Announcing The Publication Of Educating English Learners,
2016
University of Central Florida
Announcing The Publication Of Educating English Learners, Tapestry Staff
TAPESTRY
The Editors of Tapestry are pleased to announce the publication of Educating English Learners: What Every Classroom Teacher Needs to Know by Joyce Nutta, Carine Strebel, Kouider Mokhtari, Florin Mihai, and Edwidge Crevecoeur-Bryant (Harvard University Press, 2014).
Tapping The Potential Of El Paraprofessionals Through Professional Development,
2016
University of Central Florida
Tapping The Potential Of El Paraprofessionals Through Professional Development, Michaela Colombo, Qing Zhao, Heidi Perez
TAPESTRY
Many paraprofessionals provide instructional support to English Learners (ELs), yet little research exists regarding their preparedness. Research on paraprofessionals in special education suggests that paraprofessionals are often under-prepared for their responsibilities. This paper explores ongoing professional development (PD) for paraprofessionals using findings from a study of the first year of a 5-year PD initiative for 109 paraprofessionals who worked with ELs in a high-poverty, high-minority urban district. Study findings are derived from the analysis of 57 participant reflection journals, interviews with 12 paraprofessional participants, a focus group with six PD providers, and de-identified observation and focus group data provided by …
Bridging The Gap: Preparing Teachers To Meet The Needs Of Ells Through Service-Learning,
2016
University of Central Florida
Bridging The Gap: Preparing Teachers To Meet The Needs Of Ells Through Service-Learning, Michele Regalla
TAPESTRY
Although the U.S. student population has become increasingly diverse, our teaching force does not reflect equal levels of diversity. Teacher education programs are charged with the task of preparing pre-service teachers to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students. This paper addresses one option for providing pre-service teachers with diversity experiences by offering a short term service-learning program abroad. Research has shown that pre-service teachers feel more prepared to meet the needs of English learners after their participation in international experiences with service-learning or study abroad. This paper presents practical guidance for teacher educators who wish to start …
“Textbooks Come Alive:” Engaging Teacher Candidates In Service-Learning To Enhance Their Learning About English Language Learners,
2016
University of Central Florida
“Textbooks Come Alive:” Engaging Teacher Candidates In Service-Learning To Enhance Their Learning About English Language Learners, Carla Amaro-Jiménez, Kim K. Winter
TAPESTRY
This article describes the results of a Service-Learning collaboration initiative between several community partners and two teacher preparation programs (i.e., bilingual education and middle level education) at a large, urban university in the Southwest. We draw on data collected from a total of 77 teacher candidates (38 in bilingual education and 39 in middle level education) who were enrolled in a course focusing on methods of literacy instruction for ELL. The manuscript focuses on the impact that participating in Service-Learning had on teacher candidates’ personal, professional, and academic experiences as they worked with ELL as part of their teacher preparation …
Editors' Note,
2016
University of Central Florida
Living Here, Yet Being There: Facebook As A Transnational Space For Newcomer Latina/O Adolescents,
2016
University of Central Florida
Living Here, Yet Being There: Facebook As A Transnational Space For Newcomer Latina/O Adolescents, Mary Amanda Stewart
TAPESTRY
Under the category of diaspora media studies, the present case study investigates the social networking use of four newcomer adolescent English Learners in a U.S. high school. Demonstrating their transnational skills, the students use the social networking site of Facebook prolifically outside of school in order to connect to their home countries, maintain their Latina/o identities, and acquire English. Findings from analyzing the students' Facebook pages, interviews, and in-school observations illustrate that they are transnational, multicultural, emergent bilinguals who engage in sophisticated multimodal ways of communication outside of school, challenging their at-risk label in their high school. Immigrant students' transnational …
Preparing Teachers Of English Learners: How Field Reports Bridge The Gap Between Theory And Practice,
2016
University of Central Florida
Preparing Teachers Of English Learners: How Field Reports Bridge The Gap Between Theory And Practice, Judy Lombardi
TAPESTRY
Preservice teachers of English learners need practical experience in real classrooms to supplement the rich strategies learned in college methods classes. In classes of preservice teachers in secondary education at California State University Northridge, state course standards require teacher candidates to complete not only classwork but also field observation reports. The field observation reports help teacher candidates bridge theory and practice, making connections between university course strategies and public school classroom applications. With access to the largest number of English learners in any school district in the nation, candidates are able to observe and report on the diverse needs, strategies, …
Classroom Assessment Of Language Levels: A Quick Formative Assessment Tool,
2016
University of Central Florida
Classroom Assessment Of Language Levels: A Quick Formative Assessment Tool, Paul Boyd-Batstone
TAPESTRY
When a newly arrived English learner (EL) enters the classroom, time is not on the teacher’s side. It is not uncommon for the EL to arrive far ahead of assessment data, such as a standardized measure of language level. Yet, the teacher is obliged to immediately provide instruction. Time is not on the student’s side either. English learners need immediate and appropriate instruction. This calls for a quick, formative assessment tool for identifying language level and appropriate accommodations. The purpose of this article is to present the Classroom Assessment of Language Levels (CALL) a tool for teachers to identify an …
Editor's Note,
2016
University of Central Florida
Technology And Language Teaching: A Conversation With Dr. James May,
2016
University of Central Florida
Technology And Language Teaching: A Conversation With Dr. James May, Tapestry Staff
TAPESTRY
TAPESTRY recently caught up with Dr. James May, winner of 2011-2012 Carnegie Foundation Florida Professor of the Year award, at a recent state conference. Dr. May is currently a Professor of English as a Second Language at Valencia Community College in Orlando, Florida. His research focuses on helping teachers to incorporate Web 2.0 technologies into instruction. Dr. May graciously agreed to share some of his insights into issues surrounding technology in the modern classroom with TAPESTRY.
Dramatic Differences: The Power Of Playbuilding For Young English Language Learners,
2016
University of Central Florida
Dramatic Differences: The Power Of Playbuilding For Young English Language Learners, Jamie Simpson-Steele, Daniel A. Kelin Ii
TAPESTRY
Through a combination of anecdotal stories, the findings of a qualitative evaluative study and overview of experiential activities, this article outlines how a group of 4th and 5th grade English Language Learners benefited from a drama-based project focused on building student confidence, collaborative and communicative skills and facility with drama processes to engage interest and stimulate a sense of investment with the ELL participants. A portion of the article focuses on one participant who experienced a particularly intriguing journey that stimulated both discoveries and questions about the drama program.
Preparing Preservice Teachers To Address The Disproportionality Of Ells In Exceptional Education Programs,
2016
University of Central Florida
Preparing Preservice Teachers To Address The Disproportionality Of Ells In Exceptional Education Programs, Leah J. Lerma, Martha Lue Stewart
TAPESTRY
As our nation’s classrooms become more diverse, how to best educate all of our students is of paramount importance. The educational placement of students of racial, cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity in classes for students with special needs at a disproportionate level is well documented. This paper addresses the issue of disproportionate representation of English Language Learners (ELLs) in special education programs. Teacher beliefs, cultural bias, lack of culturally responsive professional development opportunities, and assessments contribute to inappropriate referrals and identification. Preparing preservice teachers to understand disproportionality and why it exists can help reduce the inappropriate referrals and placement of …
Editor's Note,
2016
University of Central Florida
New Book Publication Announcement,
2016
University of Central Florida
New Book Publication Announcement, Tapestry Staff
TAPESTRY
An announcement of a new edited book titled “Preparing Every Teacher to Reach English Learners: A Practical Guide for Teacher Educators” published by Harvard Education Press in 2012 describing an innovative infusion approach to the preparation of all teachers to effectively address the language, literacy, and content learning needs of English learners (ELs) in general education classrooms.
Essay Review: Implications For Educators Of Daniel Everett’S Language: The Cultural Tool,
2016
University of Central Florida
Essay Review: Implications For Educators Of Daniel Everett’S Language: The Cultural Tool, Christopher W. Johnson
TAPESTRY
This essay review discusses Everett (2012), Language: The Cultural Tool, with particular emphasis on implications for educators. While Everett does not belong to the discourse of pedagogy and policy for classrooms, his findings and arguments resonate powerfully with the contemporary challenges of PK-12 classrooms and teacher preparation.
Benefits And Challenges Of Co-Teaching English Learners In One Elementary School In Transition,
2016
University of Central Florida
Benefits And Challenges Of Co-Teaching English Learners In One Elementary School In Transition, N. Eleni Pappamihiel
TAPESTRY
This article reports the findings of a case study centered upon the implementation of a coteaching model in an elementary school with a mixed (EL and non-EL) population. In the co-teaching model examined, ESL teachers were embedded in the general education classroom, collaborated on instruction, and taught in cooperation with general education teachers. In addition to presenting the outcomes of the examined co-teaching model, the article outlines several key conditions for the successful application of this model to various teaching environments.
Editor's Note,
2016
University of Central Florida
Preparing Teacher Candidates To Meet The Needs Of English Language Learners: The Tells Certificate,
2016
University of Central Florida
Preparing Teacher Candidates To Meet The Needs Of English Language Learners: The Tells Certificate, Martha Castañeda, Jeannie Ducher, Amy Fisher-Young, Bruce E. Perry
TAPESTRY
A report on the development and implementation of the Teaching English Language Learners (TELLs) certificate program at Miami University, in Oxford Ohio.
Infusing El Content And Instruction Into English Education Courses,
2016
University of Central Florida
Infusing El Content And Instruction Into English Education Courses, Donna Niday
TAPESTRY
An article presenting a five-stage process of infusing EL-relevant topics into English education courses.
Infusing El Content Into A Foundations Course,
2016
University of Central Florida
Infusing El Content Into A Foundations Course, Cynthia J. Hutchinson
TAPESTRY
An article describing the author's experiences with ELs as well as with infusing EL content within a foundations course.
