English language learners (ELs) are an important focus of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (ESE) Proficiency Gap Task Force. Closing the proficiency gap depends on teachers having the skills and knowledge necessary to instruct ELs effectively. Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) is an approach to teaching academic content in English to ELs. Generally, but not always, ELs are in the same classrooms as native English-speaking students.* In this course, participants will review and explore teaching strategies to support English language learners. Participants will also explore technology resources that can support English language learners within the classroom. To apply what they learn in the course, participants will complete a Lesson Plan Template outlining how they will incorporate in their classrooms instructional practices that have been shown to be effective in supporting the learning of English language learners. This self-paced course can be used in conjunction with the Individual Professional Development Plan to satisfy the minimum 15 PDPs related to training in SEI or English as a Second Language in accordance with the Massachusetts License Renewal Requirements for a Professional License.
*Adapted from: https://goo.gl/VjdrPT

NOTE: THIS COURSE IS COMPLETELY ONLINE, SELF-PACED, AND WILL PROVIDE  A CUSTOMIZED CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION WHEN YOU FINISH THE COURSE. QUESTIONS?  Email profdev@tec-coop.org

Goals and Objectives

During this self-paced course, participants will learn skills and strategies to:

• Understand the linguistic and content learning needs of their English language learner students;
• Become acquainted with instructional practices that have evidence of their effectiveness for English language learner students;
• Apply/Incorporate these instructional practices into their teaching; and
• Use available technology resources to support English language learners in their acquisition of English and to make content instruction accessible.

Audience

This workshop is intended for all Massachusetts educators including support personnel, technology specialists, curriculum specialists, and professional development specialists. This course will fulfill the required 15 PDPs related to training in SEI or English as a Second Language necessary in order to renew your Massachusetts professional teaching license. Participants are expected to have regular access to computers and be proficient with email and web browsing.

Structure

This online, self-paced professional development course is divided into four sessions: an orientation and three content-based sessions. The final content session will be split into two sections: K-6 and 7-12. Each content session includes readings, videos, and activities that ask participants to apply what they learn. Each week, participants will add to a Lesson Plan Template to document their learning in the course and to allow them to have a practical tool so they can apply what they learn with students in the classroom. The time for completing each content session is estimated to be between four and five hours and the total amount of time required for the entire course is estimated to be 15 hours.

S1 Working with English Language Learners in the Classroom
S2 Strategies to Improve Academic Language Instruction for English Language Learners
S3 Supporting Writing and Speaking in the Classroom

 

Note: Before registering for this course, please check with your Central Office Administrator in charge of Professional Development. If this course is being offered by your district for free, registration will be accessed via your district.