The Multilingual Learning Research Center’s (MLRC) mission of advancing outcomes for multilingual learners through socially just research is embraced by our UW-Madison undergraduate student interns. Through guidance and mentorship, our student interns are integral contributors who help shape and sustain a culture of supportive learning practices, taking their…
The MLRC School Network has emerged as a true global laboratory in 2026, with more than 270 educators and 130 member schools across 60 countries working together to bridge the gap between academic theory and classroom reality. As the 2025–2026 MLRC Research Symposia across the globe wrap up, we find ourselves reflecting on our global Research-Practice Partnership (RPP) and its role in improving teaching…
The MLRC is excited for the return of the Speaker Series! This virtual gathering highlights current research related to the teaching and learning of multilingual learners. Every first Thursday of the month, a researcher or team of researchers presents insights, findings or learnings from their research. Recordings are…
On November 13, 2025, at La Cosecha Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Carrie and I joined other bilingual researchers to connect, plan, and continue to advance dual language bilingual education research. While La Cosecha has historically been a practitioner-focused conference, its organizers…
Watch educators, who are amazing chameleons, seamlessly change roles from Teacher to Social Worker to Referee to IT Expert, oftentimes within the same day. But a Researcher? That’s not necessarily a hat that most educators feel they know how to wear. As a former elementary teacher, I did not see myself as a researcher. For me, that term conjured…
Centering student voice in teaching and learning is key for student learning. When students see their ideas represented during instruction, they feel empowered and engaged. It also helps them make connections between prior learning and new content. For multilingual learners who may…
According to a recent study, just one-third of teachers regularly draw on research to inform their teaching—a trend largely attributed to heavy workloads and limited time to explore and apply new strategies (Walsh et al., 2022). Esther Bettney Heidt (MLRC School Network…
In its inaugural year, the Multilingual Learning Research Center’s Speaker Series emerged as a dynamic space for researchers to share their findings on all aspects of multilingual learner education. The monthly series brought together educators and researchers to jointly examine recent empirical…
Two-Year Anniversary! Celebrating anniversaries includes both recognizing accomplishments and looking ahead. Over the past year, we have had the privilege to collaborate with global educators and scholars as we work towards the MLRC mission to advance educational outcomes for multilingual learners through…
In January of this year, I had the distinct pleasure of joining the leadership team at the Multilingual Learning Research Center (MLRC). I joined a dynamic team of researchers who are deeply engaged in research-practice partnerships across international schools and in researching…