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Our Approach
Culturally and linguistically responsive teaching is the pathway to more inclusive, rigorous and engaging classrooms. Our evidence-based English Learner, Dual Language Learner, and Multilingual Learner approach centers and empowers language and culture at all levels, leading the way for life-long benefits for our students.
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Implementing Comprehensive
Whole-School Strategy
Our mission at SEAL is simple, yet impactful: prepare all English Learners and Dual Language Learners in California to learn, thrive, and lead. Our core values focus on nurturing the intellectual and linguistic brilliance of young children, celebrating the importance of family culture and language in education, and supporting teachers through professional development and evidence-based instructional practices.
We work across California partnering with preschools, elementary schools, districts, county offices and other educational stakeholders to ensure California’s culturally and linguistically diverse children thrive.
Extensive research has shown that SEAL both enhances teaching methods and leads to higher engagement and improved language and academic results among English Learners. Through our work and our approach, we seek to fulfill California's English Learner Roadmap policy.
Addressing Needs at All Levels
Our approach goes beyond curriculum support, reaching every level of the school system. We incorporate three core tenets to affect systems change in California’s classrooms. These are:
1. Educator Practice:
We collaborate with schools over multiple years, training educators in culturally and linguistically responsive teaching, building dynamic networks of cross-school support, and giving our teachers the tools to foster welcoming, language-rich environments for English Learners, Dual Language, and Multilingual Learners.
2. Experiential Research:
SEAL is hands-on, joining our students and educators in class. Our research has determined the efficacy of our support for all levels of the school system, as well as assisted in advancing language and literacy development across California.
3. Policy & Advocacy:
Employing our educator practices and experiential research, we collaborate with district leaders, educators, and policymakers advocating for policies that prioritize the needs of English Learners, Dual Language, and Multilingual Learners.
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Building Foundational Pillars
Our model is built on the idea that teaching methods should be consistently geared toward developing confident, engaged students. These approaches meet the language demands of each grade level, merging the best practices for English Learners, Dual Language, and Multilingual Learners with strategies that advance greater facilities for learning for our students.
Our high-leverage developmentally appropriate pedagogical practices are aligned across preschool through elementary grades based on years of research; implement culturally and linguistically responsive teaching strategies in the classroom; and use modern methodologies to meet up-to-date educational standards.
Our approach revolves around four fundamental pillars.Implementing rich, powerful, expressive, academic language throughout the curriculumFostering a welcoming, culturally-rich learning environmentArticulating and aligning best practices and strategies across grades, preschools, and elementary systemsDeveloping and maintaining strong partnerships between families and schools
High-leverage, development appropriate pedagogical practices are aligned across the preschool through elementary grades, and address the language demands of increasingly rigorous, grade levels standards.
The Model coalesces around four pillars.
The model best practices for English Learners with practices for engaging all students in rigorous, interdisciplinary grade-level academic content.
“I remember one of my parents at one meeting saying her son was coming home talking about the roles of democracy and [using] some of the vocabulary they’re using, and they’re just blown away. And this is an English-only student. So we just really tried to reiterate, and to the teachers too, that this is not just for [ELs]. Of course we do it with wanting to champion the achievement of the [ELs], but no student is going to be hurt by going through these strategies.”
Dive Deeper into the SEAL Approach
Visit us virtually to see our approach to building rich, rigorous engaged learning where students enjoy being in the classroom. SEAL is about centralizing the needs of Multilingual Learners across all elementary school grade levels.
Get In Touch
If you are interested in partnering with us, advancing vital policy, supporting our educators and students, and/or implementing SEAL into your classroom or school district, we want to hear from you. Contact us today, and let’s get started!