Presented by Cecilia Espinosa, Ph.D., Author; and Laura Ascenzi-Moreno, Ph.D., Author

Sponsored by Scholastic Education

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In their new book Rooted in Strength: Using Translanguaging to Grow Multilingual Readers and Writers, Cecilia M. Espinosa, Ph.D. and Laura Ascenzi-Moreno, Ph.D. demonstrate how emergent bilinguals (students who speak two or more languages in their daily lives) thrive when they are able to use “translanguaging” to tap the full power of their linguistic and sociocultural repertoires. Translanguaging has been instrumental in shifting the ways that educators view the language resources that students bring. Yet, many teachers are unaware of how to translate the theory of translanguaging into daily pedagogical practices.

In this edWebinar, Drs. Espinosa and Ascenzi-Moreno introduce ways that teachers can deeply know and build on their emergent bilinguals’ and their families’ sociocultural and linguistic resources, along with designing a pedagogy that engages children in literacy practices that normalize bilingualism/multilingualism. They trace how diverse children’s literature can serve as a powerful tool to decolonize the curriculum and de-center monolingualism, as they address how these engagements can connect to students’ intersectional identities and broaden their critical perspectives.

Drs. Espinosa and Ascenzi-Moreno present rich and thoughtful literacy practices that propel emergent bilinguals to reading and writing success by honoring the resources that they bring to school and rooting instruction in their strengths.

This recorded edWebinar will be of interest to teachers, librarians, and school and district leaders of the kindergarten through elementary levels.

About the Presenters

Cecilia M. Espinosa, Ph.D. is an associate professor in the Department of Early Childhood and Childhood Education at Lehman College’s CUNY (Bronx) School of Education. Dr. Espinosa’s journey started as a teacher assistant in a preschool. She was also a bilingual multiage teacher and director of a dual language program in Phoenix, Arizona. She currently works with bilingual teachers at the early childhood and childhood levels and teaches courses on biliteracy. Her research focus is on bilingual children’s writing and children’s literature that affirms and nurtures children’s multiple identities.

Laura Ascenzi-Moreno, Ph.D. is an associate professor in the Childhood, Bilingual, and Special Education Department at Brooklyn College’s School of Education. She has more than a decade of experience in the classroom, as a bilingual teacher, literacy coach, and new-teacher mentor in New York City Public Schools. Currently, she works with practicing and preservice teachers. Her research focus is on the literacy development and assessment of emergent bilinguals, the development of teacher knowledge, and how they intersect with equity.

Closed captioning will be added to the recording within 2 weeks of the live presentation.

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At Scholastic Education, we believe that the development of robust literacy skills is at the very heart of empowering children to thrive in school and in life. For nearly 100 years, we’ve partnered with districts and schools to inspire lifelong readers and learners. From transformative, research-based literacy instruction, to expert professional development, and groundbreaking family & community engagement, we partner with educators every step of the way on the path to literacy.