LEARN NC

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

Scaffolding content for English Language Learners (K-5)

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.

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Course description

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 K-5 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.

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:

  • identify the differences between social and academic language skills.
  • make a newcomer feel welcome in your classroom.
  • understand the importance of making accommodations and modifications for ELLs.
  • effectively modify lessons, projects, assignments, and tests.
  • utilize strategies for making lessons comprehensible for ELLs.
  • recognize the four stages of language development.
  • understand the role culture and other language variables play in the acquisition of English.
  • implement at least one literacy strategy effectively in your classroom.

Course information

Syllabus
You can view full the course syllabus here.
Audience
This course is appropriate for teachers of all subjects in grades K-5.
Time commitment
Approximately six hours per week
Duration
Five weeks
Credits
3.0 CEUs

Standards alignment

North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards (2009)

  • Goal 1: Teachers demonstrate leadership.
  • Goal 2: Teachers establish a respectful environment for a diverse population of students.
    • Objective 2.04: Teachers adapt their teaching for the benefit of students with special needs.
    • Objective 2.05: Teachers work collaboratively with the families and significant adults in the lives of their students.
  • Goal 3: Teachers know the content they teach.
    • Objective 3.03: Teachers recognize the interconnectedness of content areas/disciplines.
  • Goal 4: Teachers facilitate learning for their students.
    • Objective 4.01: Teachers know the ways in which learning takes place, and they know the appropriate levels of intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development of their students.
    • Objective 4.02: Teachers plan instruction appropriate for their students.
    • Objective 4.03: Teachers use a variety of instructional methods.
    • Objective 4.07: Teachers communicate effectively.
    • Objective 4.08: Teachers use a variety of methods to assess what each student has learned.
  • Goal 5: Teachers reflect on their practice.
    • Objective 5.03: Teachers function effectively in a complex, dynamic environment.