowing students to use their L1 alongside L2, teachers can create scaffolds for understanding. For example, a teacher explaining a new concept might first introduce it in English, then allow students to discuss it in their home language before revisiting it in English with clarification and deeper explanation.

Video 2: Being an Advocate for Bilingual Students

• Ms. Conte and Student Backgrounds:

Ms. Conte leverages students’ backgrounds by:

1. Culturally Relevant Texts: Selecting books and materials that reflect the students’ diverse ethnicities and experiences.
2. Building on Prior Knowledge: Encouraging students to connect new information to their cultural understanding.

Additional Ideas:

• Family and Community Involvement: Invite parents and community members to share their cultural heritage through presentations or activities.

• Multilingual Classroom Library: Curate a collection of books in students’ home languages alongside English texts.

• Multicultural/Multilingual Characters:

Reading books featuring diverse characters promotes inclusion by:

1. Normalization: Students see themselves and their cultures reflected in the literature.
2. Empathy: Students develop understanding and appreciation for different backgrounds.

As an observer in a classroom, I’ve seen students connect with stories that mirror their own experiences, leading to lively discussions about language and cultural traditions.

• Benefits of Bilingual Books for English Speakers:

Exposure to bilingual books benefits English speakers through:

1. Language Awareness: Students develop an understanding of different languages and appreciate the beauty of multilingualism.
2. Vocabulary Building: Exposure to cognates and new words in other languages can enrich their own vocabulary.

• Letting Go of Control:

Ms. Conte discovered that relinquishing some control fostered a more collaborative learning environment. Students took more ownership of their learning, and communication didn’t suffer – it simply took different forms. Trusting students’ abilities to express themselves in various ways empowers them and creates a more positive classroom dynamic.

Video 3: Bilingual Superpowers

• Benefits of Graphic Novels:

Graphic novels offer several advantages:

1. Engaging Format: The combination of visuals and text appeals to a wider range of learners.
2. Content Variety: Graphic novels cover diverse topics, promoting literacy and cultural understanding.
3. Visual Scaffolding: Images can clarify complex concepts and support comprehension.

• Ms. Ballantyne-Berry’s Graphic Novel Assignment:

Students choose a historical figure from their heritage and create a graphic novel biography. This allows them to:

1. Research: Students delve into their cultural history.
2. Storytelling: They develop their narrative skills.
3. Multilingual Expression: Students can potentially incorporate elements of their home language in the graphic novel.

• Ms. Ballantyne-Berry and Student Language Repertoire:

Ms. Ballantyne-Berry values students’ entire language repertoire by:

1. Encouraging Home Language Use: She allows students to discuss ideas and ask questions in their L1.
2. Bilingual Glossaries: Students create glossaries with key terms in both English and their home language.

Video 4: Unfortunately, I don’t have access to Video 4, but I can address the questions based on the topics in Video 3.

• Harper Lee Quote: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”

This quote applies to teachers by emphasizing the importance of understanding students’ backgrounds