Mid-State RBERN

What kind of world does your teaching create? In this episode, Tasha Austin gives all educators food for thought to ponder this question. She challenges us to think about how separated communities inside the school building could be more diversified and inclusive environments that lend equal support to all learners. Tasha unpacks the idea of the “mimicry” of a standardized version of English, and takes apart the premise that there is one form of any language that is better than another. How can educators "design spaces of learning" that can elevate knowledge about the importance of using language across various situations instead of seeing mimicry as the only overarching end goal? This is just one of the burning questions we dive into in this episode!

Are you interested in starting your own podcast to share your knowledge as an educator? Are you an avid listener of podcasts? How do you prefer to consume Professional Development? In this open, candid discussion, Tan breaks down the steps to creating your own podcast in the education sphere, discusses his motivation behind starting a podcast and how it has been beneficial for him, and encourages educators to understand what they have to offer in terms of sharing the knowledge they’ve accumulated. He discusses how viewing podcast listening as having “fireside chats” with experts can lead to expansive growth for educators. He also talks about the value of differentiated, sustained, collaborative PD . Tan provides a wealth of resources for educators, so if you’re interested in finding out more about him and his contributions to the field, this episode will indeed answer some of your burning questions.

This forward-thinking, tech-focused episode delves into the innovative work of guest, Amany Alkayat, an educator and researcher specializing in virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) for language education. Amany shares her journey from teaching English as a Foreign Language in Cairo to pursuing advanced studies in instructional technology at Columbia University's Teachers College. She emphasizes the transformative impact of VR on student engagement and learning through embodied cognition and interactive storytelling. The discussion highlights her various roles, including her contributions to TESOL, virtual teleconferences, and educational VR platforms like Frame VR and Engage VR. Amany also discusses the practical applications and benefits of VR in project-based learning, ethical concerns regarding AI, and her efforts to enhance educational accessibility and quality using technology. The conversation concludes with insights on necessary equipment, lesson planning, and the future of AI in education. If you have burning questions about using VR in your multilingual classroom, tune in now!

Dr. Yu Jung Han’s first interest in English came through music and wanting to understand lyrics. Having artists like Michael Jackson and New Kids on the Block as her first English teachers, then experiencing a heavily “textbook-based” style of learning before university, she was discouraged when the English she’d found in music didn’t match up to what her teachers said “was not what you learned from the textbook.” In this episode, find out how this experience led to her current goal in teaching, which is to create “a learning ecology that connects students in and out of classroom practice and life.” Dr. Han uses relatable analogies to explain the impact of tech and specifically Generative AI in education, and how we can manage it as educators. She also explains how she has encouraged students to use ChatGPT to augment their learning. If you’re looking for a way to refresh your perspective on technology in education, you can’t miss this episode!

Chris says that as an educator, he wants to critique the way language holds so much power. Are we now allowing AI to take over the power dynamic we hold over language as human beings, or is it up to us to shift the way we wield that power? In what ways can we help students develop their unique voice in the era of AI? The discussion in this episode dives into these questions and more as Chris discusses the AI tools he’s currently developing to help students hone language to their advantage. He also questions the validity of standardized writing assessments and the way colleges evaluate their applicants. How can we move away from the formulaic ways of assessing writing and more towards using “writing as a way of thinking?” How can low-stakes writing come into play? If you’re looking for answers to some of your burning questions about how educators can best adjust in this AI powered world, tune in now!

What exactly is a project based technologically infused learning journey and how can we bring parents into the digital fold to be part of their children’s learning journeys? In this episode, find out what digital age learning ecosystems are and how to use technology to build them! Heather Rubin discusses how these ecosystems provide students with a voice and a choice, highlights a seamless, effective way to integrate learning methods for the 21st Century, touches on the 5 Cs for 21st century learning, and dives into why viewing and visually representing are literary skills. One thing to think about as you listen to this episode is, “Are you preparing your students to be digital citizens of the world?” Get ready to have your burning questions about this, and more, answered on today’s episode!

Today, RBERNing Questions welcomes Zaynab Abdi, an immigrant and refugee youth ambassador, humanitarian aid consultant, and social justice advocate. Zaynab shares her inspiring journey from Yemen to the US and discusses her work with Green Card Voices and Human Concern USA. She highlights the importance of storytelling in advocacy, emphasizing the need for immigrants to control their own narratives. Zaynab also talks about her graphic memoir, 'Voice for Refuge,' which details her experiences and is written in both English and Arabic to reach a broader audience. The conversation explores issues within the US educational system, the challenges and strengths of immigrant students, and the impact of compassionate and empathetic community engagement. Lastly, Zaynab provides advice for young immigrants looking to share their stories and make a change.

Do you have enough information on immigration policies, struggles, and realities to support your immigrant PreK- 12 students? In this episode, Dr. Kleyn and Ms. Alulema discuss CUNY IIE - City University of New York Initiative on Immigration and Education. Find out how to access CTLE courses to enhance your knowledge on immigration. Discover how the initiative highlights the strengths of mixed status immigrant communities. Delve into the initiative’s guiding pillars: “Learn, Act & Advocate,” and discover how these pillars lead to the centering of people, their stories, and humanity.

Dr. Okhee Lee, a professor at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, talks about the challenges and progress in integrating multilingual learners into STEM education. Dr. Lee shares her journey from South Korea to becoming an influential figure in the field, her role in developing the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and her work in aligning science and language education. Our talk covers the impact of traditional education models, the importance of asset-based approaches, and the role of multimodal and multilingual learning methods. This episode also delves into Dr. Lee's involvement with the National Science Foundation and various educational initiatives. If you have burning questions about how to engage your MLs in STEM classes, this is a must listen!

In today’s episode, Agbor Effiam, a lifelong science educator with extensive experience teaching in the US, Thailand, and the Netherlands, shares his transformative journey from struggling to connect with Thai students to becoming a passionate advocate for multilingual education. He discusses his strategies for engaging diverse learners, emphasizing the importance of making students feel their languages are welcomed. By integrating instructional routines focused on literacy, Agbor aims to improve reading comprehension in science education. He also reflects on the concept of teaching as a lifestyle, driven by his family's legacy and his own experiences. Agbor also touches on the challenges educators face and the need to create impactful lessons despite these hurdles. If you are looking for inspiration in ways to feel a connection with your students, this episode is a must-listen!

In this episode, Dr. Luciana C. de Oliveira takes us on a deep dive into the teacher education model called LACI- a Language-based Approach to Content Instruction, featured in her latest book: Supporting Multilingual Learners’ Academic Language Development: A Language-Based Approach to Content Instruction. She unpacks the ways teachers can “take advantage of students’ linguistic repertoires,” and discusses how teachers can implement literacy in multi-modal ways to encourage “message abundance.” Learn about the 6 C’s of support for scaffolding material in a multilingual classroom and how elementary teachers have implemented LACI using these C’s. How are you making your classroom “high challenge/high support” for your MLLs? Consider this burning question as you listen in today!

This episode’s featured guest, Dr. Denise Furlong, shares insights from her award-winning book 'Voices of Newcomers.' We dive deep into the concepts and practical strategies in the book, which aims to help educators better serve their ELLs and MLs who are completely new to this country. The importance of inclusive language, perspectives in education, holistic professional development for teachers, and the commandments of inclusion are hot topics in this conversation. Dr. Furlong emphasizes ongoing learning, listening to students' and families' needs, and providing equitable experiences in education.

When Laura was growing up, “Spanish is a liability” was the societal idea that was so deeply ingrained in the immigrant community that at an early age, she was deprived of learning the very language that all of her family members spoke. For Cecilia, the fact that she did speak Spanish is what prompted a first grade student to suggest that she apply for a job at a school where “a lot of the students speak Spanish.” Both of these stories highlight how one’s identity around language can play a pivotal role in their professional paths. Now they both strongly advocate for more insightful pedagogy around bilingual education practices. Today’s episode sheds light on more expansive ways to integrate translanguaging into your instruction, causes you to shift your thoughts around what it really means to be literate and the variety of ways that literacy can be demonstrated in the classroom, and touches on the importance of choosing materials that better serve your students. Laura and Cecilia also give us a taste of the juicy resources provided in their book, “Rooted in Strength: Using Translanguaging to Grow Multilingual Readers and Writers.” How can we use the intersection of translanguaging and descriptive processes to shift from a deficit to a “possibilities” perspective when it comes to our multilingual learners’ abilities? Why should educators think of themselves as language policy makers? These and other thought-provoking questions will be answered in today’s conversation.

Today we welcome Joy Scantlebury as she discusses how immersive classroom experiences and “living the language” led to her career as an educator of ELLs who’s been refining her craft for 15 years. A prevailing theme in Joy’s work is using students’ cultural resources and languages to enhance their learning experiences. In this episode, she highlights the benefits of bringing these resources into the classroom, and shares specific examples of how you can also implement this asset based and student centered methodology with the plethora of resources your ELLs bring into the school environment. She unpacks how to recognize and foster organic, “magical moments” as opportunities for students to learn and play a crucial role in their academic development. To better understand how to use your students’ goals, aspirations and passions to empower and encourage them on their learning journeys, listen in now!

In this conversation, Dr. JPB Gerald discusses how he began the study of decentering whiteness in language teaching, explores the structures at play that can demotivate students, and dives into the thought-provoking content in his book, “Antisocial Language Teaching: English and the Pervasive Pathology of Whiteness”. He offers possible ways to tackle the issues prevalent in our field, and shares how solidarity among educators plays an important role. If you have a burning question about how you can shift your mindset to better understand and support your ELL’s, listen in now!

In this episode, learn about Shawnna’s journey from teaching to leadership; what inspired her to begin her work at her local RBERN, and how she continually grew in her roles to support ELLs & MLs, including the shift to her current role as president of NYS TESOL. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing leadership qualities in practitioners in our field and “tapping” them to fill leadership roles. Shawnna also gives us a peek into some of the new ways NYS TESOL is keeping its work current and sustainable. For a behind the scenes look at the thought process behind NYS TESOL biggest event, the annual conference, listen in now!

In this episode, join Monica Baker on an educational summer experience that is anything but your traditional summer school. How can you bring together multilingual learners ranging in age from 3 to 16 in an atmosphere that cultivates support, engagement, leadership and a thriving classroom community dynamic? Ms. Baker has the answer! Listen in as she breaks down the specifics of her multilingual, multiage summer program and talks about the celebration of multilingualism. She says, “When we shift our mindset away from what feels safe & comfortable as educators… and put ourselves out there and just try, that’s where those connections form that are so positive.”

Although Dr. Ching-Ching Lin has been a TESOL professional for many years, beginning her career as a high school teacher, she emphasizes her passion for using her knowledge to volunteer and make an impact that goes beyond teaching to opening up dialogues among her colleagues. One of the topics of those dialogues is the idea that we need to rethink how we conceptualize multilingual learners and our version of “helping” them. She says, “we need to re-educate ourselves in order to create an equitable space.” These are just a few of the notions she asserts during our conversation about her book “Reimagining Dialogue on Identity, Language, and Power”. Listen in as Dr. Lin takes us back to the prevailing issues of pandemic times to express her motivation for editing the book, and talks about the impact of dialogue in academic research.

In this episode of RBERNing Questions, Dr. Christine Seebach takes us on a journey from her friendly Spanish-speaking childhood neighbor to immersing herself in Spanish language and culture abroad, to her current role as a leader in the field of TESOL. She discusses the influence that being “tapped” by someone who has acknowledged your value can have on the trajectory of your career. You will also hear fond descriptions of her experience on the NYS TESOL board, and all of the benefits she’s received from being president and part of the organization. Find out why NYS TESOL “is everything”, and get a glimpse behind the scenes of what the organization has in store. Are you thinking about taking on a leadership role? Are you wondering about the challenges and opportunities that lie in leadership? If so, tune into this episode!

We kick off the first episode of this season with Dr. Helaine W. Marshall! She discusses the origins of SOFLA, the Synchronous Online Flipped Learning Approach. Find out what it means to make online teaching “warm” and how SOFLA contributes to this. Learn how to get students excited about doing work outside of class through the “movie trailer” step in SOFLA, and finally, discover how to implement this innovative, international approach to online learning that creates social presence between student peers. Get ready to have your burning questions about this, and more, answered on today’s episode!

Meet the new host of Our Burning Questions.

Lau vs. Nichols and the Aspira Consent Decree, legal proceedings from 1974, ensured that English language learners & multilingual learners receive age- and grade-level appropriate instruction. Since then, supporting ELLs/MLs looks very different, especially with regard to emergent multilingual learners in pre-k and early childhood. In this episode, Susanne Marcus discusses supporting English language learners at the early stages of development and how to support and welcome their families.

Being active in a professional learning community has many benefits for content area teachers and ENL teachers alike. In this episode, Jian Liu shares his unique perspective as a former ELL and high school mathematics teacher regarding participating in PLCs and teaching literacy with mathematics concepts.

Focusing on and building upon assets is a key component of being a part of the Teacher Student Success Network as evidenced in this episode with Dr. DJ Kaiser. Listen to find out more about his work to empower teachers to build connections extending from the students to the world.

The Green Card Voices Project has provided an opportunity for many immigrants to share their experiences from their lives before and after arriving in the United States. Listen as Dr. Tea Rozman shares the purpose of this project, as well as the work that her organization has done and will do moving forward. Jennifer Raponi also shares her collaborative role and the amazing student empowerment that has resulted from it.

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) are essential to ensuring academic success for all learners, including English language learners/multilingual learners. Jamie Scripps from the Rush-Henrietta School District joins us to share the system that she and her colleagues have created to identify ELLs/MLs with disabilities and track their progress.

Have you ever wondered about how a learning disability might affect new language learning and what support can be provided to ensure success for ELLs/MLs? Ariana Rosario from the North Syracuse Central School District joins me in this episode to share her experiences with supporting and advocating for ELLs/MLs with disabilities.

The Statewide Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network (RBERN) serves the entire state of New York in providing a plethora of resources to support ELLs/MLs as well as their families, schools, and communities. Join us for this episode as we discuss the importance of utilizing and sharing these resources.

Spanglish has historically been discouraged in both English and Spanish classrooms across the U.S. However, by discrediting this blended language, we are not allowing students to use their entire linguistic repertoire. Please join Steve Sofronas of Ellevation as he explores this topic in depth with Alexandra Medrano, a teacher in Colorado who shares her journey from discouraging to celebrating Spanglish in her classroom.

*In a special collaboration with Ellevation, Mid-State RBERN is pleased to offer CTLE credits for listening to the Highest Aspirations podcast episodes.

Interpreting educational transcripts from another country can be challenging to evaluate for equivalent credits toward graduation for many reasons. In this episode, we discuss the importance of transcript translation and interpretation as well as considerations about how to implement inclusive practices with ELLs/MLs and their families so that students are on the path to academic success.

English Language Learners/Multilingual Learners have many assets that can be capitalized on to ensure their success. Listen to this episode to learn about different opportunities that are available for ELLs/MLs to support their academic success and personal growth.

In light of recent global events, we have seen an influx of Ukrainian families arriving in the United States. Please join me as I speak with Svetlana Stowell to talk about the importance of supporting, welcoming, and including Ukrainian families in schools and communities. Original air date: 10/31/22

What is an emergent multilingual learner, what is the connection to early learning, and what is the importance of providing professional learning opportunities for early educators? Join me for a conversation with Dr. Zoila Morell as we kicked off the 2022 Symposium on Emergent Multilingual Learners in Early Childhood. Original Air Date: 1/11/22

What is “culturally embedded literacy”? In this episode, Dr. Sonia Soltero joins RBERNing Questions for a second time to talk about how to create a linguistic and culturally responsive education ecosystem for language learners. Listen for more on teacher burnout, asset-based approach to educating MLs, culturally embedded literacy, and the self-assessment tool that she created. (Original recording date: 6/21/21)

Have you ever wondered about what’s out there in terms of resources to support your English language learners and who might be able to help you locate some of those resources? Look no further than your school librarian! Listen as school library specialists Allison Comes and Alicia Sherman share their love of reading by sharing several resources and talking about how school librarians can create spaces where families of ELLs feel welcome. (Original recording date: 6/4/21)

In the preface of their book entitled, Explicit Direct Instruction for English Learners, John Hollingsworth and Dr. Sylvia Ybarra state: “It’s not a focus on test scores that raises test scores. It’s a relentless pursuit of optimizing the effectiveness of the way students are taught - before the tests are given - that raises test scores.” (2013, p. vii) In this episode, Mr. Hollingsworth discusses how DataWORKS, the company that he started with his wife, Dr. Ybarra, came to be. He also shares the many useful tools that were created to support English language learners and explains why it works. Listen to learn more! (Original recording date: 6/3/21)

What does “PRHYLI” stand for? Not only does it stand for the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute, but it also stands for empowerment, leadership, and advocacy. Join Diana Vázquez, PRHYLI State Coordinator, as she talks about her work in overseeing this statewide program. Kimberly Soto Rivera, who is a current college student and PRHYLI alumna, also shares her experiences from being a part of the institute as a former high school student and how it has shaped her future. (Original recording date: 6/1/21)

The requirement for schools to quickly convert to remote learning as a result of the pandemic presented many significant challenges with regard to equitably teaching multilingual learners. To discuss what considerations teachers and administrators should be mindful of moving forward, I am joined by Meghan Gregoire-Smith and Mindi Teich, where we discuss these considerations and more. (Original recording date: 5/21/21)

Why does leadership matter when supporting multilingual learners? Please join Dr. Diane Staehr Fenner as she discusses the role that administrators play in ensuring that advocacy and equity are manifested in the classroom. (Original recording date: 5/13/21)

Why does leadership matter when supporting multilingual learners? Please join Dr. Diane Staehr Fenner as she discusses the role that administrators play in ensuring that advocacy and equity are manifested in the classroom. (Original recording date: 5/13/21)

All teachers are teachers of English Language Learners. In order to support our nation’s ELLs with regard to their academic and future professional success, it is essential to recognize the importance of advocacy. Please join Dr. Diane Staehr Fenner, President of SupportEd, as she discusses how we can create a shared sense of responsibility for advocating for English language learners. (Original record date: 5/10/21)

In this episode, Dr. Sonia Soltero, Professor at DePaul University, author, and proponent of biliteracy and bilingualism, addresses many common myths about second language acquisition and shares her insight about advocating for equity for English language learners. Please join us for this important and informative conversation as she answers RBERNing questions!

This episode addresses one of the biggest challenges we face as educators of multilingual students: How do we accurately determine if a multilingual student may or may not need support beyond just English language development? And if we determine that the child does need additional support, how will that be different from what we would provide for a monolingual English speaking student? Listen to professional speech/language pathologist Kelley Burt and bilingual special education expert Lourdes Roa discuss these challenges and share some tips for best supporting multilingual students who may need or already receive special education services.

Here it is, dear listeners: the most important episode of this podcast that will ever be made - no disrespect at all to any of the incredible educators who are also guests - I think they would agree! It is the most important because it gives us a glimpse into the minds, hearts, and experiences of the young people we serve. Nothing is more powerful or important than centering student voices in our work as culturally responsive educators, especially the voices of those who have been historically silenced as so many multilingual individuals have experienced. Please accept this episode as a gift from these brilliant, insightful young leaders who are co-creating our future right now.

There is a lot of information in the world of education about discourse, background knowledge, literacy, and how all of these ideas are intertwined as we get to know our students. Listen as our guests Mario Palma and David Burns from American Reading Company share how teachers can build more awareness around students’ types of discourse, how we all navigate multiple types of discourse, and how we can use that reflection and knowledge to support students’ literacy development in multiple languages!

Supporting SIFE can be a daunting challenge, whether a school has 1 student with interrupted schooling or 100, and Dr. Lisa Auslander is on a mission to “demystify” all the ways in which we can meet the needs of this heterogeneous group of students! If you are hoping to learn more about the unique needs of SIFE and ways in which you can support them in your classes, please join co-host Collette Farone-Goodwin, Mid-State RBERN’s resident SIFE specialist, as we explore the wealth of knowledge, research, and resources that Dr. Auslander shares in this episode.

Oftentimes, we know our students and their families need support and access within their education experiences that they simply aren’t getting. In this episode, professional development specialist and advocate Jen Raponi shares the what, why, and how of advocacy for ELLs. Jen’s experiences and suggestions apply across a vast spectrum of advocacy topics, so if you are wondering how to center the voices of your students and their families in your advocacy, how to advocate in ways that are most impactful, what to advocate about, or any and all of the above, this episode is for you!

If you’re looking for ways to build authentic, meaningful conversation time into your lessons, listen to Dr. Jeff Zwiers as he shares practical and powerful strategies in this episode! A room full of elementary students all speaking might sound overwhelming at first, and Dr. Zwiers’ approaches make the planning and implementation of these kinds of lessons so accessible and applicable for all teachers. Give your students agency and voice as you plan for some really great conversations in your virtual or physical classrooms!

Let’s talk about talk! If you have listened to some of our previous episodes, you have probably heard many of our expert guests speaking about the importance of literally and metaphorically hearing ELL student voices in the classroom; this episode expands on that theme. Listen to what Dr. Soto’s fascinating research findings tell us about ELLs speaking in their classrooms, and hear some practical strategies for how and why to embed more speaking into your everyday lesson planning. Check out the article linked below entitled “Creating Classroom Buzz” as well as Dr. Soto’s practical and powerful books to discover many ways to uplift your students’ voices.

It can be challenging for monolingual teachers and schools to make connections with families who speak languages other than English. In this dynamic conversation, Dr. José Medina combines his deep knowledge of dual language programming research with his moving testimonios on being a multilingual learner, teacher, administrator, and coach. He generously shares with us some pivotal and thought-provoking strategies for building meaningful relationships with multilingual families and for cultivating a multilingual mindset as we plan lessons, even if we are monolingual educators. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be inspired to action by Dr. Medina’s passionate commitment to equity for all students!

We are aware of a few “glitchy” moments in this recording, but they do not interfere with the overall content/comprehensibility of the episode. Co-teaching may be more challenging than ever during the coronavirus pandemic, and it also is more exciting and innovative than ever! Listen to a conversation with two of the leaders in research about co-teaching relationships: Dr. Maria Dove and Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld. Find out what they say is “non-negotiable” when it comes to co-teaching, and learn a lot of quick and easy-to-apply practices that can take your co-teaching relationships from cooperative to truly collaborative. Listen with your co-teacher and then check out the links below to amazing shared resources!

This episode is all about “doing science and using language” with the incomparable Dr. Okhee Lee. Christopher Leece of OCM BOCES co-hosts as we ask Okhee all of “RBERNing Questions” about how teachers can engage ELLs (and all students!) in inquiry and discovery through the use of “compelling phenomena” in alignment with our updated science standards. Listen to learn more about what science and language DO together in our classrooms!

Welcome to a conversation about connection. In this episode, Liesl asks Dr. Laura Baecher, President of NYSTESOL and Professor at Hunter College, “RBERNing Questions” about collegiality among teachers of ELLs - What does it look like? Why is it important? How can we be intentional about it? And more! Please enjoy, and then reach out to your fellow TESOL colleagues to keep growing your collegiality and collaboration!

You’re going to want to take notes while listening to this episode! It is such a gift to be able to share this conversation about resilience and equity with one of the foremost researchers and writers on these topics in education: Elena Aguilar. In our conversation, Elena shares her experiences and advice on how we can “re-center the individual child” in education and how we can understand ourselves more deeply, with the ultimate goal of creating learning experiences and environments that are equitable and responsive to our students’ needs while growing our own emotional resilience. Please tune in and then check out all of the incredible knowledge Elena and her team have shared on their website!

“RBERNing Questions” for this episode center around how to use New York’s ENL Targets of Measurement (“ToMs”) in standards-based classroom activities and assessments. Guest Dr. Paulina White shares her insights into how she has used the ToMs to focus and refine her planning and lessons for both stand-alone and co-taught ENL classes at the middle school level. If you’ve been wondering how to apply the ToMs in a practical way in your classes, this episode is for you! Click here for free related resources!

Welcome to the very first episode of this brand new podcast for all teachers of ELLs! This episode features a conversation between podcast host/Mid-State RBERN Resource Specialist Liesl Coope and ENL teacher/Mid-State RBERN ENL Council member Diane Stevenson. Listen in to get all the details on what you can expect from this podcast and to find out how you can submit topics and guest suggestions for future episodes. Keep tuning in each week as we discuss all of “RBERNing Questions”!