Developing an Awareness of Responsive Teaching: Preparing Preservice Elementary Science Teachers for English Language Learners

• In Event: 49.088 - Roundtable Session 17
  In Roundtable Session: 49.088-12 - Preservice Teacher Awareness and Attitudes of English Language Learners

Abstract

Teaching requires there to be an awareness of the social responsibilities associated with meeting the learning needs of each child. One way to accomplish this is through developing educational responsiveness awareness in pre-service elementary teachers (PSETs), especially in regards to responding to the needs of English language learners (ELLs). Issues of effectively teaching them are especially paramount in science, a discipline with specific, complex vocabulary that resembles a foreign language for students to grasp. Using second language learning experiences, this study sought to impact PSETs’ perceptions and foster the development of educational responsiveness in their teaching. Findings revealed that PSETs gained an understanding of why scaffolds are important for ELLs and how to implement them in an elementary science classroom.

Authors

• Angela W. Webb, James Madison University

• Estanislado S. Barrera, Louisiana State University

• Paula Summers Calderon, Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge