ENL Courses (English as a New Language)

Close Reading Strategies for ENLs: What are they, and how do we teach them? Grades 3-8

While many students will develop their own methods to read complicated text, answer high-level questions and respond with written products, many ENL students will struggle with reading complex text and the close reading strategies that support it. We now know there are numerous approaches to teach close reading with, all of them working in numerous ways to parcel through multiple layers of text complexity, even for ENL students. From chunking to note taking with purpose, to using visuals and other multi-sensory approaches, participants will gain a repertoire of strategies with which to teach close reading successfully to all students, including ENLs.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Understand what it means to “close read” with strategy for ENL students.
• Understand and gain insight into the close reading requirements of the Common Core State Standards.
• Apply new strategies to the teaching of close reading to English language learners.

Best Practices for Inclusive Classrooms and ENL Students, Grades K-12

Careful thought and planning can garner the best classroom management practices for inclusive classrooms. Participants in this course will learn how to create balanced classrooms, and evaluate their utility in various settings and scenarios to include co-teaching and collaboration. The use of appropriate supports for English language learners will be practiced with through various teaching approaches, to include co-teaching, interactive teaching, parallel teaching, and through lesson development. Participants will glean useful learning strategies as they align with teaching of core content for inclusive settings.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Understand how to plan for and apply research-based strategies to classroom management practices in inclusive classroom settings.
• Understand what balanced classrooms look like, and plan similarly using various teaching methods and models.
• Align management strategy with content goals based on industry best practices for inclusive K-5 settings focused on ENL student growth.

Formative Assessment Practices for ENL Students, Grades K-5

Assessment of learning or for learning? Balanced, summative interim and formative assessments will be evaluated for CCSS application in this e-course. Participants will understand how to effectively monitor their ENL student learning, structure requisite assessment criteria, and teach to support a rapid turnaround of language results.

Course Outcomes:

• Seek out new assessment resources using effective research skills that further teaching and learning.
• Match grade-level assessment criteria to standards-aligned curriculum and instruction.
• Monitor student learning to move up individual student performance, focusing primarily on ENL students.

Literature Circles That Differentiate for ENL Students, Grades K-8

Literature circles with flexible grouping are a combination that works perfectly into a differentiated literacy curriculum for ENL students. With a strong record of success, literature circles continue to meet the needs of all learners. Participants in this e-course will learn the strategies that make literature circles successful, and how to leverage them effectively for ENLs, small groups and learning centers. Tools for implementation and informal assessment include checklists, role rubrics and a host of multi-sensory differentiation ideas.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Locate, develop and use the tools needed to effectively differentiate instruction for ENL students within the Literature Circle framework.
• Use field-tested tools to successfully conduct literature circles that differentiate for ENL students.

Multiple Intelligences, Multiple Learning Styles: ENL Students, Grades 3-12

Research continues to show that providing students with multiple entry-points to learning improves performance. Tools and resources used to measure learning styles and learning preferences will be included in this rich and informative e-course focused on identifying and cultivating multiple intelligences in order to effectively plan for, and teach to our speakers of other languages.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Acquire new tools to cultivate student intelligences with while teaching to the multiple learning styles of ENL students.
• Differentiate for multiple learning styles per best practices for ENL students.
• Apply strategies specific to ENL students for teaching to multiple intelligences.

Purposeful Planning With Differentiation and ENL Students in Mind, Grades K-12

Planning with purpose leads to effective instruction. This course takes learners through a variety of planning processes that align closely to pre-established learning goals, objectives, state and national standards. In addition, working knowledge of current and best instructional planning design specific to ENL students, along  with the preparation that goes behind it, will highlight reflection and development. Participants will work new ideas into planning with specific purposes and ends in mind as they work out of and into the Marzano (2001) Nine Categories in Instructional Planning.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Develop understanding and knowledge of ENL students.
• Set high instructional outcomes that move ENL students toward specific ends and purposes.
• Practice with accessing planning resources and resources to work into planning with.
• Develop utility with resources that aid in the planning of coherent instruction for English language learners.

Research-Based Literacy Strategies For ENL Students, Grades K-12

Participants will be introduced to sound and scientific research as it promotes literacy across all content areas to help ENL students build foundational skills across reading, writing, speaking and listening. They’ll learn the scaffolds behind them that aid students in the important transition process across all content areas. Intentional, consistent, and rigorous teaching of reading and writing strategy that improves student achievement will engage the 90/90/90 principled approach. Participants completing this course will take away implementation tools that include graphic organizers, semantic maps, thinking aids, checklists, rubrics and more.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Move scientific theory into classroom literacy strategy across specific content areas for ENL students.
• Scaffold student progress along a rigorous strategy continuum.
• Import research-based literacy strategy into lessons for rigorous application and implementation.

Teaching to Cultural and Linguistic Diversity, Grades 3-12

Teaching to cultural and linguistic diversity requires careful and flexible planning, creativity, and a teamed approach that involves parents and all educational stakeholders in order to develop students’ language skills. Beginning with multiple, research-based strategies for multi-cultural environments, participants will develop their ability to analyze and plan with data to differentiate for multiple learner types and varying degrees of language support.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Practice and plan with the strategies that lead to effective and diverse learning environments in multi-cultural classrooms.
• Plan flexibly using tools, resources, and new strategy to address the needs of second language learners.
• Understand the relevance of a properly structured cultural environment in meeting the diverse linguistic needs of students.

Teaching to Text Complexity for ENL Students, Grades 3-9

Reading strategies will focus on skill and readability as participants are introduced to leveling systems that scaffold. Participants will be introduced to the scaffolding mechanisms needed to appropriately move up text complexity in multiple genres across all subject areas for ENL students.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Scaffold for, and teach to, text complexity.
• Through practice, develop the ability to plan strategically for teaching text complexity to ENL students
• Align student-learning objectives to strategy that teaches text complexity.

The Art of Differentiating Instruction for ENL Students, K-12

The art of differentiation happens through design, re-design, and flexible teaching strategy. Participants in this e-course will reinvent lessons using research-based, effective methods for differentiation geared specifically for ENL students. They'll have opportunities to re-purpose lesson plans, understand readiness versus ability, and capitalize on brain plasticity to engage students through intellect and creativity. Learning profiles, interest surveys, cognitive-friendly learning environments, tiered questioning and student "hooks" for rigorous learning application are some of the takeaways to this e-course.

Course Outcomes:

• Create differentiated lessons through design and strategy focused on the language needs of ENL students.
• Use design strategy for mixed-ability grouping and classroom environment.
• Use online and print tools for differentiation such as learning profiles, interest surveys and tiered questioning focused on the needs of ENL students.

Tools and Practices for Effective Progress Monitoring of ENL Students, Grades K-12

Through a tiered instructional framework, participants will be introduced to tools and research-based practices of effective progress monitoring at Tiers II and III of the RtI framework with a focus on ENL students. By evaluating and becoming knowledgeable about high quality, differentiated and scientifically based instructional practices, participants will learn how to scaffold learning strategy carefully, and with increased intensity using the tools to meet their ENL students at an assessed level of performance and rate of progress. Increased achievement and closed learning gaps are among the priorities when intervening strategically.

Course Outcomes:

• Use the tools of tiered instructional models to close achievement gaps for Tiers II and III ENL students.
• Plan with and apply the assessment procedures needed to progress monitor effectively in order to deliver effective and timely interventions for RtI and ENL students.
• Plan and practice with various differentiated, scientifically based instructional technique to scaffold instruction with.

Best Practices in Literacy for ENL Students, Grades K-12

After analyzing lessons to determine the best embedded practices that support diverse English language learners, participants will divide by grade bands to learn the best practices embedded within them. Looking at and analyzing lesson samples will teach them how to identify specific best practices in action, and what makes them best as a strategy and an action, providing the foundations for differentiation and close reading strategies. Participants will identify best practices pertinent to the grade and discipline they teach, and work them into assignments that scaffold into a final project.

Course Objectives:

• Analyze modules to identify embedded best practices that support the diverse language needs of their ENL students.
• Glean and apply new best practices by working them into unit and lesson plans presently being taught. Implement and reflect upon best practice strategies taught, giving and receiving peer feedback in discussion forums.
• Align best practices with pertinent lesson components and Common Core Standards as they apply specifically to their ENL students.

Common Core Writing Standards and Strategies That Support Them for ENL Students, Grades 6-12

With a focus on expository writing geared for ENL students, participants will cull the CCSS writing and language standards for their application to content-specific writing genre within ENL instruction. In doing so, participants will level strategy and expectation with assignments as they align with state and national standards. Planning of performance writing tasks (or other writing assignments) will take central focus as participants learn to strategically scaffold in order to close grade-level achievement gaps while meeting the expectations for ENL students within the Common Core.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Understand genre and CCSS expectations as they apply to expository writing and ENL students.
• Apply new strategies to teaching for ENLs while facilitating the writing process as it applies to content area writing and CCSS expectations.
• Plan and scaffold for differentiated writing tasks specific to ENL students.

Data-Driven Decision-Making for ENLs, Grades K-12

Instructional decision-making hinges on variables that can change by the minute, the hour, and the student. The many forms that data take can inform rich instruction. It’s all about driving the right data to the right instructional strategy. This course will focus on deep data digs, gaps analysis, and meeting the needs of second language learners.

Course Outcomes:

• Glean and analyze valuable information about student performance from data, focusing on ENL students.
• Look at and analyze multiple data sets to plan instructional strategy with. Data will include formative and summative sources focused on drawing accurate information about the language performance of ENL students.
• Use data to plan instruction for ENL students with.

Literacy Strategies for Struggling Learners and ENLs: Grades 3-12

Consistent use of reading and writing strategy across all content areas continues to turn around the language skills of English language learners, particularly those who struggle. Participants will finish this e-course with a compendium of strategies and tools to aid ENL students and struggling learners with, using researched and field-tested implementation ideas.

Course Objectives:

• Use same strategy ideas across all content areas to leverage ENL student success with.
• Glean and apply multiple strategies that aid in the successful literacy effort of struggling learners and ENL students.
• Apply collaboration among multiple disciplines and plan to accommodate the needs of struggling learners.

All About Balanced Literacy and English Language Learners: K-8

Participants in this e-course will learn how the balanced literacy components of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension to work into a balanced reading, writing, listening and speaking curriculum geared specifically for ELLs. Research-based strategies that engage effective instruction, as guided by sound scaffolding techniques, work seamlessly into successful balanced literacy programs when applied intentionally - participants will learn all of this, and more. Ancillary materials for immediate implementation will include rubrics, checklists, lesson plans and strategy guides.

Course Outcomes:

• Plan and implement with the balanced literacy components as leveraged for ELLs.
• Use reading, writing, listening and speaking strategies to effectively scaffold student learning.
• Develop the skill and ability to leverage online and off-site resources to teach using balanced literacy strategies and techniques.

Best Practices for Differentiating in Bilingual Classrooms, Grades 6-8

Teaching and differentiating in inclusive classrooms requires careful and flexible planning and creativity. Through design, re-design, and research-based, field tested strategy in inclusive classrooms, participants will invent and reinvent lessons using effective methods for differentiation, with a focus on ELL growth. Learning profiles, interest survey cognitive-friendly learning environments, SIOP strategies, tiered questioning and student "hooks" for rigorous learning application are some of the takeaways of this e-course.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Create differentiated lessons for inclusive classrooms through design and strategy.
• Practice with the strategies that lead to effective and diverse learning environments.
• Plan flexibly using tools, resources, and new strategy to address the needs of diverse learners.

Best Practices for Differentiating in Bilingual Classrooms, Grades K-5

Teaching and differentiating in inclusive classrooms requires careful and flexible planning and creativity. Through design, re-design, and research-based, field tested strategy in inclusive classrooms, participants will invent and reinvent lessons using effective methods for differentiation. Learning profiles, interest survey cognitive-friendly learning environments, tiered questioning and student "hooks" for rigorous learning application are some of the takeaways of this e-course.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Create differentiated lessons for inclusive classrooms through design and strategy.
• Practice with the strategies that lead to effective and diverse learning environments.
• Plan thoughtfully and flexibly using tools, resources, and new strategy to address the needs of diverse learners.

Building Reading Comprehension in English Language Learners, PK-3

The building blocks to effective reading comprehension begin in the primary grades with explicit instruction, teacher modeling and lots of guided practice. Under this umbrella, participants will learn to teach reading comprehension, geared specifically for the needs of ELLs, through effective strategy that builds student capacity. Story structure, graphic representation, reciprocal questioning, retelling and summarizing are some of the approaches under study. All strategies overviewed will include tools for implementation.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Acquire and apply the skills needed to effectively teach reading comprehension in primary grades for ELLs.
• Plan for and implement with strategy that builds student capacity through teacher modeling, guided practice.

Common Core Writing Standards and Strategies That Support Them for ENL Students, Grades K-5

With a focus on expository writing geared for ENL students, participants will cull the CCSS writing and language standards for their application to content-specific writing genre within ENL instruction. In doing so, participants will level strategy and expectation with assignments as they align with state and national standards. Planning of performance writing tasks (or other writing assignments) will take central focus as participants learn to strategically scaffold in order to close grade-level achievement gaps while meeting the expectations for ENL students within the Common Core.

Course Outcomes:

• Understand genre and CCSS expectations as they apply to expository writing and ENL students.
• Apply new strategies to teaching for ENLs while facilitating the writing process as it applies to content area writing and CCSS expectations.
• Plan and scaffold for differentiated writing tasks specific to ENL students.