Week 6 - 7/14/2017

This week I read an article that I feel like every single teacher in America should read. The entire time I was reading it, I just kept nodding and agreeing with the points the author made as well as feel like she really opened my eyes to what is happening all around us in the world of education whether we are aware or not.

The article was Embracing Bilingualism in the Classroom: What Role Will You Play written by Danielle Suárez.

Danielle begins her article by explaining her background as an ESL student. She fits perfectly into one of my previous posts about students who have are ESL students not qualifying for gifted education due to their language barrier. She was able to not only speak Spanish and English fluently, she was able to translate from one to the other, she tested into the gifted classrooms, and scored in the 99th percentile on state standardized tests. With all of this, she was still pulled from her classroom when she moved schools to an ESL classroom because of her last name. She talks about what it feels like to profiled solely by a last name and how at her new school none of what she was actually capable of mattered.

Another excellent point she brought up was how often phrases and comments regarding being in America and needing to be able to speak English arise. I loved how she mentioned the United States referring to themselves as a "nation of immigrants", meanwhile we are racist to those who do not speak English as well as ourselves or for "crossing the border". This is a huge issue especially among schools.

She also goes through the historical background of ESL students and the bilingual programs that schools have offered and will hopefully integrate again in all districts. These programs do not just benefit the ESL students, but the English speaking students as well. We need to be teachers who are creating comfortable, safe learning environments and encouraging the growth of all students.

She ended her article the same way I will end my post - with the challenge from Danielle.

"I challenge you to check your implicit biases as students learn a new language. Many of these students are simultaneously learning a new culture and education system. They need you to meet them where they are."