Michelle Van Balkom
@msvanbee.bsky.social
ELL educator for secondary school. Passionate about equity and multilingual learning
Thank you @ahonigsfeld.bsky.social for your work with #bctesol today. You talked about my passion for collaboration.
October 24, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Thank you @ahonigsfeld.bsky.social for your work with #bctesol today. You talked about my passion for collaboration.
If I was queen of Canada, I’d make Lunar new year a federal holiday and move Family Day to May (one the same day as Victoria’s bday). What do you think?
May 20, 2025 at 11:56 PM
If I was queen of Canada, I’d make Lunar new year a federal holiday and move Family Day to May (one the same day as Victoria’s bday). What do you think?
Q3: i will admit I don’t know. There doesn’t seem to be enough time to truly involve families as much as I’d like to. #Elsky
And our final question this week on #ELsky slow chat involves families of ELL students. What are your thoughts here? Let's learn from one another. @larryferlazzo.bsky.social
January 11, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Q3: i will admit I don’t know. There doesn’t seem to be enough time to truly involve families as much as I’d like to. #Elsky
Q2: I give space for students to ask questions and share what they’ve heard. I often link curriculum to current events globally. #ELsky
We've been slow chatting about how EL students are being affected by the presidential election and what we, as educators, can do to support them. I'm dropping our second question of the week here for discussion. #ELsky @larryferlazzo.bsky.social
January 10, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Q2: I give space for students to ask questions and share what they’ve heard. I often link curriculum to current events globally. #ELsky
A1: As someone teaching outside of the USA (Canada), the reaction by my students was fear that our politics would follow in the America footsteps as we see a rise in anti-immigration sentiment here as well. #ELsky
Our first question is: Q1. What, if any, reactions are your ELL students sharing about how the presidential election might affect them, and how are you and your school planning to support them? #ELsky @larryferlazzo.bsky.social
January 10, 2025 at 11:56 PM
A1: As someone teaching outside of the USA (Canada), the reaction by my students was fear that our politics would follow in the America footsteps as we see a rise in anti-immigration sentiment here as well. #ELsky
I'm Canadian 🇨🇦
and I reject Poilievre. 💯
and I reject Poilievre. 💯
January 5, 2025 at 9:43 PM
I'm Canadian 🇨🇦
and I reject Poilievre. 💯
and I reject Poilievre. 💯
January 5, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Got a gift from a student who was in my class last year. I felt I struggled to connect with them during that time. Today they said “cause you are my favorite teacher”. You never really know how you impact others. Therefore, choose kindness always. #edu
December 20, 2024 at 5:51 PM
Got a gift from a student who was in my class last year. I felt I struggled to connect with them during that time. Today they said “cause you are my favorite teacher”. You never really know how you impact others. Therefore, choose kindness always. #edu
Reposted by Michelle Van Balkom
“Full inclusion” is not simply dumping a highly vulnerable child with complex needs into a regular classroom with no additional staff training or supports for safety and academic success.
Inclusion means hard work.
Inclusion means putting our money where our mouths are.
Inclusion means hard work.
Inclusion means putting our money where our mouths are.
December 2, 2024 at 12:39 AM
“Full inclusion” is not simply dumping a highly vulnerable child with complex needs into a regular classroom with no additional staff training or supports for safety and academic success.
Inclusion means hard work.
Inclusion means putting our money where our mouths are.
Inclusion means hard work.
Inclusion means putting our money where our mouths are.
Reposted by Michelle Van Balkom
The addition of audio is excellent!
Without simplifying this text, what could teachers do to make this text more comprehensible for students who can decode?
✔️ guiding question
✔️ synonyms
✔️ images
✔️ teacher caption
✔️ audio
✔️ guiding question
✔️ synonyms
✔️ images
✔️ teacher caption
✔️ audio
November 21, 2024 at 1:25 PM
The addition of audio is excellent!
I wrote about this book on a previous post but just figured out how to post it. I'm really proud of the work students have done on this. #mll #ell #multilingual
read.bookcreator.com/vDdq6H5IMnjn...
read.bookcreator.com/vDdq6H5IMnjn...
Multilingual Student Writing
Read this free ebook by Student Authors. Find thousands of free educational ebooks for classroom use at read.bookcreator.com
read.bookcreator.com
November 19, 2024 at 10:30 PM
I wrote about this book on a previous post but just figured out how to post it. I'm really proud of the work students have done on this. #mll #ell #multilingual
read.bookcreator.com/vDdq6H5IMnjn...
read.bookcreator.com/vDdq6H5IMnjn...
So I do a unit with my multilingual student where they write vingettes in dual languages similar in style to #thehouseonmangostreet I’ve struggled for years on what platform to use to display and finally put them on @bookcreater.com Would anyone like to see?
#ell #mll
#ell #mll
November 17, 2024 at 10:22 PM
So I do a unit with my multilingual student where they write vingettes in dual languages similar in style to #thehouseonmangostreet I’ve struggled for years on what platform to use to display and finally put them on @bookcreater.com Would anyone like to see?
#ell #mll
#ell #mll
Reposted by Michelle Van Balkom
Look who’s here! The great @drcarolsalva.bsky.social !
drcarolsalva.bsky.social
drcarolsalva.bsky.social
November 16, 2024 at 11:04 PM
Look who’s here! The great @drcarolsalva.bsky.social !
November 16, 2024 at 5:18 PM