Dual Language Educators Retreat
Empowering Tandem Teachers for Cross-Linguistic Success
- Date: June 25–26, 2026
- Time: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM each day
- Location:
Everett Public Schools3900 BroadwayEverett, WA 98201
- Meals: Light breakfast, coffee, and lunch provided
Join us for a 2-day learning experience designed to support dual language educators with practical, research-informed strategies that connect instruction across both program languages—while building community and clarity.
What Is the Dual Language Educators Retreat?
The Dual Language Educators Retreat is a 2-day, in-person professional learning experience designed specifically for teachers, coaches, and leaders working in dual language programs.
Whether you're new to dual language or looking to deepen your practice, this retreat offers the space, support, and tools to grow your expertise, alongside a community that understands the joys and challenges of this work.
Who Should Attend?
This retreat is ideal for:
- Dual language educators (K-8)
- Instructional coaches and curriculum specialists
- School or district teams designing or refining their bilingual program.
📅 Retreat Details
- Date: June 25-26, 2025
- Time: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM each day
- Location:
Everett Public Schools3900 BroadwayEverett, WA 98201
- Meals: Light breakfast, coffee, and lunch provided
Each participant will receive a copy of our book, Dual Language Tandem Teaching: Coordinating Instruction Across Languages Through Cross-Linguistic Pedagogies.
Day 1- Intentional Language Use in Dual Language Classrooms
This one-day workshop helps educators make intentional, purpose-driven decisions about instructional language use by clarifying the role of translanguaging in dual language classrooms.
We’ll explore:
- what pedagogical translanguaging is and is not;
- keys to understanding how and why pedagogical translanguaging looks different in dual language classrooms;
- five factors that influence decision-making about instructional language choices in dual language classrooms; and
- how to reframe instructional language as a continuum to reconcile tensions between separation of languages and translanguaging in dual language programs.
Day 2 - Introduction to the Cross-Linguistic Pedagogies
This one-day workshop provides an introduction to the cross-linguistic pedagogies - seven approaches designed to help students transfer content and language learning across the two languages of instruction in a dual language program.
We’ll explore:
- the seven cross-linguistic pedagogies and how they can be used to coordinate instruction across languages;
- decision-making tools to help you decide which of the cross-linguistic pedagogies are appropriate for your context and how to combine them for specific purposes;
- how the cross-linguistic pedagogies influence assessment choices; and
- targeted practice using the Hybrid; Compare & Contrast; and Mirror cross-linguistic pedagogies to plan lessons.
Meet your retreat hosts!
Meet Shera Simpson, an experienced educator specializing in dual language instruction. With 12 years of teaching and administrative experience in dual language education and a passion for fostering multicultural understanding, Shera is dedicated to empowering educators with effective strategies for language acquisition and cultural sensitivity.
Meet Dr. Sue McGilvray-Rivet
Dr. Sue McGilvray-Rivet is a seasoned dual language educator with decades of experience in a variety of roles in dual language education - to put it simply, she's done it all! Throughout Sue's career, she's been a leader in promoting dual language education in Massachusetts and beyond as a bilingual teacher, district program director, and principal. Sue continues to support and advocate for dual language education through her work with MABE-NE (Multistate Association for Bilingual Education, Northeast), TWIN-CS (Two-Way Immersion Network of Catholic Schools), and as a supervisor of student teachers at Framingham State University. We're so happy that Sue has now joined the Dual Language Connections team!
What do teachers say after participating in our workshops?
"Highly recommend! Insightful and engaging—I feel more confident in supporting my multilingual learners."
"This transformed how I approach language teaching! Practical strategies with immediate impact."
