Multilingual Learners, Not English Language Learners

Janine Ramirez, Interim Executive Director, Rocketship California

Part of what makes Rocketship so special is that we strive to make our schools safe spaces for Rocketeers—a home away from home where students feel comfortable being their whole, authentic selves, free from judgment. And we do this by helping our students feel seen, be heard, and bring their authentic, diverse self to school every day. This commitment is especially true for our multilingual learners who bring so much cultural and language diversity to our campuses every day.

We create this sense of safety in many ways, big and small. We create inclusive spaces every time we bring our students and families together to honor the heritage of our students. We honor their student experience every time a teacher asked during round-table discussions, “What more can we do for our Newcomers?” At Rocketship, we recognize their many strengths, and this is precisely why we use the term multilingual learners to honor their learning of multiple languages.

Let’s take Samantha from Rocketship Redwood City Prep. Samantha enrolled into 5th grade with us after arriving in the United States for the first time. She participated in the Benchmark Hello newcomer curriculum pilot that not only supported her language acquisition, but also integrated her in our Rocketship community. Over the course of the semester, Samantha has worked hard to practice her English skills while building relationships with her teachers and classmates. Let’s watch this video clip and celebrate Samantha’s progress:

Her teacher, Mr. Santos agrees that learning is Samantha’s superpower and that “her progress demonstrates her dedication and hard work, and with continued effort, there’s no doubt that she will continue to excel!”

Samantha is just one example of the impact we have on our students when we see them for their whole self and give them access to tools to reach their full potential. We have 3,456 multilingual learners at Rocketship in California. Imagine the countless ways they enrich our campuses and embody the positive experiences we strive to create. When we think of our multilingual learners, we see them as:

It’s this asset-based mindset that makes Rocketship an inclusive place where every student can thrive and grow to their fullest potential. We are proud to champion our multilingual learners and ensure they are seen, heard, and valued on every campus!

Published on December 18, 2024