Specialist Spotlight – Congratulations to Diana Moreno, ML Specialist for being in the Educator Spotlight for Newsela!

How have you used Newsela in your classroom to help build background knowledge for your students?

💡 I use Newsela to help students build background knowledge by choosing articles that match their reading levels and connect to what we’re learning. The articles introduce key vocabulary and concepts, making it easier for students to understand new topics. I also use the quizzes and annotation tools to help them engage with the text and check their understanding.

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How does Newsela enhance your instruction?

📣 Newsela helps me make lessons more engaging and accessible by providing articles at different reading levels. It builds background knowledge, introduces important vocabulary, and supports reading skills. The quizzes and writing prompts help check understanding, and the variety of topics keeps students interested and connected to what we’re learning.

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What is something Newsela has helped with which you did not expect?

📘 Newsela helped me encourage more student discussion than I expected. Since the articles are high-interest and at the right reading level, students felt more confident sharing their thoughts. It also gave them real-world connections to our lessons, which sparked deeper conversations and opinions.

Bring on the Professional Development

The Multilingual Learner Specialists have been offering a voluntary after school professional development series to support teachers in meeting the needs of their multilingual learners. In February, the team presented best practices for supporting multilingual learners in the classroom, offering practical strategies and resources. In March, the focus shifted to using Artificial Intelligence to enhance test-taking strategies, helping educators leverage technology to build student confidence and skills. In April, the upcoming session will explore co-teaching models and how collaboration can elevate instruction for multilingual students. Looking ahead to May, the team will return to the topic of Artificial Intelligence—this time focusing on innovative ways to integrate AI into everyday classroom instruction. For more information or to get involved while earning a PD certificate, please reach out to your school’s ML Specialist.

Celebrating Literacy at University Middle School

On Saturday, March 29, 2025, students, teachers, and parents gathered at University Middle School for a fun-filled celebration of literacy. The event featured engaging reading games such as Whack-a-Sight-Word, Word Jenga, Word-Building Magna-Tiles, and Roll-a-Word, creating a lively and interactive atmosphere for young learners.

Children enjoyed playing alongside their siblings, teachers, and parents, all while snacking on pastries and bagels. Parents also had the opportunity to attend informational workshops led by Multilingual Learner Specialists,Ms. Dort, Ms. Cosme, and Mrs. Perkins, explored key topics such as artificial intelligence, writing, and WIDA to better support their young readers at home.
One of the highlights of the event was seeing the excitement on students’ faces as they selected new books to take home, generously donated by the World Language and Multilingual Learner Department.

This wonderful event was made possible thanks to the hard work and coordination of Ms. Moreno and Ms. Clitus. They extend their heartfelt gratitude to the parents, teachers, and administration who came out to support and celebrate the joy of literacy together.

Workshops on AI, Writing, and WIDA were provided to parents, offering valuable tools to support their children’s learning.

In February, Ms. Malone, our theater teacher, and Ms. Lee, our vocal teacher, organized a powerful Black History Month performance that highlighted the talents of many of our gifted Multilingual Learners. Several ML students took on leading roles, including Hernaya Octavius (6th grade), Layla Turenne (6th grade), and Abraham Berekiah (7th grade).

Several talented staff members joined Vice Principal Ms. Crowe in a powerful and inspiring rendition of “Can’t Give Up Now” by Mary Mary.

UAMS hosted NJSLA test preparation sessions in both ELA and Math, giving students a valuable opportunity to strengthen their skills ahead of the assessments. Many Multilingual Learners took advantage of this support and attended on two Saturday mornings.

In celebration of Black History Month, our dedicated Bilingual Support teacher Mrs. Paul organized a Door Decorating Contest to honor the rich contributions of African American history. This initiative offered our Multilingual Learners a chance to participate, collaborate, and showcase their knowledge. Below is just one of many impactful examples.

Ms. Sanders’ Class Brings History to Life with African American Biographical Quilt

In Ms. Deborah Sanders’ ESL 9 / ELA 9 class, students recently embarked on a meaningful and creative journey, weaving history and storytelling into an African American Biographical Quilt. This project celebrated the lives and legacies of influential African Americans, including John Lewis, Harriet Tubman, and Kobe Bryant, while fostering literacy, research skills, and cultural awareness.

The activity began with students selecting an important African American figure to research. Through reading biographies and analyzing historical contributions, they discovered the resilience, leadership, and impact of these individuals. From John Lewis’ courage in the Civil Rights Movement to Harriet Tubman’s fearless fight for freedom and Kobe Bryant’s legacy of perseverance and excellence, each story added a unique piece to the quilt of history.

After completing their research, students created individual quilt squares representing their chosen figures. These squares included handwritten reflections, artwork, quotes, and key facts, visually showcasing the life and achievements of each person. When assembled together, the quilt symbolized the collective strength, struggle, and triumph of African American history.

Ms. Sanders guided her students in making connections between past and present, encouraging discussions on how these historical figures continue to shape today’s world. By integrating literacy with hands-on creativity, this project empowered students to engage deeply with history while developing their writing and critical thinking skills.

The final quilt, proudly displayed in the classroom, serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of honoring history, storytelling, and representation. As students reflected on their work, many expressed a newfound appreciation for the perseverance and impact of the individuals they studied.

This project not only celebrated Black history but also reinforced the importance of learning from the past to inspire the future. Ms. Sanders’ innovative approach to education continues to leave a lasting impression on her students, fostering knowledge, respect, and cultural pride.

Mrs. Akavoor’s 9th Grade ESL Students

My ESL/ELA (II) class had read William Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.” They have been observing the plot structure in each selection they have read so far. Excerpts from the play were posted on the classroom walls, and a graphic organizer was given to each small group. The class then engaged in a Gallery Walk activity to understand the plot structure of Romeo and Juliet! By identifying different sections of the plot, students were able to grasp the progression of the tragedy and its key turning points. Students were given three minutes to discuss each post and identify the excerpt as the Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, or Resolution of the plot. They then entered the same in the graphic Organizer to complete the Plot structure for the play. After all groups completed the plot structure, the class came together to discuss what they identified in each section. This provided them with an insight into how different groups interpreted the text and helped clarify any misinterpretations.