The Multilingual Specialist's Sub Folder

 Prepping sub plans is not my favorite thing. And seeing memes like the one below (while giving me a momentary chuckle at first) really tells a sad reality. HOWEVER, you are a human being before you are an educator - and you deserve to stay home when you are not physically/mentally well. 



What goes into your Sub Folder?  Typically, we include things like our daily schedule, a brief overview of the structure and flow of the learning environment, daily/weekly routines, etc. We may also include a list of teachers nearby they can consult if needed. Finally- and the most time-consuming - is the lesson plans across the entire day. Have you ever kept a log of everything you've done in the last 8 hours? It can get long really quickly! 

In a multilingual Sub Folder, what specifically might you include?

1. Specific ways to support specific students: Identify students and also mention their composite proficiency level. If you are in a WIDA state, it may be helpful to include the WIDA Name Charts so that a substitute can quickly see the whole class at-a-glance and understand specific language descriptors. 

You may wish to also include a few notes about the SEL needs of Multilingual Learners, including especially any students who may be new arrivals or who may be experiencing ACEs. Please note that it is important to respect the privacy of students and it is not necessary to divulge their personal stories and/or hardships.


2. A very brief overview of an appropriate, culturally responsive mindset when serving multilingual learners 
    Infographics & sketchnotes are powerful and easy to digest more quickly. There's usually not enough time for a substitute to read lengthy articles or dissertations, so infographics, tables, charts, and sketchnotes are great for this.
    Check out Olivia Mulcahy's blog Claimed.blog for her incredible infographics here. Follow her on Twitter @MaestraOlivia. 
    Check out Valentina Gonzalez's blog for her beautifully done sketchnotes here. Follow her on Twitter @ValentinaESL.
    Check out Claribel Gonzalez's blog and also her Wakelet site that feature her sketchnotes! Follow her on Twitter @Claribel716.

3. A very brief overview of instructional strategies. "Tips & tricks" types of documents are best for this purpose. Keep them short, sweet, and easy to digest. 
     Check out Tan Huynh's Bathroom Briefs. While the intention behind these is to provide "PD on the go," these are also very helpful for folks who need a quick overview of how to provide meaningful scaffolds for multilingual learners.  Follow him on Twitter @TanKHuynh. 




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