Reading First Academy for Teachers of English Language Learners - Topics

WEEKLY TOPIC

Description

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Language Development

Bilingualism defined (additive vs.subtractive, shift in language dominance, domains of use)

Stages in second language acquisition

Social vs. academic language
Second Language Literacy Development

Patterns in L2 reading acquisition Transfer of skills across languages

Language/literacy connection.

Decoding vs. comprehension

Identifying ELLs at risk (early predictors, screening, profile of struggling ELL reader)

Effective intervention
The Classroom Environment

Creating a welcoming classroom environment

Establishing a relationship with parents of ELLs

Language of instruction

Types of instructional programs

Introduction to basic
ESL teaching strategies
Assessment

Current issues in assessment for ELLs
(inclusion in large-scale
assessment, language of
assessment)

Assessment for special
services

Assessment in the
classroom (informal
assessment, using
assessment to inform
instruction)

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

The Emergent Reader

Characteristics of stage
ELLs as emergent
readers

Writing and spelling

Assessment/Instruction

Focus: Phonological
Awareness
The Beginning
Reader

Characteristics of stage
ELLs as beginning
readers

Writing and spelling

Assessment/Instruction

Focus: Phonics &
Decoding
The Transitional Reader

Characteristics of stage
ELLs as transitional
readers

Writing and spelling

Assessment/Instruction

Focus: Fluency
Content Area Reading

The "Fourth Grade Slump" and beyond Building background knowledge

More "Before, During, and After"

Teaching academic and content vocabulary

Cognates revisited

Review: Putting It All Together


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