NJ Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages/
NJ Bilingual Educators

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Vice President

A Return to Remember

By Michelle Land

I am honored to have been elected as Vice President of NJTESOL/NJBE. I spent four years as the Middle School/Bilingual SIG representative, and am excited to return to the Executive Board in this capacity.

Returning to the Executive Board during a pandemic was not quite what I expected. At the same time, I am in awe of how well our organization and the Executive Board has continued to provide support and guidance for our members. Our state is filled with knowledgeable, creative, and passionate educators who continue to do their best to support our ELLs (English language learners).

While our organization has so many opportunities for members, it also has many opportunities for our members’ students, namely awards and scholarships.

This year, there were 11 awards and scholarships that members’ students could have applied for. They ranged from opportunities for a fourth-grade student, eighth-grade student, high school seniors, and ELLs in college.

Some of the awards are specific in terms of ELL status, or topics of study. There are scholarships for students who have received the Seal of Biliteracy, as well as students going for their Master’s Teaching degree in the field of English as a Second Language. There is even an award for the parents of the Seal of Biliteracy Scholarship winners!

In the past, I served on the scholarship/award committee. I was always amazed by the stories our applicants would share in their submissions. It is still exciting to see how they have learned to use the English language to express themselves. It is always encouraging to see how many apply for different scholarships. At the same time, I believe that even more students could be supported.

As the parent of teenagers, I know that the process of applying for scholarships and awards can be daunting. Once Covid-19 made it to our shores, most thoughts of applying for scholarships vanished from our minds.

As teachers, we are even more removed from this process. And yet, we are perhaps the best prepared to help our students follow through. Many of our students’ families are not aware of award and scholarship opportunities and the process it entails. In fact, there is truly almost no way for our students and their families to know about these the NJTESOL/NJBE awards and scholarships without our help and guidance.

Instead of waiting until January 2021 to discuss the awards and scholarships with your students, why not start preparing them already this September, by creating excitement around the opportunities of winning? I ask that our members start a countdown to the opening of the portal to apply. As educators, your preparation and enthusiasm will pave the way for students to take the leap into this opportunity to further their education and possibilities.

If interested in delving deeper into this topic, here is a link to the page on our website for awards and scholarships: https://njtesol-njbe.org/scholarships/

Michelle Land is Vice President/President-Elect. She works in the Randolph Township Public Schools.

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2020 Award & Scholarship Winners

Congratulations!

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Past President

The Growth of Our Organization

By Caia Schlessinger

For me, being a member of the NJTESOL/NJBE Executive Board is synonymous with being an ESL teacher. During my first year of teaching, the teacher whose position I had taken when she retired returned to visit her students. As she was leaving, she said that she had decided to also retire from the NJTESOL/NJBE Executive Board and that I should take her position. It was the best advice that I have ever received. Becoming an NJTESOL/NJBE Executive Board member has helped me grow as a professional and introduced me to lifelong friends.

As I transition to the two-year position of Past-President, I am excited to introduce our new Vice-President/President-Elect, Michelle Land. Michelle is an ESL teacher in Randolph and co-leader of the Morris/Sussex NJTESOL/NJBE Chapter. We are thrilled to have her joining the leadership of our organization. Our incoming President is Maggie Churchill, who is transitioning from Vice-President/President-Elect to President.

During my two years as President, I was proud to be a part of the growth of our organization. With the transition to a three-day spring conference a few  years ago, the Executive Board decided to hire a Conference Coordinator, Sandee McBride,  and an Exhibitor Liaison, Tina Kern. These two positions were integral in our 50th cELLebration last year. We were all incredibly disappointed that we had to cancel the conference this year, but our spring conference team is already looking ahead to next year as well as exploring online options for remote professional development and chapter meetings. In addition to the two new paid conference positions, the Executive Board also felt that it was time to grow our leadership with an Executive Director. I am so pleased that Kathy Fernandez was able to join us as our first Executive Director. Since starting with us in January, Kathy has represented us at the NABE conference, set up the NJTESOL-NJBE Executive Board YouTube channel featuring pertinent interviews and professional development presentations, assisted with an article on NJ.com, and helped represent our advocacy efforts with the NJDOE. I am thrilled to see how NJTESOL/NJBE has grown and I am excited to see what comes next!

Caia Schlessinger is the Past-President of NJTESOL/NJBE (2018-2020) and an ESL Teacher in the Highland Park School District.

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Executive Director

2020 NJTESOL/NJBE Leadership Awards

By Kathleen Fernandez

The President’s Reception is one of the highlights of the NJTESOL/NJBE conference every year. It is a pleasure to recognize not only our scholarship winners but also outstanding leaders in our field. Even though we were not able to present these awards in person, it is important to highlight the accomplishments of these outstanding educators and advocates. It is our honor to recognize these individuals and organizations who stand up for the many immigrant and bilingual students and their families in New Jersey as an integral part of the fabric that is bilingual and ESL education.

This year’s President’s Award goes to Yasmin E. Hernández, Mercer County’s Executive County Superintendent of Schools for the New Jersey Department of Education. In this role, she oversees twenty public and charter school districts. She has also previously served as the Project Specialist for English Language Learners (2014-2016) for the NJDOE’s Regions 1 & 2 Regional Achievement Centers, which served Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Warren, and Sussex counties. Prior to joining the NJDOE in 2014, Ms. Hernández had been an urban educator for twenty-three years in the Newark Public Schools. In her career, she has been instrumental in educating a diverse student population. Her educational experience ranges from classroom teacher K-8, Literacy Staff Developer, District-Wide Instructor, Curriculum Writer, School Reform Model SFA Facilitator, and Central Office Supervisor.

Ms. Hernández, a first-generation Cuban American educator, currently serves as a board of trustees’ member for the Mercer County Community College, a board member of the Mercer Vocational & Technical Schools, a board member for the Mercer County Education Services Commission. She is also a member of the New Jersey and Mercer County Council on Juvenile Justice System Improvement. She is a co-chair of the Mercer County Youth Education Stability Committee. She is a member of the Mercer County New Jersey School Boards Association, the New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA), Executive Board as the NJDOE representative for NJTESOL/NJBE, a member of LUPE Fund and is the founding President of the NJ Affiliate for the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, (ALAS) (2019). Ms. Hernández earned her bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University in Spanish Literature and Elementary Education. Then she earned her master’s degree in Urban Education from Jersey City State University. Additionally, Ms. Hernández holds certifications for School Administrator, Principal, Supervisor, ESL Teacher, Bilingual/Bicultural Teacher, Spanish Teacher, and K-8 Elementary Teacher.

The Fred Carrigg Leadership Award winner is JoAnne Negrin, Ed.D. She has been Supervisor of ESL, Bilingual Education, World Languages, and Performing Arts for the Vineland, NJ Public Schools since 2012. Before working in Vineland, she taught for seven years in the Cherry Hill Public Schools. Her earlier career included studying and teaching in Washington, DC, Buenos Aires, Miami, Madrid, Mexico City, and Moscow. JoAnne is an avid traveler, she became an ESL teacher because of its portability and to meet people from all over the world. She holds a B.A. in International Studies from American University, an M.A.T. in TESOL/BE from Georgetown University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

Dr. Negrin sees advocacy for ELLs as a profession and a passion. For the past eight years, she has served on the Executive Board of NJTESOL/NJBE as the Supervisors SIG Representative and then as Vice President/Conference Chair and President. She also chairs the NJPSA ELL Committee and has been active on several New Jersey Department of Education committees. She was recently awarded the NJPSA Visionary Leadership Award, Supervisor/Director, and will be headed to Singapore in 2021 as part of the Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools program.

In her spare time, she is an avid runner and cyclist and an adoring grandmom to her first grandchild, Calvin, and the official crazy aunt to her nephew, Jackson.

The Seal of Biliteracy Superintendent of the Year is Dr. Aubrey Johnson of New Brunswick Public Schools. He is a native New Yorker, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Since June 16, 2015, Dr. Johnson has served as Superintendent of New Brunswick Public Schools, where he has continued his stellar career as an educational leader. He has actively promoted the Seal of Biliteracy for all bilingual students in New Brunswick schools.

Dr. Johnson attended Rhodes Preparatory High School in New York City, proudly graduated from Northeastern University, and earned a Masters’ Degree from New Jersey City University. Dr. Johnson continued his work as a scholar-practitioner and earned his doctorate from Seton Hall University in 2017.

Previously, Dr. Johnson joined the Paterson Public Schools in 1995 as a third-grade teacher. During his 19 years of service at Paterson Public Schools, he served in the capacity of third grade teacher, computer teacher, Technology Coordinator, Vice Principal, Principal, Director of Assessment, Planning & Evaluation, and Assistant Superintendent. In these positions, he honed his leadership skills: learning how to build community relationships, lead through adversity, and implement the concepts of strategic planning. Dr. Johnson was part of the effort to bring continuous positive change and academic success to Paterson Public Schools.

Advocate of the Year Award goes to the organization Make the Road New Jersey (MRNJ). This advocacy group builds the power of immigrants, working-class, and Latinx communities to achieve dignity and respect through community organizing, legal and support services, policy innovation, and transformative education. Launched in November 2014 in a church rec room in Elizabeth, MRNJ is now the largest grassroots immigrant organization in New Jersey. Our three organizing hubs in Elizabeth, Passaic, and Perth Amboy operate five different committees that bring together hundreds of immigrant and Latinx families each week to fight for immigrant and workers’ rights. Members lead MRNJ rallies, create strategies to win campaigns, and educate community members about their rights. In 2019, MRNJ mobilized more than 15,000 people to take action in support of immigrant and workers’ rights, provided legal services and educational programming to 7,000 immigrant families, and won 6 landmark immigrant and workers’ rights victories in New Jersey.

Kathleen Fernandez is the Executive Director of NJTESOL/NJBE.

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Statement of Solidarity against Anti-Black Racism

By Tasha Austin

NJTESOL/ NJBE stands both as a part of and in firm solidarity with the Black community in the wake of the recent and ongoing acts of police brutality against unarmed Black citizens in the
United States.

As an organization focused upon the recognition and celebration of multilingual and multicultural learners, we regularly engage in advocacy that promotes the humanity of students from around the world. We acknowledge that our struggle against inequity is conjoined with that of the  black community both in the U.S. and around the world. Our learners represent cultural and  linguistic richness from across this country and around the globe, and when our Black brothers and sisters are denied their humanity, so are we.

We not only align ourselves with the pursuit of justice for the recent killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, but we recognize our agency in mobilizing against hatred within our sphere of influence. In classrooms, professional development, consulting and scholarship, we must insist on centering and believing Black voices as we further a cause pioneered by the Civil Rights movement on the backs of Black activists. As we both benefit from and further that legacy in our work, we further commit to the archaeology of self (Sealey-Ruiz) which challenges all who teach in multicultural and particularly urban settings to start with the critical love of the communities they serve to achieve racial literacy and ultimately educational justice.

We recommit ourselves to rejecting bigotry, bullying, and harassment and recognize our Asian communities have also suffered as recent targets of hatred. We firmly declare our diversity as our strength and stand against behaviors that threaten us as a multicultural community physically, psychologically and emotionally. Currently the bodily harm we stand against is also compounded by ICE enforced family separations which continue to terrorize families alongside the precarity of DACA in disrupting the lives of many multilingual students ranging from Pre-K to graduate levels. These injustices are underscored by COVID-19 as it continues to ravage marginalized communities, particularly Black communities, disproportionately.

As we acknowledge that language cannot be separated from the bodies of those who produce it (Flores, 2020), we will continue to provide space and support for students to access their full linguistic repertoires (García & Seltzer, 2017) as we learn alongside our colleagues to amplify the strength already present particularly in the diverse communities and classrooms of New Jersey. We consider ourselves beneficiaries of a rich community cultural wealth (Yosso, 2006) already present in our students and the villages of support who surround them, and are dedicated to partnering with them in this ongoing fight for equity both in and outside of classrooms.

Black lives matter, and as part of a human community that acknowledges “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” we reject silence and complicity amidst the suffering of our students and communities around the country. We echo the sentiments of NJEA in assuming our responsibility as educators in shaping the future of our society (NJEA, 2020). As such, we forge ahead and activate our privilege and position to proclaim that we, NJTESOL-NJBE are committed to antiracist education and advocacy, starting with ourselves.

Flores, N. (2020). Fighting Anti-Blackness IS Real Linguistics. The Educational Linguist. https://educationallinguist.wordpress.com/2020/05/31/fighting-anti-blackness-is-real-linguistics/

García, O., Johnson, S.I., Seltzer, K. (2017). The translanguaging classroom: Leveraging student bilingualism for learning. Caslon: Philadelphia, PA.

King, M. L. (1994). Letter from the Birmingham jail . San Francisco: Harper San Francisco.

https://www.njea.org/njea-statement-on-george-floyd-racism-and-the-need-for-anti-racist-action/

https://njtesol-njbe.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/pos_stmt_immigration_hate_speech.pdf

https://njtesol-njbe.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Advocacy-Statement_on_Bigotry.pdf

Sealey-Ruiz, Y. (2018, January 5). Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz. The archaeology of the self [Video]. Vimeo https://vimeo.com/299137829

Yosso*, T. J. (2005). Whose culture has capital? A critical race theory discussion of community cultural wealth. Race ethnicity and education , 8 (1), 69-91.

Tasha Austin is the NJTESOL/ NJBE Teacher Education SIG Representative. She is a Lecturer in Language Education and Urban Education at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education. 

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Advocacy Representative

Advocacy Corner

By Elizabeth (BJ) Franks

Hopefully, you have read the strong anti-racism statement in this article of VOICES. We stand with our colleagues to fight racism in our schools and communities.

Stay connected and informed about Action Alerts and current issues through the hotlist and by following NJTESOL/NJBE on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

On another note, International TESOL held its first Virtual Advocacy Summit on June 22 -23. Topics ranged from current issues and legislation, to funding to Adult Education to Advocacy with state affiliates. It culminated with a Day of Action on June 23. All are urged to contact your representatives. TESOL has made it very easy to contact your federal legislators. Click on the link https://www.tesol.org/advance-the-field/tesol-advocacy-action-center to advocate for important legislation. Stay connected.

Please Note: NJTESOL/NJBE is an affiliate of TESOL. However, it is a separate membership. Join International TESOL and stay informed of all federal issues.

Elizabeth Franks is the Advocacy Representative of NJTESOL/NJBE.

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Exhibitor Liaison

A Letter to My Students: Things I Couldn’t Tell You

By Tina Kern

Note: This is an open letter representing the voice of one teacher among many, to her students, during virtual learning. It expresses the sentiments, emotions, frustrations, and hope that she couldn’t express face to face.

To My Students,

When I last saw you it was March 13th. I gave you some directions as to how we would manage our classes for the next two weeks. You were told to check in every day by doing something (anything) on our Canvas page for our informal attendance. We were going to be back in the building in two weeks. Personally, I was shocked and off balance because I had never experienced this type of school closing, but was so sure that it was temporary. How wrong I was! Then I realized I never got to tell you so many things…

I never got a chance to tell you so many things. My last words face to face were of encouragement and hope that we would be together soon. I left my room, as a person leaves a house on fire, grabbing the essentials, leaving everything else wherever it was, ready to return soon. It didn’t happen.

I never got a chance to tell you how surprised I was that I couldn’t return to the building, that everything was changing, out of control, a nightmare that I couldn’t shake.

I never got a chance to tell you that you REALLY needed to check in with me so I knew you were surviving, and if you were thriving.

I never got a chance to tell you to that “attending” virtual learning was essential. In March we left with expectations of how temporary this would be, but that was not what happened. I needed to know that you were healthy, that you had food, or that you weren’t hiding in your room with no support. I needed to feel that you were with me during the periods I had our class, or at least you would check in with me.

I never got a chance to tell you that I was here for you, to get you help, to guide you to the proper people. Please let me help you. Don’t be silent.

I never got a chance to tell you that the rules were changing. That the world was changing too fast and not in the right direction. That the school rules were changing too: Phase 1Virtual, Phase 2 Virtual… Now you had to use a Google Form for attendance. Do you have Internet? Can you hear me?

I never got a chance to tell you how important it was to attend our Google Meets. I needed to check in with you, see that you were healthy, physically and mentally. I needed to be able to guide you through this ever-changing virtual instruction. I needed to see your face, to read your expressions. Sometimes I saw you or your emoji. But behind the emoji, I knew you were there. I knew that you were waiting, as I was…

Sometimes you told me you were scared…

I was scared, too.

Sometimes you asked me when we would have school again, be in the building…

I didn’t know.

Sometimes you asked me when everything would be normal again.

I couldn’t tell you that there would probably be a new “normal”, one that we would have to adjust to and eventually accept.

You thought I had the answers. You thought I would guide you back…

I couldn’t tell you that there were no answers. I couldn’t tell you that all of us were floundering in the unknown. I had to be strong for you when I was struggling to be strong for all of us.

I never got a chance to tell you that I knew you weren’t working, that you were wondering when you could help your family again, that you were sleeping late, and skipping class. I wanted to help you through the crisis with words of encouragement that I hoped didn’t sound too empty or hopeless.

I never got a chance to tell you that you still were graduating this year, that the marking period was almost over and I needed you to finish the assignments.

I called your house, I called your guidance counselors, I called the Assistant Principals for your grade level, and still there was silence.

Were you sick? Were you stunned into that place where nothing seems real? Did you move? Do you still exist in that virtual world that we call school now?

Why was your phone not working, and why was there silence? I’ve never had a student with a 0% average. Why weren’t you reaching out? What else could I do?

I never had a chance to tell you that we would have one and a half marking periods of virtual learning. I never told you how important it was to do your work, that I needed it now.

I made YouTube videos, way out of my comfort zone. I meticulously meted out the directions, step by step, with visuals and examples. I silently prayed that you would watch the videos and read the directions. Please, please, don’t just click the link directly to the assignment. Please, please try to understand by following the order of the directions, videos and follow-up assignments. Please, please, please attend a Google Meet to let me help you.

I never told you that there was a possibility of you not graduating. So I called and I wrote emails, and I pleaded with everyone. Some of you let me stay on the phone with you for hours to guide you through the work until the submissions created a passing grade. Others of you refused to respond. One was silent.

I never told you to advocate for yourself, to make sure you click that link when you have a computer or Internet problem. Why didn’t you tell me you were using your phone to do my work? I almost cried aloud when you told me. I silently curled up in frustration and sadness.

Some of you didn’t have Internet. We adjusted and readjusted, texted, called, did everything to relieve you of some of the burden of an unfair society and situation.

Others made bad choices. Yes, you said, you have Internet. Yes, you said, you have a working Chromebook or laptop. Why? I whispered to the silent screen. Why can’t you let me help you?

I never got a chance to tell you that to reach out and try was all I wanted…some effort, some response, some excuse to help you help yourself. How could you jeopardize years in school by remaining silent? How could you jeopardize your graduation, your future? Why are you silent when I know you can reach out? Please tell me.

No one told me about the silence. No one told me about the frustration of not being able to reach you, to let me communicate my worry, to encourage you to come back.

Some of you told me you were scared. I was scared, too. I’m still scared that you will not come back.

Let me tell you that the world didn’t end. That there is more to come. Let me tell you that the amount of time we have been isolated from each other is really just a second in the millions of seconds of life. This is a short blip in the continuum. We will continue. We will grow stronger from these moments of weakness.

I never got a chance to tell you that you are a hero, too. You survived coming to the United States, learned a new language, a new culture, a new lifestyle. You came to class, sometimes so tired, but not broken. You were ready for the challenge.

I never got a chance to tell you how proud I am of you. This is another challenge of the tens of challenges you will encounter in life.

I never got a change to tell you how much I miss you, and your smiles, and your courage.

So I’m telling you now…

Fondly,

Your Teacher

Tina Kern is the current NJTESOL/NJBE Conference Exhibitor Liaison.

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Liaison

Staying Connected While Being Socially Distant

By LeighAnn Matthews

Congratulations NJTESOL/NJBE members! By now you have likely completed roughly three months of distance learning and teaching from home. When we all left our classrooms and offices for the last time in March, we never imagined that the pandemic would keep us from our students for this long. But you persevered; when things got tough, you continued anyway. Many of you set up classrooms in your living room, hung classroom materials from your walls, taught students while caring for your own children…the list of ways you went above and beyond is endless. You were the light for your students during this dark time, full of unknowns. Kudos to you! The emerging bilinguals and families you work with will forever be grateful.

Unfortunately, it seems that even as the 2019-2020 school year concluded, there are still many questions, concerns, and woes. We don’t know what September will bring. We don’t know what our “new normal” is going to become. Will we be teaching from home next year? What will it look like when we go back? How will we stay safe? What is going to happen to our students who experience “the COVID slide”? It is easy to get wrapped up in these wonders and then we begin to feel frustrated and out of control. We are socially distant from our colleagues as well, so isolation tends to cause our minds to wander.

One of the ways that I personally am coping with being socially distant, is finding creative ways to stay connected. I believe that we are now able to connect even more so than ever before using technology. Teaching and collaborating from home has forced us to step out of our comfort zones and learn new platforms, programs, and tech tools. I don’t know about you, but the “Zoom fatigue” is very real! Nonetheless, using Zoom and Google Meet, is just one of the ways that I have been able to stay connected with students, families, and colleagues. The first time in March when I hosted a session with some ESL teachers in my district, seeing each other at home in pajamas/sweatpants, drinking our coffee, created this collective sigh of relief. We all realized at the same time that we weren’t alone in this, and we still have each other…just virtually.

There are many ways that educators can connect not only with colleagues, but with educators around the world in our field that are experiencing many of the same emotions and trials and tribulations that we are here in New Jersey. If you are looking to stay connected over the summer, while being socially distant at home, here are some ways to do so:

1. Join Educational Facebook Groups and Pages
Over the last few months I have noticed many Facebook groups gaining a strong following. They are a great way to engage with other likeminded individuals, swap resources, and ask questions. I personally find that I utilize Twitter more, (which I will expand on next), but Facebook groups are realistically more user friendly. There is a specific tab within your Facebook app for groups where you can easily access them and “pin” the ones you visit most frequently. It is easier to save posts that you want to refer back to, keep track of the topics by group, link websites and content to posts, follow a thread, and quite frankly you probably will connect with more people from a broader network but with a similar specific interest. There are so many to search but some of my favorites include:
• Advocating for ELLs
• Colorín Colorado ELL Educator Group
• Helping ELLs in Mainstream Classrooms
Facebook pages are also great and easy to follow. Of course don’t forget to like the NJTESOL/NJBE page! Borderless Learning is also a page worth checking out and liking because of the relatable content. It is run by our former Past President, Dr. JoAnne Negrin.

2. Grow your Twitter Professional Learning Network (PLN)
Using Twitter is by far my favorite way to grow my professional learning network. I created a public account specifically for myself as an educator and I consider it a “virtual billboard” for all the things that I am passionate about. There are so many wonderful educators and accounts to follow that it is very simple to quickly build a following. Another way I use Twitter is to engage in “Twitter Chats”. This means that on a certain day, at a certain time, you search for a specific hashtag and follow a conversation using Q&A format. Moderators post questions, usually related to a particular theme, and you are able to post your responses and see what other individuals post, too. I highly recommend joining one if you are looking to connect with other educators in the field. Of course, there is #ELLCHAT Monday nights at 9pm, run by our very own Social Media Consultant, Judie Haynes and former NJTESOL/NJBE board member, Karen Nemeth. The New Jersey Department of Education hosts a chat every third Tuesday of the month using #NJEdPartners. For other education chats, visit the link below to view a list that is frequently updated with topics, dates, and times.

https://sites.google.com/site/twittereducationchats/education-chat-calendar

3. Lean in to Professional Organizations
If you are not yet a member of a professional organization outside of NJTESOL/NJBE, I encourage you to take the leap this summer. NJTESOL/NJBE is an affiliate of NJEA, TESOL International Association, and National Association of Bilingual Educators (NABE). We are also a sister organization of New York State TESOL (NYSTESOL). Even if you do not join, many of these organizations are offering virtual opportunities to non members as a way to encourage continued learning and connection. International TESOL hosts virtual conversations for members and non members throughout the month for English language educators. You must sign up in advance but they are free to join! See the link below for specific topics, dates, and times.

https://www.tesol.org/attend-and-learn/mytesol-lounge-live

4. Start a Virtual Book Club with Friends and Colleagues
Another great way to stay connected is to start a virtual book club with colleagues and friends. You can easily meet up over Zoom or Google Meet, as often or as little as you desire. There are many professional learning books that pertain to the field. Also consider choosing fictional books that reference certain cultures; a multicultural theme. Or even choose children’s books that you could use in your classroom in September. See the link below for a great list of books that support the instruction of English learners.

https://elementaryenglishlanguagelearners.weebly.com/resources.html

5. Look for Free Webinars and Virtual Professional Development Opportunities
Be on the lookout for any free virtual professional development opportunities this summer. I find many of them through Twitter and Facebook. Our sister organization NYSTESOL offered many free webinars over the last few months. You can view the recordings on their YouTube channel linked below. They likely will have more live sessions beginning in August 2020. Don’t forget that NJTESOL/NJBE has a YouTube channel that debuted in May 2020. Also linked below.

https://nystesol.org/nys_tesol_webinars.php.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS0WJWEQthiKpiiUvdsEPlA

I hope that you will try at least one of the above suggestions this summer. Be safe, be well, and stay connected!

LeighAnn Matthews, NJTESOL/NJBE Liaison, is a K-12 ESL Instructional Coach in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District. She is also a part-time lecturer at Rutgers University.

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Also thank you to Courtney McElyea a 3rd grade teacher from Mount Laurel Public Schools who created the Diverse books library.  Here is a link to Diverse Books. The Books that were included are linked below. She also included the Oscar award winning short film Hair Love, as well as these other titles to help increase diversity in your classroom.

Alamelu Sundaram-Walters is the Representative-At-Large, and a Mount Laurel School District/ESL Teacher.

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Past President 2016-2018

Lessons in Leadership

By JoAnne Negrin

This year, I was honored to receive the Fred D. Carrigg Leadership Award from NJTESOL/NJBE. To be given an award named after Fred Carrigg is humbling, to say the least (if you’re not sure who he is, Google him.) It got me thinking about what I might have done to earn such recognition. I’ve always felt like an outsider in education. I came to public education in my late 30s after having done many different things. I really don’t speak edu-babble fluently even now. I am not afraid to say things that challenge others, which is both a source of strength and a detriment. Over 29 years, I’ve learned a few things that I will try to impart here in a few short paragraphs.

First, listen to the adults in the room! I am fortunate to have mentors twenty years my senior who have been here through it all, and who listen to me and guide me, because whatever I’m experiencing, it’s nothing they haven’t seen before. They have a sense of history and their place in it that I am trying to learn. They are well-networked, and they always know who to go to for anything and everything. Likewise, I try my best to be the adult in the room to my younger colleagues. If I do right by them, they are going to surpass anything I could ever do. That’s the goal.

Second, listen to your detractors. If you are doing anything at all of any importance, you will have detractors. Learn to filter out the noise and find the tiny kernel of truth about what it is that’s bothering them, and what you could be doing better. Learn how to use them to keep getting better. Haters hate that.

Third, be authentic but aware of your positioning. Don’t try to fit into a mold you’re not made for. Speak with your true voice (whether you speak edu-babble fluently or not). Understand the strengths you bring to the table, but also be aware of your vulnerabilities and your blind spots. The body you were born into, the opportunities you received along the way, your language, and even your tenure status will affect how you will maneuver to obtain maximum advantage.

Finally, be generous with your time and knowledge. Volunteer. A lot. Serve on boards and committees. Provide PD for free. Answer questions. Be of service. Everything you do is a learning experience, and everything good you put out in the world will come back to you in some way. The more people you empower, the stronger your cause.

Joanne Negrin was the president of NJTESOL/NJBE from 2016-2018.

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Technology Coordinator

Reading Resources

By Marilyn Pongracz

Hopefully by the time you read this, you will have had a chance to decompress from trying to teach your students online and take care of your other life responsibilities.

As our lockdown began, many of you shared resources that you found with other members through the hotlist. I put them up on our website as they came in. Now looking back, your contributions have given us a tremendous resource list.

I encourage you to revisit the NJTESOL-NJBE list here. Suggestions for additions are welcome. Please send them to mpongracz@njtesol-njbe.org.

I run the ESL tutoring and resource center for students at Bergen Community College and when we went online, we had to leave our library of books on campus, so we’ve added more resources to our ELRC links.

Here are a few that we found for reading practice that are suitable for all levels of English.

Breaking News English is a free website on which a new current events article is added every two days. Some are serious while others are unusual and fun. There are almost 3,000 articles, half at levels 0-3, and half at levels 4-6. Much of the focus is on vocabulary. Audio at different speeds is available for each one, and online interactive practice and printable activities are located above each article. A few of the activities use flash, so they might not be accessible, but many have a newer format that works on any device. The printable activities are also available below each article. These vary from discussions, gap-fill, vocabulary matching, comprehension, role-plays, writing suggestions and more.

The English Language Centre Study Zone features reading and grammar practice at five different levels. After clicking on the level, a student can choose reading or grammar. My favorites are the Nasreddin stories in the low-intermediate level. The reading selections all have audio and comprehension questions. They also have gap-fill and story recreation exercises.

English Club offers explanations and practice for grammar, vocabulary, reading, and other skills. Students can read about music, sports, movies, the environment, and other subjects. Some have comprehension questions, many have vocabulary lists, and others have additional information about the topic. Among the many reading selections are seven Children’s Stories with audio and comprehension questions.

The English Test Store has an incredible amount of free practice for grammar, reading, speaking, and more. The reading comprehension exercises are extensive and range from beginner to advanced levels for the multiple choice tests. The true-false exercises range from elementary to intermediate, and vocabulary choice exercises from pre-intermediate to intermediate.

Happy Reading!

Marilyn Pongracz is the Technology Coordinator for NJTESOL/NJBE and the English Language Resource Center Supervisor at Bergen Community College.

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