E.E. Jetter K–8 School
Millington, TN
Cristina Huizar
EL TOSA
Oxnard School District
Oxnard, CA
Wendy Hyshka
EAL Consultant
Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools
Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Rebecca Irwin-Kennedy
Assistant Principal
Arlington Public Schools
Arlington, VA
Molly Lee
Second Grade Teacher
Highland Elementary School
Silver Spring, MD
Jennifer Martínez
Curriculum Specialist
Cali Calmécac Language Academy
Windsor, CA
Lynne McCune
Literacy Specialist
Colchester Public Schools
Colchester, CT
Alicia Nutall
Instructional Support Specialist
Shelby County Schools
Memphis, TN
Andrea Quintana, NBCT
Instructional Coach
Zuni Elementary School
Albuquerque, NM
Rebecca Cox Rocha
Principal
Cesar Chavez Language Academy
Santa Rosa, CA
Shaneena Rolfe
Early Literacy Consultant
Independent Consultant
Memphis, TN
Kulbir Sanhu
Second Grade Teacher
Meadow View Elementary
Santa Rosa, CA
Sara Stewart-Lediard
Teacher Librarian
Traner Middle School
Reno, NV
Katherine Strach
Literacy and Language Consultant
Independent Consultant
San Mateo, CA
Adrianne Sublett
Literacy Instructional Advisor
Shelby County Schools
Memphis, TN
Maureen Torrez, NBCT
Graduate Student MA Education Leadership
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Boston, MA
Para Humberto Ballesteros y Juana Cruz Pérez.
Cuando llegué a México de otro país y cultura,
su familia siempre me hizo sentir como en casa como parte de la familia.
Gracias por inspirar el trabajo que me ha apasionado.
For Humberto Ballesteros and Juana Cruz Pérez,
When I arrived in Mexico from another country and culture,
your family always made me feel at home like part of the family.
Thank you for inspiring my life’s work.
About the Author
Tonya Ward Singeris a language and literacy consultant who helps K–12 educators transform teaching for equity and EL achievement. Teachers and administrators describe her work as groundbreaking, dynamic, practical, relevant, and impactful. Tonya’s bestselling book, Opening Doors to Equity: A Practical Guide to Observation-Based Professional Learning, empowers teachers to engage in courageous, job-embedded professional learning. Opening Doors to Equity was a Learning Forward Book Club selection and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education via Teach to Lead’s Leadership Lab. Tonya has co-authored EL and literacy curricula for major publishers and publishes creative writing in literacy journals and performs on the spoken-word stage. With more than 20 years of experience in education, Tonya has taught at multiple grade levels and served districts as a reading specialist, an EL specialist, and a facilitator of transformative professional learning. A parent, poet, and lover of the High Sierras, Tonya is fluent in Spanish and can negotiate the price of a tomato in Mandarin Chinese. Connect with Tonya on Twitter @TonyaWardSinger or via her website www.tonyasinger.com.
Section I Essentials for EL Excellence
1. Introduction 2Why This Book? 2Helping Every Teacher Excel Teaching ELs 3Core Pedagogy for EL Excellence 10How this Guide Helps You Every Day 12Ways to Use This Flip-To Guide 14
2. Essential Mindsets 18Mindsets Matter 18Value English Learners’ Assets 20Expect Excellence From Every English Learner 29Reflect in Inquiry About Your Impact 33
Chapter 1 Introduction
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“Every teacher is a language teacher . . . We need to bring all teachers to the table when it