In this powerful and practical episode of the Equipping ELLs Podcast, host Beth Vaucher welcomes Sarah Knigge, an independent consultant and co-author focused on bilingual literacy, to unpack the essential role native language plays in developing English literacy for Spanish-speaking students. With years of experience as a bilingual teacher and program leader, Sarah shares actionable strategies for educators navigating the complex dynamics of supporting multilingual learners.

Beth and Sarah begin by discussing the benefits of leveraging a student’s home language in the classroom and how it can foster deeper family engagement, boost student confidence, and reinforce cultural identity. Sarah emphasizes the importance of intentional native language use and explains why simply translating materials isn’t always the best support strategy. Instead, she encourages educators to adopt sheltered instruction practices and structured scaffolding techniques that promote true language development.

Listeners will learn about the key differences between Spanish and English literacy—such as phoneme systems, syllabic decoding, and metalinguistic awareness—and how recognizing these contrasts helps educators better support literacy transfer. Sarah highlights the role of cognates and contrastive analysis as bridges between the two languages, offering practical examples educators can apply immediately in their classrooms.

The conversation also dives into misconceptions about bilingual education, including the unintended consequences of concurrent translation. Sarah candidly shares her early missteps and how those experiences shaped her commitment to effective bilingual instruction and eventually led her to co-author a literacy curriculum designed specifically for emergent Spanish readers.

From enhancing vocabulary through oral language strategies like QSSSA to making writing accessible with sentence pattern charts and graphic organizers, this episode is filled with proven tools that help ELLs build confidence and fluency. Beth and Sarah also address the realities of time constraints in classrooms, offering ways teachers can support literacy without overwhelming students with redundant phonics drills.

For educators looking to strengthen their instruction and advocacy for bilingual learners, Sarah’s insights offer a clear and compassionate roadmap. Whether you're in a dual-language setting, ESL classroom, or simply want to better support your Spanish-speaking students, this episode is a must-listen.

Links and Resources:

• ReadInEspanol.com
• READ en espanol, Inc. on Linked In
• Purchase the Primary Skills Book for Spanish Reading
• Connect with Sarah on Linked In
• Connect with Sarah on Instagram
• Connect with Sarah on Facebook
• ⁠⁠⁠Join the Equipping ELLs Membership
• Shop our TpT Store

In this powerful episode of the Equipping ELLs podcast, host Beth Vaucher sits down with two leading voices in trauma-informed and restorative education, Marg Thorsborne and Joe Brummer, for a deeply transformative conversation on rethinking student behavior, discipline, and classroom culture.

Marg, a global pioneer in restorative practices, and Joe, a trauma survivor turned international peacebuilder, bring decades of lived experience and professional wisdom to the table. Together, they co-authored Becoming a Trauma-Informed Restorative Educator, a vital guide for educators ready to move beyond punitive systems and foster true healing and connection in schools.

This episode explores the critical differences between behaviorism and trauma-informed approaches, debunking the myth that all behavior is a choice. Joe explains how trauma shapes students' nervous systems, causing many to enter classrooms in survival mode rather than learning mode. Marg highlights the importance of adult self-regulation, reminding us that students need at least one regulated brain in the room — and that starts with the educator.

The discussion also dives into the invisible signs of trauma and the necessity of cultivating empathy through self-awareness. Educators are encouraged to start their journey by working on their own wellness, nervous system regulation, and childhood conditioning, especially as many default to the discipline patterns they experienced as children.

Listeners will learn why restorative practices aren’t a “soft” alternative but a structured, empathetic approach to accountability and healing. They’ll also hear the heartbreaking but eye-opening story of how misread facial expressions can trigger violence in culturally diverse classrooms — and how trauma-informed strategies could prevent such outcomes.

Whether you're teaching newcomers from war-torn countries or students experiencing daily chaos at home, this episode offers grounded, research-backed strategies to help every educator foster a safe, inclusive, and emotionally available learning environment. With actionable advice and heartfelt insight, this episode is a must-listen for teachers, administrators, and school counselors.

📘 Don’t miss the chance to dive deeper by reading Becoming a Trauma-Informed Restorative Educator — perfect for your summer professional development stack.

Links and Resources

Becoming a Trauma-Informed Restorative Educator

Connect with Marg:

• www.thorsborne.com.au
• X: @ThorsborneMarg
• Bluesky: Margie Thorsborne
• LinkedIn: Margaret Thorsborne
• FB: Margaret Thorsborne and Associates

Connect with Joe:

• Joebrummerjoebrummer.com

⁠⁠⁠Join the Equipping ELLs Membership

Shop our TpT Store

How can I effectively track and showcase the progress of multilingual learners across all language domains when traditional assessments often fail to capture their growth?

In this episode of Equipping ELLs, host Beth Vaucher is joined by Kelly Aldinger, a bilingual learning and development expert with a passion for fostering educational equity for multilingual learners. Kelly shares her expertise on the power of digital portfolios in showcasing language development, particularly in helping multilingual students see their progress over time.

A digital portfolio is more than just a collection of student work, it's a tool that brings together audio, video, and written samples to demonstrate real growth in all four language domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Kelly walks us through how teachers can use these portfolios to monitor language growth, identify skill gaps, and make data-driven decisions to inform instruction. She also shares insights into making the process more manageable for teachers and offers practical steps to get started with setting up digital portfolios in the classroom.

This conversation highlights the value of using data to drive decision-making and how digital portfolios give both teachers and families a clearer picture of student achievement. Kelly provides actionable tips on how to integrate these portfolios into your practice, including the importance of student reflection and how to connect with families through accessible and meaningful tools. Whether you're a teacher looking to enhance your classroom or someone seeking to learn more about fostering student progress, this episode is packed with valuable information that can make a big impact.

Key Topics Discussed:

• What digital portfolios are and how they differ from traditional student folders
• The benefits of using portfolios for tracking progress in all four language domains
• Practical steps for setting up digital portfolios and using them effectively in the classroom
• How to leverage student reflection for growth and goal-setting
• The power of data in driving educational decisions for multilingual learners

Listen to this episode and start planning how you can implement digital portfolios in your classroom to celebrate student growth and improve instructional strategies.

Links and Resources:

• In this Google Drive Folder, you will find a copy of presentation slides, NYSESLAT Targets of Measurement, K-5 Digital Portfolio Reference Guide, Google Site Template

**IMPORTANT** Right click on the file within the Google Drive folder --> "Make a copy" --> Be sure to store it outside of the shared folder in your OWN drive, otherwise it won't allow you to make the copy.

A copy of the site will be created, and you can rename it and make changes as needed.

• ⁠⁠⁠Join the Equipping ELLs Membership
• Shop our TpT Store
• Connect with Kelly on Linked In