Page 90 - EdViewptsSpring2021
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The Impact of Remote Learning
on English Language Learners
By Jill Vaughn, Teacher Leader, Lawrence High School
Even before the 2020-2021 In a fully-remote environment, we a number of obstacles and have to
school year began amid an have adapted well, for the most work exponentially harder than their
part, as educators. We learned new
monolingual peers. These difficulties
alarming rate of increase technologies, changed our lessons are compounded in the online
of coronavirus cases, K-12 to better fit virtual teaching and environment. By 2025, nearly 25
percent of students in public schools
learning, and have remained flexible
educators and school and ready in the face of the unknown will be English Language Learners,
leaders were confronted course the rest of the school year the fastest growing student population
group. With such a dramatic increase,
will take. The same cannot be said,
with some of the greatest however, for all students. Students it is imperative that the educational
challenges of our careers: who have found success in the community understands and
adequately addresses the needs of
virtual environment know their own
teaching and caring for the learning styles, actively participate, these students.
well-being of our students establish goals for themselves, stay As part of my journey through the
organized, create routines, and
in a climate of chaos. seek support when they need it. Yet, NJEXCEL program, I designed a study
to evaluate the impact remote learning
My colleagues and I have spent not all students are able to achieve has had on our 28 English Language
months working through the many these academic milestones. English Learners at Lawrence High School in
concerns associated with such a Language Learners, in particular, Lawrenceville, NJ.
swift change, doing our very best to already come into the traditional
navigate these unchartered waters. on-campus school environment with
Educational Viewpoints -88- Spring 2021
