This is a workshop specific for elementary school teachers who work with English Language Learners. It demonstrates techniques and practices for ELL teachers to become better classroom practitioners in order to increase student achievement. This workshop is based on research data collected by the Federal Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences. This workshop focuses on 5 key recommended practices and is divided into 9 chapters. It features resource materials, a practice guide, and interviews with experts in the field. It also has links to the Doing What Works website for further examples and information. This workshop is good for individual study, a teacher focus group, and district and school wide professional development. Teachers are given concrete materials, strategies, and ideas to implement immediately.
Type of Material:
Digital Workshop
Recommended Uses:
This site is easy to use and can be used by many different populations including pre-school teachers, pre-service teachers, teachers, and parents. It would be useful for individual study, study groups, as well as school-wide professional development.
Technical Requirements:
The user needs Internet access,an updated broswer, Flash player, and speakers to listen to the audio. The content is available on a website therefore minimal technical requirements are needed. The Flash content contains subtitles, audio, images, and text. There are several controls available that permit the user to turn off/on the subtitles, audio, skip chapters, and pause. QuickTime, Acrobat Adobe Reader are needed as is the ability to read Microsoft Word files.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
The goal is to present the research based information collected from the Doing What Works initiative in a logical, systematic method to provide users with a comprehensive overview. This process helps to connect theory to practice. The content presented in the ED.Gov booklet and website is text based, provides videos, and graphic organizers. This website presents the information in small manageable segments that make it easy to comprehend.
The site states its goal "to help classroom teachers obtain, understand and utilize high quality, research-based practices with their students."
Target Student Population:
The target student population identified in the research include: pre-school aged children, and any person learning English as a second language. As well, preservice teachers, school administrators and district personnel could also benefit from the site.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Interest in or experience with English Language Learners
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The strengths of this site include the small manageable content, the use of multimedia is an added bonus. There are several videos to help the user locate content and make the most of the site. The site is organized and arranged so that it is simple to find age appropriate resources.
Concerns:
The focus is only on elementary level English language learners.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
The content presented is research based. The information is translated and presented in easy to understand language so that it is easy to apply the content. There is a clear connection between the theory and practice of educating second language learners.
Concerns:
The only concern is the planning templates that are provided on the site. The use of a graphic organizer and the inclusion of a completed template would be helpful.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
This is an easy website to use. The links work well and are clearly labeled. There is a consistent layout and the themes presented are visually appealing. There is a menu at the top of the page that permits the user to navigate through the site with ease.
Concerns:
None.
Creative Commons:
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