This guide is designed to support teachers like you in both the art and science of teaching multilingual learners in kindergarten through 2nd grade as they develop foundational literacy skills in the context of whole child development.

Successful teachers are always reflecting and learning. Each group of students and community is unique. The guide will help teachers reflect on their practices - to see themselves in the mindset shifts.

There may be mindsets that you have always understood, while some may be new to you. The goal of this guide is to support teachers in synthesizing the research and identifying resources that align with the best practices. As with all aspects of education, this is an ongoing and interactive process that aims to put students, families, and teachers at the center of the work.

• We suggest starting by celebrating and elevating what you are doing as a teacher in your classroom. Use the guide to validate the practices you are already using. You may find a resource that will help you improve a practice you already have in place.

• When reflecting, it is important to notice the differences between “we used to think” and “now we know” sections that are the foundation of the mindset shifts. Essentially, this helps us all follow the idea “when we know better, we do better”. Carefully reflecting on the nuances between what we have been doing, what we thought was correct best practice, and what we now understand to be best practice helps us to understand the “why” behind our instructional practices and the larger context to impact decision-making.