Tapping into English Language Learners' Superpowers Through Storytelling

Outline

1– Welcome & Connection (10 minutes)

Greet participants and share session goals.

Icebreaker: Reflect on storytelling quotes to spark discussion.

Quick poll: “How do your students tell their stories?”

2- The Power of Storytelling for Multilingual Learners (10 minutes)

Introduce research on storytelling as identity work.

3 - The Journey in Action (25 minutes)

Showcase examples from The Aquawagomingo Series on BookCreator

Discuss how students collaborated, integrated culture, and used oral rehearsal.

Explain how co-design between ENL and general education teachers enhanced engagement.

Highlight their growth over time - Student reflections

4 - Reflection & Next Steps(5 minutes)

Participants share one insight or next step.

Outcomes

After this session, participants will be able to:

1. Design inclusive storytelling experiences that elevate student voice and creativity across content areas.
2. Incorporate digital tools to support collaboration, language development, and student-led creation.
3. Apply asset-based strategies that promote identity, agency, and engagement for multilingual learners.
4. Co-design learning experiences through interdisciplinary educator partnerships that support multilingual student success.

Supporting research

Bishop, R. S. (1990). Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors.
– Foundational framework for culturally responsive storytelling.

Myhill, D., & Jones, S. (2007). More than just error correction: Oral rehearsal and the teaching of writing.
– Research on how spoken language supports writing development.

Bogard, J. M., & McMackin, M. C. (2012). Combining Traditional and New Literacies in a 21st-Century Writing Workshop.
– Evidence of oral rehearsal as cognitive scaffolding.

Nicolini, M. (2021). Stories Can Save Us: A Defense of Narrative Writing.
– Supports storytelling as a tool for connection and creativity.

Cummins, J. (2001). Bilingual Children’s Mother Tongue: Why Is It Important for Education?
– Reinforces identity, language, and empowerment in multilingual education.

The Hero’s Journey Framework (Campbell, J., 1949).
– Used as a narrative scaffold for student story development.

NYS TESOL E-Book Project (2023). Supporting Student Success Through Community Asset Mapping.
– Includes Joy and Marina’s published action research on this project.

Theanne Griffith. (2020). The Magnificent Makers Series.
– Model text used for vocabulary and narrative inspiration.

TESOL International Association. Best Practices for English Learners in Writing Instruction.
– Research-informed strategies for scaffolding multilingual writers.