Valentina Gonzalez, a passionate advocate for multilingual learners, joins Highest Aspirations to discuss her collaborative work on Welcome to Teaching Multilingual Learners and her solo project, Equitable Instruction for English Learners in the Content Area. With a focus on bridging content and language instruction, Valentina shares her experience working alongside renowned educators Drs. Fisher and Frey, highlighting the transformative power of co-authorship and her unique visual approach. This episode dives into the practical strategies and the foundational "why" behind her books, offering educators the tools to create more inclusive and equitable classrooms.

Valentina explores key principles in her work, emphasizing culturally inclusive pedagogy, oracy development, and essential skills instruction. She underscores the importance of understanding and valuing the diverse backgrounds of students, going beyond surface-level vocabulary to address the deeper linguistic needs of multilingual learners. Through her insights, listeners discover how to foster collaborative learning environments and implement strategies that support both language acquisition and meaningful content engagement. This episode is an invaluable resource for educators seeking to transform their practices and create a welcoming classroom for all students.

Key questions we address:

1. How can educators apply the "Golden Circle" theory to design instruction that aligns with their core values and meaningfully supports multilingual learners?
2. What are some practical strategies that content area teachers can use to create inclusive learning environments that address the linguistic and cultural needs of multilingual learners?
3. In what ways can collaborative learning and book studies, such as co-authoring and book clubs, enhance professional development and improve teaching practices for educators working with multilingual learners?

For additional episode and community resources:

• Download the transcript here.
• Valentina’s book with Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey Welcome to Teaching Multilingual Learners!
• Valentina’s second book mentioned Equitable Instruction for English Learners in the Content Areas
• Simon Sinek’s book Start with Why
• Simon Sinek’s TEDTalk
• For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners, ⁠visit our blog

Valentina Gonzalez is known for her passionate advocacy and dedication to multilingual learners. As a sought-after speaker and keynote presenter, she travels nationwide to inspire educators with the message that bilingualism is a gift. Valentina has remained steadfast in her commitment to promoting literacy, celebrating cultural diversity, and nurturing language development. Her mission to ensure high-quality education for multilingual learners is deeply personal, fueled by her own experiences as an immigrant and English learner.