Jennifer Altavilla-Giordano
What’s Next for English Learners in the US Now that English is the Official Language?
The rights of designated English learners are primarily protected under two federal laws. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. A landmark Supreme Court case, Lau v. Nichols, 414 U.S. 563 (1974), ruled that language is part of national origin. Therefore, public schools must provide English-language […]
Scholarly Accomplishments October 2025
BU Wheelock presents the following faculty publications, presentations, and research grant awards for October 2025. Articles Aaron Brakoniecki Brakoniecki, A. (2021). One task, multiple proportional reasoning strategies. Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK–12. (Reprinted 2025, in Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK–12, 118(7), 506–514). https://pubs.nctm.org/view/journals/mtlt/118/7/article-p506.xml Kyle DeMeo Cook Fisk, E., Lombardi, C. M., & Cook, […]
Scholarly Accomplishments March 2025
BU Wheelock presents the following faculty publications, presentations, and awards for March 2025. Books and Book Chapters Anna Lim Lim, A. (2024). Immigrant deaf students of color: On the axes of accommodation, acculturation, and racialization. In C. M. Leider, C. L. Dobbs, & E. Nerlino (Eds.), Preparing antiracist teachers: Fostering antiracism and equity in teacher […]
Add-On ESL License: A Band-Aid, Not a Cure
One morning in early August, I was enjoying my vacation when my husband thrust his laptop into my lap. Since my husband, a high-school math teacher, usually lets his emails marinate over the summer, I knew it must be important. The message was from his superintendent to all district faculty, staff, and parents. With less […]
Improving School Experiences for English Learners
Jennifer Altavilla-Giordano is a lecturer and director of the TESOL & Bilingual Education (Licensure) Program at BU Wheelock. Her research focuses on professional development, pre-service training, and instructional coaching for teachers who work with students classified as English learners. She is passionate about collaborating with districts, schools, and teachers to improve multilingual learners’ school experiences […]
BU Wheelock Welcomes New Faculty for Fall 2021
This fall, BU Wheelock welcomed 10 new full-time faculty members to our community. Their research interests include early childhood education, higher education, sport performance, bilingual education, and literacy. Learn more about our new faculty and read some of their reflections on joining BU Wheelock. Jennifer Altavilla Lecturer and program director, Teaching English to Speakers of […]