Is the Science of Reading Enough for Emergent Bilinguals?

Presented by Dr. Jeannette Mancilla-Martinez, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Graduate Education, Associate Professor of Special Education, Peabody College

Sponsored by Lexia Learning as part of Emergent Bilingual Week October 17-21. Learn more.

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The Science of Reading is a growing compilation of decades of gold-standard research that is proven to help students learn to read. The problem is, this evidence is primarily focused on the needs of monolingual, English-speaking children, and does not consider the unique needs of Emergent Bilingual students. While the Science of Reading can and should inform English literacy instruction for Emergent Bilinguals, it must be supplemented for truly equitable and effective instruction.

In this edWebinar, Dr. Jeannette Mancilla-Martinez explores the Science of Reading, and how both the research and the educational system at large tend to view Emergent Bilingual students from an unnecessary, deficit lens. This deficit view inevitably informs how instruction is implemented, but there is a solution. By bolstering the language comprehension side of the Science of Reading, educators can ensure they are improving literacy outcomes for all their students.

Viewers leave with a broader understanding of how the Science of Reading relates to Emergent Bilinguals, and what they can do to supplement literacy instruction for their students.

This recorded edWebinar is of interest to K-6 teachers, ELL/ESOL specialists, school and district leaders, and education technology leaders.

This edWebinar is part of Emergent Bilingual Week: Accelerate Language, Accelerate Literacy.

This five-day event, October 17th – October 21st, consists of a series of webinars that explore important aspects of supporting emergent bilingual students, including the acceleration of English language learning, the role of oral language in literacy instruction, language learning efficacy and research, how educators can leverage artificial intelligence to support Emergent Bilingual students, and much more! Register for the Week.

About the Presenter

Dr. Jeannette Mancilla-Martinez is an associate professor in the Special Education Department, as well as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Graduate Education at Peabody College. She holds an M.Ed. and Ed.D. in language and literacy from Harvard University, as well as a B.A. in liberal studies from Mount Saint Mary’s College. She is a 2013 National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow, a 2013 Hellman Fellow, and a 2017 English Language Learners Policy Fellow. Dr. Mancilla-Martinez’s program of research is focused on advancing students’ language and reading comprehension outcomes, including those of students from linguistically diverse and low-income homes. Her most recent work examines the intersection of language and special education status. Dr. Mancilla-Martinez was appointed to the National Assessment of Education Progress Standing Committee on Reading in 2017 and serves on the Early Literacy Advisory Council for the Tennessee Department of Education.

Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.

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Lexia® Learning, a Cambium® company, is one of the most impactful and highly respected reading-technology companies in the world. Founded over 35 years ago, Lexia’s research-proven programs help educators deliver personalized reading and language instruction for millions of K–12 students across the world.