The Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board is expanding its efforts to license more teachers in second languages through the Heritage Language Pathway Portfolio Cohort. The program aims to certify teachers in languages such as Spanish, Arabic and Somali, reflecting the linguistic diversity of Minnesota, where over 300 languages are spoken.

Tribal colleges in Montana, such as Blackfeet Community College, play a crucial role in preserving Native American languages and cultures, addressing historical trauma from US policies aimed at assimilation. These institutions provide education that integrates Indigenous culture and history, fostering community empowerment and cultural identity.

Kristen Day advocates for "hummingbird teaching," where educators subtly guide and observe rather than dominate the classroom -- encouraging children to solve problems independently. Day contrasts this with "helicopter teaching," which can hinder development, and cites studies showing that child-led learning boosts confidence and motivation more than traditional, teacher-directed methods.

Boston Day and Evening Academy, a charter school, has become a model for alternative education by offering personalized support for students facing challenges such as pregnancy, homelessness and health issues. The school provides flexible scheduling, competency-based learning and resources like free meals and an in-school health clinic, helping students graduate despite significant obstacles.

A Pennsylvania school has implemented an advisory program called Bridges that groups students in grades 3 to 6 into cohorts of 40 to 60, led by three to four educators and staff members, to foster connections and improve mental health throughout the students' time at the school. The program has been successful in creating meaningful relationships, with activities like Bridge Day promoting kindness and empathy.

Leaders should embrace agile optimism, which is more open-minded than fragile optimism that hinges on positive outcomes, writes Nick Tasler, an organizational psychologist. "Believing that you or your team can accurately predict all the details on the road to your desired outcome without making any missteps ensures that it's only a matter of time before your fragile optimism shatters into a thousand little pieces," Tasler writes.

"Learner Feedback for Language Growth: A Guidebook for Evaluating Learner Work Through Performance Domains and Indicators" goes far beyond simply training teachers to rate language samples; this book is brimming with detailed tools and templates to guide learners' performance, help them set personal goals and tailor their own language journey. Get your copy.

Language learning pays off! By 5th grade, immersion students often hit Intermediate levels. After four years of high school or four semesters of college, students typically reach Intermediate Mid-High. Learn more.