Revaluing Our Bilingual Communities: Novice Bilingual Education Teachers at the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic

• In Event: Teacher and Family Perspectives in Language Policies and Language Instruction

Abstract

This case study focuses on the analysis of reflections of 21 first year Spanish/English bilingual education teachers about what it meant to be a bilingual educator during the sudden move to emergency remote instruction during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings suggest that despite the initial period of uncertainty, these novice educators gained a deeper knowledge of their students and their families, reinforced the importance of emotions in teaching and learning, and experienced that their bilingual practices, and those of their students’ families, were valued by their coworkers. Given the limited research on novice bilingual teachers, this study provides valuable implications for pre-service and in-service teacher educators, as well those supporting school leaders working in urban schools.

Authors

• Maite Sanchez, Hunter College - CUNY
  Presenting Author

• Alfonso Pérez, CUNY - Hunter College
  Presenting Author