Conference Recap: National Association for Bilingual Education (2023)
Conference Recap: National Association for Bilingual Education
February 22-25, 2023
Portland, OR
The Exceptional Coaching for Early Language and Literacy (ExCELL) team, led by Dr. Carol Hammer and Dr. Barbara Wasik (Temple Univesity), presented on the ExCELL professional development program and strategies for supporting language and literacy development in young dual language learners (DLLs). Summary of the two conference sessions can be found below. The ExCELL team also hosted an exhibition booth to network with early childhood educators. DLL lab member, Curran Mahowald played a pivotal role in supporting this successful exhibition. This conference marks the team's latest efforts in scaling up the evidence-based professional development program for teachers of young DLLs. The ExCELL team had a great time connecting with members of the NABE community in Portland, Oregon!
If you are interested in learning about how to bring the ExCELL professional development program to your school, please contact Dr. Carol Hammer (carol.hammer@tc.columbia.edu).
Anderson, K., Hammer, C.S., & Wasik, B. (2023, February 23-25). Promoting young English learners’ language and early literacy skills through an evidence-based professional development program [Conference session]. National Association for Bilingual Education Conference, Portland, OR.
This session described an evidence-based professional development (PD) program that trains preschool and kindergarten teachers to promote language and early literacy skills in English and children’s home languages. This session presented the design of the PD program, which includes online modules and remote coaching. The modules present key strategies including developing children’s vocabulary skills and building children’s oral language through conversations and book reading. The session shared sample materials that support key strategies for English Learners, discussed how to implement those strategies in the classroom daily, and shared feedback from teachers about the effectiveness of the PD.
Smith, J.C., Mahowald, C., & Hammer, C.S. (2023, February 23-25). Advocating for DLLs: Consequences of English-only instruction and strategies for home language support in education [Conference session]. National Association for Bilingual Education Conference, Portland, OR.
This session focused on the critical importance of supporting dual language learners’ (DLL) home languages in classrooms. Findings from a longitudinal study of young DLLs were presented, demonstrating the long-term impact of English-only instruction on children’s Spanish and English development. Additionally, participants learned strategies for supporting DLLs’ home languages in the classroom, regardless of their proficiency in their students’ home languages. The importance of leveraging caregivers’ expertise in the home language was also discussed. Attendees received a summary of the strategies for supporting the home language to use as a tool for advocacy.
Vail, C., Smith, J.C., Hammer, C.S., Anderson, K., & Wasik, B. (2023, February 23-25). Book reading for dual language learners: Strategies for supporting bilingual language development [Conference workshop]. National Association for Bilingual Education Conference, Portland, OR.
This workshop assisted early childhood educators in implementing strategies that promote bilingual language development during book reading with young dual language learners. Participants learned a set of complementary, evidence-based approaches for read-aloud activities that support children’s oral language and vocabulary development in both English and their home language. Participants were provided opportunities to watch videos of early childhood educators effectively employing these strategies in their classrooms, and explored ways the strategies can be adapted to their own classroom context. Participants also applied the strategies to create a book reading guide alongside a live exemplar.
Smith, J.C., Anderson, K., Vail, C., Hammer, C.S., & Wasik, B. (2023, February 23-25). Strategies for promoting bilingual vocabulary development in young dual language learners [Conference workshop]. National Association for Bilingual Education Conference, Portland, OR.
This workshop introduced evidence-based strategies for promoting bilingual vocabulary development in young dual language learners (DLLs). Participants learned developmentally appropriate strategies for: (a) selecting tier 2 vocabulary; (b) providing explicit vocabulary instruction; (c) and building vocabulary throughout the day. Participants had opportunities to view and comment on videos of teachers using the strategies in their classrooms, practice strategies with their colleagues, and develop a plan for implementing the strategies in their own classroom.
