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Creating Elementary Classrooms Where Multilingual Learners With Disabilities Thrive
Creating Elementary Classrooms Where Multilingual Learners With Disabilities Thrive
A Practical Guide for Educators and School Leaders
Multilingual learners with disabilities (MLWDs) bring rich linguistic, cultural, and individual strengths to our classrooms. Yet the systems designed to support them can too often separate language development, disability services, classroom instruction, and family engagement rather than addressing the needs of the whole child.
Developed and written by SEAL, this guide brings together research, classroom observations, educator perspectives, and multidisciplinary expertise to help schools create more coherent, inclusive learning environments where MLWDs can thrive.
Inside the Guide
- Research-informed guidance for strengthening school and district systems
- Practical recommendations for inclusive, culturally and linguistically responsive instruction
- Classroom vignettes that connect recommendations to practice
- Reflection and discussion questions for educators and leadership teams
- A Journey Mapping example to help identify barriers and opportunities in a student’s educational experience
Grounded in Research and Practice
To develop the guide, SEAL conducted a targeted research review, classroom observations across general and special education settings, and a survey of more than 100 K–12 educators across 25 California districts. A multidisciplinary advisory panel spanning research, higher education, multilingual education, special education, accessibility, education leadership, and classroom practice helped shape its priorities and recommendations.
The guide also builds on SEAL’s previous work with CAST exploring the intersection of Universal Design for Learning and multilingual learner instruction.
Use the guide to inform professional learning, strengthen school and district practices, and advance more coherent systems of support for multilingual learners with disabilities.
Download the Guide Below
Get your copy of Creating Elementary Classrooms Where Multilingual Learners With Disabilities Thrive and explore practical recommendations for strengthening instruction and support for multilingual learners with disabilities.
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Our Resources
Looking for more ways to engage your students and create a joyful learning environment? We’ve curated the best resources—from SEAL-approved tools for Dual Language and Multilingual Learners to videos that bring you directly into our classrooms —to give your students the opportunity to learn, thrive, and lead.
Creating Elementary Classrooms Where Multilingual Learners With Disabilities Thrive
SEAL’s practical, research-informed guide offers educators and school leaders strategies to strengthen instruction and support for multilingual learners with disabilities.
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SEAL Overview Impact Report
SEAL’s Overview Impact Report showcases our mission, reach, and lasting influence on multilingual learners. Explore our story, see our statewide impact, learn how our pedagogy centers English Learners, and discover key lessons from our work with schools and communities.
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Key Lessons from Over a Decade of Impact
When schools center language, culture, and community, English Learners don’t just succeed—they thrive. We’ve identified eight key lessons about what it truly takes to create schools where multilingual learners flourish. Download to read more about these key lessons.