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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

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Scaffolding Content for English Language Learners (6-12)

Developed by Sashi Rayasam

This course is part of LEARN NC's catalog of online courses for teachers. Please see the current offerings at the bottom of this page for information about when it may next be taught.

About this course

  • Audience: teachers (grades 6–12)

Disability Statement

If you have a learning or other disability and you want to request special accommodations to ensure equal access to education through LEARN NC, then please contact your instructor. The information that you provide will be kept confidential.

Teach this course

This course is available to the public schools of North Carolina and may be offered locally or statewide. Learn more

Acquire effective strategies for reaching ESL students in your classroom. This course will help you relate to students’ lives and cultural struggles as they adapt to a new language.

Scaffolding Content for English Language Learners is designed as an introduction to working with English language learners (ELLs) in the mainstream 6-12 classroom. It contains an overview of some primary concepts for working with ESL students. Specifically, the course will:

  • Provide a deeper insight into English language learners’ lives and cultural struggles
  • Illustrate the significance of acquiring academic English and social English
  • Demonstrate effective strategies for reaching English Language Learners
  • Offer teachers an opportunity to use strategies and ideas in their own classes
  • Supply teachers with reliable sources for supplemental information/assistance

Prerequisites

None

Course objectives

Although there will be a variety of activities and readings designed to teach you the specifics of teaching English language learners, there are eight overarching goals we hope you’ll achieve. You’ll learn to:

  1. Identify the differences between social and academic language skills
  2. Make a newcomer feel welcome in your classroom
  3. Understand the importance of making accommodations and modifications for ELLs
  4. Effectively modify lessons, projects, assignments, and tests
  5. Utilize strategies for making lessons comprehensible for ELLs
  6. Recognize the four stages of language development
  7. Understand the role culture and other language variables play in the acquisition of English
  8. Implement at least one literacy strategy effectively in your classroom

Audience

This course is appropriate for teachers of all subjects in grades 6-12.

Time commitment

Approximately 6 hours per week

Current offerings

Begins March 15.

This course is open for enrollment. Enroll in this course