Amy J. Heineke

Kristin J. Davin

This edited volume examines the Seal of Biliteracy (SoBL), a relatively new policy initiative that has received little attention in scholarly and practical literature. The contributions seek to expand the literature by presenting case studies of policy implementation in diverse contexts across the United States. This book is organized into four sections: (1) introduction to the SoBL, including history of the policy initiative and national trends in policy design and implementation, (2) case studies of macro-level policy implementation, including a diverse array of contexts across the country that have approached the SoBL in unique ways (e.g., legislation v. educational code, prioritizing world v. home languages), (3) case studies of micro-level implementation, including schools and districts that award the SoBL to diverse student populations through various language programs (e.g., English-dominant v. linguistically diverse; world language v. dual-language programs), and (4) conclusions and future directions, including actionable next steps for policy makers, administrators, educators, and researchers. Members of various professional organizations will benefit from this text, including the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE), Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), the American Council for Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), as well as participants in local affiliates for bilingual, English as a second language (ESL), and world language education.

Case Studies and Considerations for Policy Implementation

The Seal of Biliteracy

As the most restrictive language policy context in the United States, Arizona’s monolingual and prescriptive approach to teaching English learners continues to capture international attention. More than five school years after initial implementation, this study uses qualitative data from the individuals doing the policy work to provide a holistic picture of the complexities and intricacies of Arizona’s language policy in practice. Drawing on the varied perspectives of teachers, leaders, administrators, teacher-educators, lawmakers and community activists, the book examines the lived experiences of those involved in Arizona’s language policy on a daily basis, highlighting the importance of local perspectives and experiences as well as the need to prepare and professionalize teachers of English learners.

English Learners in Arizona

Restrictive Language Policy in Practice

Jay McTighe

How can today’s teachers, whose classrooms are more culturally and linguistically diverse than ever before, ensure that their students achieve at high levels? How can they design units and lessons that support English learners in language development and content learning—simultaneously? Authors Amy Heineke and Jay McTighe provide the answers by adding a lens on language to the widely used Understanding by Design® framework (UbD® framework) for curriculum design, which emphasizes teaching for understanding, not rote memorization. Readers will learn * the components of the UbD framework; * the fundamentals of language and language development; * how to use diversity as a valuable resource for instruction by gathering information about students’ background knowledge from home, community, and school; * how to design units and lessons that integrate language development with content learning in the form of essential knowledge and skills; and * how to assess in ways that enable language learners to reveal their academic knowledge. Student profiles, real-life classroom scenarios, and sample units and lessons provide compelling examples of how teachers in all grade levels and content areas use the UbD framework in their culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms. Combining these practical examples with findings from an extensive research base, the authors deliver a useful and authoritative guide for reaching the overarching goal: ensuring that all students have equitable access to high-quality curriculum and instruction.

Amy J. Heineke

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