More Ways to Support Newly Arrived Students

This week’s episode offers additional suggestions for supporting newcomer students with Sakura’s guest, Beyoung Yu from the Portland Public Schools. As an English Language Development (ELD) educator, Beyoung builds a base for the English language with his students, but he sees his job in a broader context as well. He offers suggestions about how to connect with students’ cultural identities and first languages to make them feel seen and heard instead of being the “other.” Beyoung explains how he also reaches out to students’ families to form strong communication channels.

 

Beyoung’s suggestions include working to create a more inclusive curriculum for all students. He encourages educators to grow their own curriculum by using other teachers as resources, applying for grants, and building a relevant collection in the school library. This expanded curriculum counteracts the limitations of standardized testing and assessment that focuses on only one aspect of a student’s achievements. The goal is to be mindful of students’ identities and their backgrounds. 

 

Resources

ELD Department Main Page, Portland Public Schools

 

K-5 English Language Development, Portland Public Schools 

 

NEA Foundation Grants and Fellowships

 

Exploring Young Immigrant Stories  

OEA Grow is a proud member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network