Courtney Morgan is an assistant professor of teacher education and coordinator of the elementary education program at Brevard College in Western North Carolina. She is a National Board Certified teacher and founder of the All Access Classroom, where she partners with schools and districts as a keynote speaker and professional development facilitator. Before entering higher education, she spent 19 years as a general education and English language development teacher. Her work focuses on helping educators integrate language development, evidence-based literacy practices, and content learning, and she is passionate about equipping teachers with strategies that make instruction more equitable and accessible for multilingual learners.

In this episode, Courtney Morgan explores how the science of reading has often been implemented through a monolingual lens, leaving multilingual learners at the margins of instructional decisions. She argues that the research base does not need to be replaced, but rather reinterpreted to intentionally integrate language development and literacy. Through practical examples and a clear planning framework, Courtney challenges schools to center multilingual learners in curriculum decisions, protect both structured literacy and English language development time, and increase opportunities for productive language within daily lessons.

Key Takeaways:

• The science of reading is a research base, not a script. Educators must interpret it through the realities of their multilingual classrooms.
• For multilingual learners, structured literacy must be paired with English language development. Protect time for both.
• Multilingual educators hold critical expertise. Advocate for their presence in data discussions, curriculum adoption, and school-wide decisions. Centering multilingual learners requires systems-level change.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Welcome to Literacy Across Languages!

(02:01) Meet Courtney Morgan

(06:21) Centering Multilingual Students in Our Instruction

(14:35) Reimagining the Science of Reading forMultilingual Students

(21:28) Honing in on Language Development in Literacy Instruction

(27:16) Intentional Literacy Scaffolds for Multilingual Learners

(32:59) The Value of the Work

(35:52) Takeaways for Teaching

Episode Resources:

1. Read Courtney's co-authored article in Language Magazine, Reimagine the Science of Reading Through a Multilingual Lens.
2. Explore Courtney's courses, professional development, and resources for multilingual learners at The All-Access Classroom.
3. Learn more about The Reading League's North Carolina chapter, where Courtney serves as a board member.

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Keywords: Keywords: science of reading, structured literacy, multilingual learners, English learners, language development, English language development, oral language, productive language, student discourse, scaffolding, literacy instruction, multiliteracy, home language, bilingual education, Scarborough’s Rope, reading comprehension, phonics instruction, phonemic awareness, vocabulary development, background knowledge, language acquisition, second language acquisition, curriculum design, inclusive instruction, equity in education, teacher planning, literacy research, elementary literacy, teacher professional development, evidence-based literacy