Courtney Morgan

Are your Science of Reading implementation efforts paying off for multilingual learners?

👀 If the data is making you less that confident on this one, let's talk SYSTEMS.

There are so many cogs turning within the framework of our instructional routines and MTSS programs. Let's make sure that certain pieces are in place which will allow this amazing work to reach the unique needs of students building English literacy. 🙌🏽

👉🏼 Swipe to get some of my top recommendations for where to self-assess as a school team. Are there some conversations you can spark now, to increase efficacy in the future?

🎉 I recently joined the podcast Literacy Across Languages to chat about this very topic! Check it out! https://buff.ly/5Z02T2B

Teacher, if you're supporting multilingual learners through content-area instruction, you're invited to join me on Monday Nov. 17th for a full-day virtual training, hosted by Wabash Valley Education Center. Have to miss part of the day? No worries, I'll be sending out the recording to all participants!

Academic language isn’t separate from your content– It’s already woven into the lessons you teach every day! The magic happens when we make speaking, listening, reading, and writing more prominent and purposeful.

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to anticipate what language tools students need, create opportunities for meaningful academic talk, and plan lessons that grow language alongside content.

We’ll explore ready-to-use strategies to support multilingual learners, and you’ll leave more confident in your ability to nurture academic language while teaching the content you love!

Registration open through 11/17/2025 8:15 AM EST

Click here to register! https://buff.ly/4BM3ZQH

🎉 New Webinar Coming Up!

Here's a question I've been grappling with: How can educators ensure that our good work of implementing research-aligned literacy instruction is ALSO providing maximum benefit for our multilingual learners, without compromising functional English language development?

One of my conclusions: Rather than make MLs an afterthought in these initiatives, let's center their needs as we collaborate and grow together in efficacy!

If you're in a role where you support multilingual learners in literacy, please join me in an upcoming webinar as I share some considerations for us to reflect on.

Our time together will center on an article that I recently coauthored for Language Magazine. Check it out here: https://buff.ly/onbQTLD

Your MLs need YOUR voice of expertise to be heard as you advocate for them! 💙

Mindful of Multilinguals: The Science of Reading Through a Multilingual Lens
Hosted by The Reading League North Carolina

September 25
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm EDT
Cost: Free!
Link to Register: https://buff.ly/7sAVZep

See you there!

“Now, more than ever, educators need to strive fiercely to stay connected as we continue in the good work of supporting multilingual learners, so we can give every student the opportunity and the tools to succeed.”

I had the joy of sharing a keynote speech yesterday with the amazing educators at the GA TESOL Symposium in Savannah. 🩵 I am always inspired by GA teachers. There is some truly groundbreaking work being done to integrate content, literacy, & language instruction.

My favorite moment while giving my presentation was seeing everyone take some time to reflect on all they have accomplished in this challenging school year and share that with others. 👏🏻 I knew we all needed it and deserved to recognize how strong we are. One teacher thanked me afterwards for that opportunity, sharing, “I don’t think I’ve ever done that before!”

👉 As this school year comes to a close, please take some time to celebrate the progress you made and the students’ lives you have impacted.

Then let’s consider how we can continue to build bridges of connection—with colleagues and with our students.

The challenges before us are too great to press through alone. 🩵

Help multilingual learners make connections.

Sounds simple, right?

But what does this look like in practice?

👷🏻‍♀️ I think about how a bridge is built. It doesn't magically happen without someone being the first to cross the gap and scope out the other side.

Or I think about an obstacle course, where a team must get over an inclined wall. Someone has to go first and do the work to get up, so he can be positioned to help his team get over.

In the classroom setting, there are opportunities to foster important connections between what students know and what is new. 🔗

👉🏼 The best way to ignite these connections? Get curious, explore, and cross the gap to get to know student assets. Only then can we understand what it is we're connecting TO.

💙 Guiding EL/ML students to discovery of similarities and differences between their languages and English---their cultures and others'--their life experiences and new content---is a powerful way to make learning meaningful.

👏🏼 Every educator can be a bridge builder. Stay curious, and the opportunities to make connections will abound.

😀 Georgia TESOL members, I'll share more in my keynote next week in Savannah! So excited to spend time with you! https://buff.ly/NhhxnXc

Do you agree? There’s something magical ✨ that happens when a teacher knows that her administrator is invested in learning best practices right alongside the faculty.

There’s a trust that grows when an admin is seen as someone who “gets it” and who can engage thoughtfully in the deep work of effective pedagogy.

There is nothing more edifying, reassuring, or supportive for a teacher than to see an admin grab the ropes and help sail the ship.

As an ESL teacher, I often felt isolated —I had a wealth of specialized knowledge, and there weren’t many colleagues who spoke my language. The moment an admin does—well, let’s just say, it’s pretty darn uplifting. 💙

👏🏼 Share in the comments one thing you’d love for your administrator to “geek out” about with you! ⬇️

(Quote from the April 2025 edition of Language Magazine, from Generett et al.)

Friends in NC and SC, if you’re interested in learning more about how to advocate for evidence-aligned literacy practices that honor students’ language differences, join me for this virtual event on June 20! 👏🏻

Registration is Open! 👏🏼
Join us and The Reading League South Carolina for the 2025 Summer Virtual Symposium! ☀️

Join educators, school and district leaders, and literacy advocates from across the Carolinas as we come together to strengthen literacy through evidence-aligned instruction, leadership, and policy.

We’re thrilled to welcome Terrie Noland as our keynote speaker—a dynamic and passionate voice in the literacy field who will challenge and inspire us to push for meaningful, lasting change.

Stay tuned for more about our virtual breakout sessions!

🎥 This event will be recorded. All registered participants will receive access to session recordings and related handouts.

🎟️ Tickets:
Non-members: $40

TRL-NC or TRL-SC Members: $10 (check your email for your discount code!)

Not yet a member? Now’s the perfect time to join The Reading League North Carolina or The Reading League South Carolina and take advantage of member perks!

Register now and save your seat! 👉🏼 Visit: bit.ly/SYMPOSIUMTRLNCSC

If reading and writing float on a sea of talk (J. Britton), we can't let our classrooms run dry! 💦

Multilingual learners may step into the classroom with less foundation in English oral language than their peers.

We can't expect them to make immense gains in literacy without giving them ample opportunities and time to be conversing in English. 🗣️

💙 How do you get your MLs talking in the classroom?

Hey Georgia educators! 👋 Join me May 9 in Savannah, as I have the honor of serving as the keynote speaker at the GATESOL Spring conference! I am looking forward to a whole lot of learning and connecting as a community! 🩵

https://georgiatesol.wildapricot.org/event-5944583

Reflecting today as I turn 44, on what has been an incredible year. I’m so humbled to have been able to advocate for MLs at 5 conferences this Fall, and to support more schools and districts with professional development.

😀 It’s been exhausting, but so fun, and it’s a labor of love for me. It’s fulfilling to meet and serve educators on the field who share a desire to provide equitable instruction for every student.

I’m so thankful for my extended community of friends in education who share my heart for multilingual learners. 🩵 I know there are big challenges we face, but working together, we will continue to bring about positive change.

Why you shouldn't avoid translanguaging ⬇️

1. It's happening anyway! If you've ever learned another language, you know that your brain is constantly processing information and making meaning in both languages. For your multilingual learners, they need space to do this as they learn new content & language!

2. You don't have to be fluent in the students' languages to allow them the freedom to leverage their skills for the sake of learning.

3. Translanguaging won't "keep students from learning English." Rather, it opens doors to make connections between the two languages, as they grow together as part of an integrated system of communication.

4. Translanguaging moments may feel new to you, or even uncomfortable, but keep in mind that they can be purposeful, objective-oriented, and structured in service of the learning process.

💙 Friend, we are ALL developing in our understanding of translanguaging and its benefits for multilingual learners. Let's try broadening the language bandwidth of our classrooms this week!

Yes, it's a big word, but it doesn't have to be scary! 😀

👉🏼 Share this post to spread the encouragement!