ELL News Headlines

Hundreds of educators protested the United States' treatment of immigrant children in a "teach-in" on Sunday, saying that as mandatory reporters, they are obliged to speak out against detainment and family separations. The teach-in, held in El Paso, Texas, was organized by Mandy Manning, the 2018 National Teacher of the Year, who teaches newly arrived refugee and immigrant students in Washington state.

Three years after four National Teacher of the Year finalists gathered at the White House, only two of the four are still teaching. Only one of is still at the same school and two have gone on strike. According to finalist Nate Bowling, the paths their careers have taken since that day speak volumes about the state of teaching in the United States.

In his 2018 State of the Union address last year, President Donald Trump called for a pathway to citizenship for "Dreamers," while urging for new restrictions on legal immigration and funding for a wall along the border with Mexico. In the audience was Ivonne Orozco, who is the 2018 New Mexico Teacher of the Year—and also a Dreamer. (Orozco was recently part of the recent educator demonstration along the U.S.-Mexico border.)

Debut picture book creator Oge Mora hails from Columbus, now lives in Providence, and was kind enough to take the train up for a little talk with Roger. We discuss her book, Thank You, Omu!, which recently won a Caldecott Honor and the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award.

Take a look at some of the upcoming titles for teens from School Library Journal.

African-American picture books have always been successful at capturing the breadth, depth and beauty of the black experience, allowing children to gain much-needed access to the strong legacy and vibrant history of African-American art and storytelling. But how we present this story is always undergoing revision and refinement, as four new books — from a closer view of plantation life to a visually rich depiction of the history of hip-hop — show. In these books, word and art combine to give us fresh insight into the lives, creativity and achievements of a truly resilient and profound people.

Democrats in the U.S. House have introduced legislation that would bar immigration agents from conducting arrests, interviews, searches, or surveillance at schools and school bus stops—except in extreme circumstances.

Jordan Weymer is principal of the Donald McKay K-8 School. In this op-ed, Jordan writes, "Every child deserves a high-quality education that recognizes and respects his or her dignity and humanity, and that relishes in the stories of school and community. That's why teachers and schools like ours across the country are doing their life's work, nurturing the dreams of students in the heart of an immigrant community."

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, one kindergarten teacher is having her students tell her what they love about themselves in the form of a podcast.

The Denver school district and teachers union have reached an agreement in their long-simmering dispute over teacher pay, ending a strike as it entered its fourth day. The tentative deal gives teachers significant raises and a more traditional pay system, while keeping incentives for teachers at high-poverty schools that the district believes are essential.