Webinars & Resources

We are here to support educators responding to the COVID-19 pandemic with informational webinars and online resources.

Webinars

Our webinars are opportunities to learn from experts in the education field. Sign up for an upcoming webinar, or view recordings and resources from past events.

Synchronous Online Flipped Learning Approach - April 8, 2021
- Watch the Webinar
- Workshop Materials
Through the Synchronous Online Flipped Learning Approach, this online workshop explored the Intercultural Communication Framework as a way to create fertile online learning spaces with Equity, Enrichment, Engagement and Empowerment.
Meeting Student Needs Through Trauma-Informed Care - Aug. 11, 2020
More Trauma-Informed Care Resources
Trauma-informed care is defined as practices that promote a culture of safety, empowerment, and healing. This webinar focuses on having a trauma-informed approach to supporting students in their respective schools and communities. In this Aug. 11, 2020, webinar, participants had the opportunity to:
- Develop foundational knowledge and approaches to building a trauma-informed learning environment and why this is a need.
- Expand on leveraging the strengths and culture that English learners and immigrant children bring to the learning environment.
- Discuss a strengths-based approach to this work.
- Dive deeper into building, rebuilding and maintaining relationships.
- Learn self-regulation and self-care strategies for students and teachers.
- Discover available resources to support your trauma-informed practice.
Akira S. Gutierrez, MA, has spent the majority of her career at the intersection of child development and education. She facilitates learning sessions related to supporting the whole child through social-emotional and trauma-informed approaches. She has also developed research-based resources and curricula for children, educators, and families. She holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degree in Child Development from Tufts University, where she trained in early childhood education and applied human developmental research.
Akira is currently a doctoral student in the Clinical Science in Child and Adolescent Psychology program at FIU, where she is expanding on her clinical training and investigating the role of adverse childhood experiences on early childhood development and school readiness. She is particularly interested in the development and implementation of evidence-based practices in community settings to support youth with a history of ACEs and/or trauma, specifically as it relates to (1) forging positive relationships with caregivers and other supportive adults; (2) developing strong social and emotional skills; and (3) preparing for academic success. Akira was born in Nicaragua and raised in Miami and is a proud graduate of Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
This webinar was made possible by a grant from the Spencer Foundation.
Supporting Online Learning for Struggling English Learners and Students with Limited and/or Interrupted Formal Education - April 23, 2020
This webinar held on April 23, 2020, introduced our team at FIU that is dedicated to working with teachers, students and families to support struggling English learners. Then, Dr. Andrea DeCapua, an expert in students with limited and/or interrupted formal education (SLIFE), discussed what we might expect during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and provide some effective strategies and resources.

English Learner Resources for COVID-19 and Beyond

Below are some suggested resources for supporting Hispanic/Latinx students who are English learners/emergent bilinguals.

For an invitation to a Google group with various threads for supporting emergent bilingual students via remote learning, please email rpontier@fiu.edu.

Educational & Informational Resources
- AchieveTheCore.org: Foundational Skills Practice Strategies - Kindergarten and First Grade
- Bébés y Más: Quédate en casa: 39 ideas de juegos y actividades para entretener a los niños mientras os protegéis del coronavirus
- Bellelli Educación: Módulos Para Construcción En Casa
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Coronavirus in English and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Coronavirus en español
- Century Foundation: Resources
- Coherence Map: Modeling Tasks
- Colorín Colorado: Offline Learning at Home: Ideas for English Language Learners
- Colorín Colorado: School Responses to COVID-19: ELL/Immigrant Considerations
- CommonLit - literacy and books for grades 3-12; Spanish
- Common Sense Education: Digital Citizenship Resources in Spanish
- Common Sense Media: 4 aplicaciones educativas que se pueden usar sin conexión a internet
- Common Sense Media: Consejos para la familia
- Comunidades Indígenas En Liderazgo: Información en Lenguas Originarias/Lenguas Indígenas
- Conscious Discipline: Why Can't I Go To School? Social Story
- Council of the Great City Schools: Sample Questionnaires for Grades K-12 for Use with Provisional Identification and Placement Protocol during Extended School Closures
- Dual Language Learning Resources for Teachers, Parent, and Students - Facebook group
- Edublogs: ESL at Home: 12 Weeks, Tech Free
- eSchool News: 6 fun resources for online learning
- español.free-ebooks.net - libros gratis
- Freckle - differentiate instruction across Math, ELA, Social Studies and Science
- Global Problem Solvers - free series on social responsibility, multiple languages, grades 4-8
- Grade Retention and ELLs: A Survey of Research and Best Practice
- Hand2mind: Daily Lessons & Activities for K-5 Students
- Hand2mind: Lecciones y actividades diarias para estudiantes K-5
- HealthyChildren.org: Should My Child Repeat a Grade?
- Illinois Early Education Project: Tip Sheets - one-page resources on a variety of topics of interest to parents and teachers of young children
- Immigrant Connections: Supporting Educators and Organizations
- Indigenous Alliance Without Borders - COVID-19 Announcements in Indigenous Languages
- International Consortium for Multilingual Excellence in Education - resources, podcasts, packets - K-5, PD
- Khan Academy en español
  - Khan Academy - instrucciones en español
- The Language Lady: Online Teaching Ideas for ESL Learners
- Language Magazine: COVID-19: Resources for Successful Remote Education
- Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day: The "Best of the Best" Resources to Support Teachers Dealing with School Closures
- Maguaré: Leer - libros de cuentos (Ministerio de Cultura de Colombia)
- ManyBooks - in various languages
- Materials in Indigenous Languages and Dialects
- Microsoft Education: What’s New in EDU: Free resources to support engaging, accessible remote learning lessons
- MultiBriefs: At-home learning: Strategies, resources and tools
- National Association for Bilingual Education: COVID-19 Resources
- National Association for Families, Schools, and Community Engagement: Resources for Practitioners, Educators, and Families
- New America: Digital Resources for EL Students
- Newsela - news articles and quizzes
- Padlet: Practical Strategies & Resources to Teach K-12 ELs Online from SupportEd
- PBS NewsHour: How teachers are trying to reach English language learners during pandemic
- Project Gutenberg: Free eBooks - including various languages, older literary works
- SmartBrief: Free resources for educators during the coronavirus pandemic
- Spanish Profe: Tips for planning distance learning in your bilingual classroom
- TalkingPoints app - translates messages
- Tech & Learning: Free Online Learning Resources
- The74: Online Sources for Technical Learning
- UnidosUS: Coronavirus in English and UnidosUS: Coronavirus en español
- Unite for Literacy - books in English and Spanish, PK-1
- Vinfen: Estrategias Para La Salud Mental
- Wide Open School - free online learning experiences
- WilBooks - books in English and Spanish - elementary
- Xello: Free Resources for Schools, Educators & Parents During COVID-19
Guidance for Educators & Parents
Mental Health, Wellness & Mindfulness
Special Education-Related
- ALTELLA - Alternate English Language Learning Assessment Project - Information for educators
- Center for Parent Information & Resources - Centers provide information, resources, and training to families of students with disabilities
- Dr. B's Special Education Technology Share on Facebook
- Educating All Learners During the COVID-19 Disaster
- Edutopia: New Strategies in Special Education as Kids Learn From Home
- Fundación Orange - Información sobre el autismo
- Grandes Minorias - Cuentos de gente con discapacidades
- National School Choice Week: Educating Students with Disabilities During the Time of COVID-19
- Pacer Center - Información para familias bajo "Handouts"
- PEAK Parent Center - Recursos bajo "Artículos y Recursos Disponibles en Español"
- Understood.org
  - Understood.org en español - Regístrese para recibir correos semanales con información útil para usted y su familia
  - Actividades para mantener ocupado a su hijo en la casa - Ejemplo de los recursos disponibles
Special Education Sites & Apps with Spanish Option
Remember, as with any tool, what may work wonders for some students will only frustrate others. Customization is key with any app, so adults and educators need to put in some time learning the apps themselves or how to make modifications in the settings. Many apps come with great teacher-made materials; look for video tutorials, lesson plans, and extension activities. Also, most digital devices, computers/phones, have either or both capability for: text-to-speech or speech recognition/dictation in English and Spanish, which can be used to support English learners with special needs. For example, both Microsoft Word and OneNote have the dictate feature and immersive reader.
Common Sense Education: Amplify Your ELLs' Voices With Digital Storytelling
Apps
Tales2go – audio books for K-12 students. Free one-month trial.
SoundingBoard (Apple) - A free mobile augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) app designed for children who are unable to speak (or who have limited speech) to help them communicate. In order to meet the needs of this particular population, the app comes with preloaded boards using symbols with recorded messages. Students select and press images on the board to prompt a verbal message.
LetterSchool – Free trial. Promotes early literacy and numeracy skills by guiding children to tap, touch, and trace colorful animations. Children learn letter formation, letter sounds and names, spelling, counting, and other preschool and primary skills. It does an excellent job of developing fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination.
Epic! Kids' Books and Videos (Apple) - An e-library that is great for supporting reluctant or struggling readers. It provides access to more than 20,000 high-quality children’s books and educational videos and includes an assortment of both fiction and nonfiction books from prominent publishers. Epic is offering free access to schools during this time.
Supporting Undocumented Students
- American Civil Liberties Union
- Formulario: Alivio de Renta Para Inmigrantes #COVID-19
- Funds for Undocumented/COVID 19 impact collected by AFSC - information in English and Spanish/información en inglés y español
- Immigrant Connections - consulting, training
- ImmSchools: Educator's Hub
- PreK-12 Toolkit for Educators, Leaders, and Policymakers in Preparation for and Response to Supreme Court Decision on DACA
- Protecting Immigrant Families: Know Your Rights
- The74: As Educators Grapple With COVID-19 Challenges, Supporting Undocumented Students & Families Must Be a Priority
- The74: For Undocumented Students, Coronavirus Pandemic Brings Learning Disruptions — and Economic Panic — With Few Avenues for Help
- United We Dream DACA Archives - information about DACA
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Public Charge - notice on noncitizen testing for COVID-19
Trauma-Informed Care

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Webinars & Resources

Webinars

English Learner Resources for COVID-19 and Beyond