Scaffolding Up: Access Without Lowering the Bar

How do we support multilingual learners without simplifying rigorous learning? This session explores practical, classroom-based strategies that bridge content and language instruction through scaffolding, structured student talk, academic vocabulary in context, and CLIL-informed practices. Grounded in equity-driven and asset-based approaches, participants will examine how language-rich classrooms can increase access, belonging, participation, and independence for multilingual learners. Participants will leave with adaptable strategies that support rigorous learning across content areas while building teacher capacity through collaboration and inclusive instructional design.

Presenter

Fuarosa Alo

Middle and High School Language Support Specialist
Seisen International School

Fuārosa Alo (Rosa) is a Sāmoan educator born and raised in Aotearoa, New Zealand. She is an EAL specialist and IB Diploma Program teacher at Seisen International School, where she collaborates with middle and high school teachers to support multilingual learners through inclusive, equity-driven practices. Her work focuses on co-teaching, CLIL-informed instruction, and asset-based approaches that increase access, belonging, and participation for multilingual learners.

Rosa is passionate about DEIJ-informed education, equitable assessment, and culturally responsive teaching. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching with specializations in ESOL and Samoan language.