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Teacher Newsletter

Supporting Multilingual learners, January 2025

Teacher Newsletter Supporting Multilingual learners, January 2025

It is the middle of winter in Victoria and a good time of the year to focus on stories and storytelling. All schools should have now received a Multi-faith Calendar for 2025, published by AMSSA. Please have it on display somewhere that people can see and feel free to order more. Please use this and other resources to build awareness of teachable moments to help develop a welcoming and inclusive school environment. It is opportunity to educate yourself and acknowledge this at your school.


Please send any suggestions for inclusion in future newsletters to jbarber@sd61.bc.ca. Feel free to send photos that show any special projects you and your students have worked on. Resources can be placed in the shared Google Doc.


As a heads up, next month (February) is Black History Month and there is a plethora of special events, celebrations and learning opportunities around Victoria all month long. March is Ramadan and many our Muslim students will be fasting. Newsletters for these months will contain helpful resources.

Lunar New Year - Many events across the city Lunar New Year - Many events across the city

In many countries, the Lunar New Year is celebrated during the last week of January. For 2025 it begins on January 29 and many of our students will be celebrating. Here is a list of a few countries that celebrate: China, Bhutan, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Tibet, and Vietnam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF1l7LT9EVs
Lunar New Year Celebration Logo

Lion Dancers in Victoria Lion Dancers in Victoria

Lion Dancing

Lion Dancing

Witness a high energy traditional Chinese spectacle and request a lion dance or dragon dance performance for your special event.

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Zodiac Origin Story: The Story of the Great Race Zodiac Origin Story: The Story of the Great Race

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGEMKmWuTrc
Origin Story: the Great Race
Slow down the speed and turn on the subtitles in different languages!
2025 Lunar New Year's Parade & Blessing of Merchants | Events in Victoria, BC

2025 Lunar New Year's Parade & Blessing of Merchants | Events in Victoria, BC

Celebrate the Year of the Snake in Canada's oldest Chinatown, presented by the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association! The festivities kick off at the Gates of Harmonious Interest with an 8-lion performance by the Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club, a dragon dance by the Victoria Chinese Public School, and traditional Chinese dances.

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Tet 2025: Vietnamese Lunar New Year - What Travelers Need to Know - Vietnam Visa Express

Tet 2025: Vietnamese Lunar New Year - What Travelers Need to Know - Vietnam Visa Express

Tet, or Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is the most significant and vibrant celebration in Vietnam. Marking the start of the lunar calendar, Tet 2025 begins on Thursday, January 29, 2025

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Online Books - Multilingual Online Books - Multilingual

Books in Tagalog

Wattpad Books:

Detective Files by ShinichiLaaaabs

Project Loki by AkoSiIbarra

Where's the X

Who's Deduction Show

Chronicles of the Q.E.D club

Moriartea Cafe


Online books available in many languages and free of charge:

UniteForLiteracy

StorybooksCanada

ELL Planning Tool on the BC ELL Standards website ELL Planning Tool on the BC ELL Standards website

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/education/administration/kindergarten-to-grade-12/english-language-learners/ell_planning_tool.pdf

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ProD Opportunities ProD Opportunities

Reminder: Wednesday, January 15 is the last SEL session for counsellors and ELL teachers.

A group of 22 ELL teachers and school counsellors representing the span of K-12 schools have met three times throughout this year. We have teamed with VICCIR and focused on social emotional learning for multilingual learners. Wednesday, January 15 will be final session.

ProD day on January 24 - Elementary and Middle

The middle school collaborative ProD day on January 24 will be held at Central Middle. Middle school teachers have been provided with a list of session options for that day. There is one session being offered for any teacher or EA to attend which is focused on strategies and how to support multilingual learners in the classroom.

January 31 - CASLT Virtual Conference

This virtual professional learning conference day is has offerings in both French and English. There are sessions in English on using Movie Talks and TPRS, for those who signed up to get access to this online language resource a few weeks ago.

Free Resources

A free resource database that's actually helpful Every free resource is research-backed, evidence-driven, and educator-approved. Made for all types of educators and growing by the week, this database has you covered.

launch corwin.com
Podcast - ELL Strategies TanKHuynh

Podcast - ELL Strategies TanKHuynh

This is a podcast for teachers passionate about language learners. I interview leading academic, sought-after consultants, and inspiring teachers like you.

launch tankhuynh.com
Home - BC TEAL

Home - BC TEAL

Welcome to the brand new website for BC TEAL! To help you get started, check out our Quick Start Guide and learn about the features of our new site: Click below to get started! Note: If you are having problems logging in or registering, reach out to us at info@bcteal.org.

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SIOP Training SIOP Training

Use your ProD funds to take this self-paced course on how to support newcomer Immigrant and Refugee students in any classroom using the SIOP.

Building Background And Comprehensible Input: CAL SIOP Essentials

Building Background And Comprehensible Input: CAL SIOP Essentials

Based on decades of research by the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) on how language is learned and extensive experience working effectively with educators to help English learners succeed in the classroom, this CAL SIOP Essentials online course is divided into three overarching modules (see below).

launch solutions.cal.org

Strategies for Teaching Multilingual Students - Infographics... Strategies for Teaching Multilingual Students - Infographics...

Bathroom Briefs | ELL Strategies | Empowering ELLs

Bathroom Briefs | ELL Strategies | Empowering ELLs

ELL Bathroom Briefs are one page infographs offering quick, easily accessible ELL strategies that can be used across cross-content areas.

launch tankhuynh.com

Strategy for Teaching SLIFE Strategy for Teaching SLIFE

QSSSA - Better Conversation Practice for Your ELLs

QSSSA - Better Conversation Practice for Your ELLs

Get your students practicing focused conversation to solidify what they are learning with this effective conversation activity for your ELLs.

launch kid-inspired.com

Trauma Informed Practice: Unspoken Tears -- National Film Board of Canada Trauma Informed Practice: Unspoken Tears -- National Film Board of Canada

Unspoken Tears (Trauma Through Words)

Unspoken Tears (Trauma Through Words)

How can refugee children integrate into Quebec's school system, given the unspeakable violence they've experienced? Following a psychologist specializing in conflict-related trauma, Unspoken Tears pays tribute to the ...

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Unspoken Tears: Trauma Through Words | Director's Notes - NFB Blog

Unspoken Tears: Trauma Through Words | Director's Notes - NFB Blog

Making Unspoken Tears immersed me in the violence of war and the trauma it inflicts on people. I wanted to use the integration of young refugees into Quebec's school system as a way into this subject.

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Anti-Racism Resources Anti-Racism Resources


An important new resource, Anti-Racism: A Guide for Teachers, is now available. Developed by a team of B.C. IBPoC educators, this guide will give B.C. teachers additional tools and strategies for including anti-racism education in their teaching practices to help foster learning through an anti-racist lens to address discrimination and celebrate diversity.

B.C. launches anti-racism action plan for K-12 students

B.C. launches anti-racism action plan for K-12 students

Empowering students and educators to identify and take action against racism and discrimination in British Columbia schools is the aim of a new provincial K-12 Anti-Racism Action Plan launched on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023.

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Culturally Responsive Teaching - The Network

Culturally Responsive Teaching - The Network

Becoming a Culturally Responsive Teacher (2012)~ YouTube How do you reach students who are culturally and racially different from you? This course provides thought-provoking background and practical suggestions for teachers seeking the answer to this question. Participants explore their own assumptions about race, class, and culture; and learn strategies for creating classrooms that are culturally inviting to all.

launch thenetworkwi.com

ICA SWIS Contact List ICA SWIS Contact List

Jennifer Barber
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