This training is best described as a three-session boot camp for teachers, instructional support staff and leadership who wish to develop or build on their ESOL knowledge base and improve their instructional practices to better meet the needs of English Learners. It was developed in response to districts concerned about supporting teachers facing challenges when instructing English Learners in content areas. The overall aim of the comprehensive three-day training is to build capacity in teachers to build on their instructional practices to provide meaningful access and learning experiences for all learners and the instructional leaders supporting those teachers. Participants will learn about essential elements of lessons for English learners, methods for presenting content information in ways that help students comprehend and discuss, and techniques for scaffolding instruction for learners and differentiating instruction based on key data. The facilitator will demonstrate/model these methods, techniques throughout the sessions, while participants engage in activities aligned to high yield practices when instructing ELs, discuss and reflect on how they could use them in their own classrooms and practice incorporating them in their lessons.
Other key topics: National, state and local demographic & achievement trends & implications - Second Language Acquisition - Key theories & BICS vs CALP - Academic Language - Making content accessible & comprehensible - increasing interaction & critical thinking - Understanding ELPA results and using the ELP standards - DOK and ELs - Communicating with families - Transact