Professional Development

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Professional Development: Improving Instruction for English Language Learners

Initiative

Improving instruction for ELLs will improve instruction for all SAS students.

Goals

  • To build the knowledge, skills and attitudes across the school community to promote the dual goals of academic achievement and language acquisition for all students
  • To build capacity for on-going reflective teaching practice and sustained collaboration to integrate language and content learning

Rationale

English is the language of instruction at SAS, and all students must have access to the same curriculum. English language learners comprise a large portion of the SAS student body (25% - 60%). These students need support in learning grade-level content while developing academic English proficiency, but EAL teachers cannot do this job alone. In a sheltered immersion model, the entire school community must take responsibility for English language learners. Professional development for teachers is essential in creating educational opportunities for all students admitted to SAS.

Assumptions

  • SAS teachers are experienced and knowledgeable, and professional development processes need to begin with what teachers know and can do. Some SAS teachers have experience or training in working with ELLs. Professional development needs to be differentiated to incorporate teachers’ existing knowledge and skills.
  • EAL teachers at SAS bring valuable experience and knowledge. Professional development needs to integrate this on-site resource both in planning and sustaining teacher development.
  • Teacher learning needs to be efficient by using existing administrative structures, performance evaluation and professional development processes. Effective professional development needs to be embedded in the daily work of teachers.
  • Professional learning for all teachers and administrators needs to be integrated with data analysis and continuous improvement process.



GreenDots.png

Source: Learning Forward (formerly NSDC) 2012 Standards for Effective Professional Learning


Collaboration Map 2012 NEW.png
Source: Nordmeyer (2013) Collaboration as Professional Learning

Overall goals

    • Use SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Operating Procedure) as a framework for defining “effective instruction for ELLs” (RTI Tier 1)
    • Define & implement effective professional collaboration
    • Use WIDA tools for assessment and curriculum development
    • Analyze student data to inform instruction
    • Integrate parent education on first and second language acquisition and bilingual education

Specific objectives


Administrators will be able to:
  • use SIOP as a common description of "effective teaching for ELLs"
  • integrate the SIOP framework into systems of goal-setting, teacher evaluation and professional learning
  • build systems to integrate RTI into all teachers' practice
    • explain how the three tiers of support are applied at SAS: Tier 1 = SIOP, Tier 2 = LIP, Tier 3 = LSP
    • support universal screening at all grades
    • promote progress monitoring at all grade levels
    • create a shared data management system

EAL teachers will be able to:
  • explain the SIOP framework and use it to train colleagues
  • apply WIDA tools to guide the integration of language & content
  • initiate and sustain effective collaboration through co-planning, co-teaching and co-assessing
  • educate parents about first and second language acquisition

All teachers will be able to:
  • Apply the SIOP framework to guide their teaching
  • Understand WIDA tools (Can Do indicators and WIDA ELP standards) and using them to guide assessment & instruction
  • Consult with specialist and parents on first and second language acquisition and bilingual education

Process

  • Utilize collaboration as a tool for teacher growth in addition to student growth (e.g. co-teaching = reciprocal professional learning)
  • Embed professional learning into existing structures (TTT)
    • Coteaching = student support and reciprocal professional growth
    • TTT & PD days (workshops)
    • Teacher evaluation (portfolio) & annual goal setting
    • Mentoring for new teachers
  • Collect data to analyze professional learning and impact on teacher practice (e.g. surveys, walk-through observations, SIOP)
  • Consult S & B ESOL Teacher Standards and Benchmarks in order to link teacher learning targets to best practice
  • Integrate parent education workshops




5–Year PD Plan – Matrix
What action? Rationale?
 Who’s involved?
 When?
 How will we know we are successful?
Research and Training in RTI (i.e., "Data and Differentiation"), SIOP and WIDA
Liaise with divisional admin
1. All EAL teachers will have an understanding of the SIOP framework and how to apply it
2. Admin will be familiar with integration of SIOP and RTI as tools for promoting student learning and teacher learning
- Research from Honingsfeld and Dove - For example: sharing SIOP tips, internal workshops, EARCOS, TESOL convention, online RTI and SIOP workshops.
3. EAL teachers are data collaborators with classroom teachers; EAL teachers track and report EAL student data to teachers and admins.
EAL K – 12 Specialist and
Divisional Admin:
Jonathan
Chambers,
Jerry Koontz,
Andy Torris,
Alan Knobloch; Divisional Principals; Jen Lewis-Hope and Other AS Staff; add Janet Classen and Amanda DiCardy as program coordinators.
 2013-14; August, 2014 EAL PD Day with Divisional Faculty during Orientation
  • Continuous assessment
  • SIOP linked to Performance Evaluation
  • EAL teachers can use SIOP as a tool for collaboration/PD
  • Performance Evaluation includes demonstration of qualitative and quantitative data management
Training in SIOP and/or WIDA
- Continue to build teacher capacity and include Administration in the process.
- EAL team and AS team collaborate to implement RTI using SIOP
- Lead parent education workshop on first and second language acquisition and bilingual education
 EAL specialist and
Classroom teachers; Apply for PD Approval through
2013-2015; August, 2014 and 2015 EAL PD Day with Divisional Faculty during Orientation
  • Continuous assessment
  • SIOP linked to Performance Evaluation
  • ALL SAS teachers can use SIOP as a tool for collaboration teaching ELLs
  • AS and EAL teachers have clearly defined and implemented SIOP/RTI
  • Increased parent understanding L1/L2 and bilingual ed
Continuous Training on SIOP with classroom teachers (using WIDA resources)
- Continuous parent education
 Classroom teachers and
EAL K- 12 specialist
 2013- 2014 school year (orientation and through out the year)
August, 2014 and 2015 EAL PD Day with Divisional Faculty during Orientation
  • Continuous assessment
  • SIOP linked to Performance Evaluation
  • ALL SAS teachers can use SIOP as a tool for collaboration teaching ELLs
  • Increased parent understanding of L1/L2 and bilingual ed
Assessment of SIOP with classroom teacher
Recommendations/changes
- Continuous parent education
 EAL specialists
 2014-16;
August, 2014, 2015 and 2016; EAL PD Day with Divisional Faculty during Orientation
  • Continuous assessment
  • Reflection
  • Increased parent understanding of L1/L2 and bilingual ed
Recommend SIOP revisions and implementations with classroom teachers
- Continuous parent education
 EAL specialist, classroom teachers,
and admin
 2015-17;
August, 2015, 2016 and 2017 EAL PD Day with Divisional Faculty during Orientation
  • Continuous assessment
  • Reflection
  • Increased parent understanding of L1/L2 and bilingual ed





Conditions for Success:
  • Admin knowledge and support
  • K - 12 EAL specialist knowledge and support
  • Classroom teacher knowledge and support
  • Demonstrated knowledge and skill with the PD plan in professional learning goals
  • Resources
  • PD Plan at SAS is scheduled using experts in SIOP and WIDA on campus
  • Mentorship program in place for continuity

Collaboration_Map_with_learning_goals_details.png
Jon Nordmeyer - 2012 from forthcoming article "Scaffolding Professional Learning and Sustaining Support for ELLs through Collaboration"

Resources

  • Explore PD opportunities www.cal.org and www.tesol.org
    • Use WIDA tools
    • Explore Jon Nordmeyer and Susan Barduhn's Integrating Language and Content
    • Explore Andrea Honigsfeld and Maria Dove's Collaborative Co-Teaching
    • Explore Ellen Bialystok's Bilingualism in Development
    • Explore Maurice Carder's Bilingualism in International School
    • Explore Eithne Gallagher's Equal Rights to the Curriculum
TESOL Worldwide Calendar of Events
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