LEARN NC

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

Scaffolding Content for English Language Learners (K-5): Online course syllabus

Syllabus for Scaffolding Content for English Language Learners (K-5)an introduction to working with English language learners in the mainstream K-5 classroom.

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  • Scaffolding content for ELLs (K-5): Online course A professional development course to help K-5 teachers acquire effective strategies for reaching ESL students in the classroom and relate to students’ lives and cultural struggles as they adapt to a new language.

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Prerequisites

A sense of adventure, humor, an open mind and a positive attitude

Course description and goals

The course is designed as an introduction to working with English language learners in the mainstream classroom K-12. 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 utilize strategies and ideas in their own classes
  • Supply teachers with reliable sources for supplemental information/assistance

Specific 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 in Effectively Reaching ELLs. 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.

Required materials

For the second week of this course you will be required to read at least one of the books below. These books should be easily obtained in your school or public library. However, if you have difficulty in locating a copy of at least one of these, please contact your instructor immediately.

Course requirements

This course takes place over five weeks. You are expected to:

  • Complete all assignments by the due date, and participate in all class discussions.
  • Check into the online course at least three days a week to see new announcements, check messages, and view discussion postings.

Readings

Each week you will be responsible for a group of readings. All readings are located by week in the resources folder of the course.

Discussions

There will be required discussions each week. Discussion is a very important part of this course and you should fully participate. You will often be required to complete an activity prior to participating in the discussion.

The “Ask the Instructor” forum in the course is a place where you can ask questions about assignments and other course related issues.

Lesson plan

You will be required to modify one of your existing lesson plans in week three for submission in week four. Details will be provided in week three.

Course project

In week one you will be given details on a course project that you will be expected to work on as the course progresses. The final project is due in week five.

Evaluation

You will be issued three CEUs based upon your fulfillment of the discussion participation and peer review requirements, and the course project.

Professional development offerings through LEARN NC do not carry graduate credit and do not issue grades. Participants are awarded Continuing Education Units (CEUs) based on successful completion of the course. The course instructor determines to what extent participants have completed all required course activities and have participated in the learning community.