Measuring Instructional Competence for Teaching English Language Learners

• In Event: Teacher Development and Efficacy in Inclusive and Special Education, Paper Session 7

Abstract

As the number of students for whom English is not their native language continues to grow in the United States, teachers need to be better prepared for the unique challenges of teaching ELLs. This study introduces a new measure to evaluate Instructional Competence for Teaching English Language Learners. We validated the measure using Rasch analysis and used it to assess impact of an ENL certification program, with sample sizes of 155 teachers and 97 teachers for the pre and post program surveys, respectively. Results showed that teachers increased in Instructional Competence as well as correlated measures of global knowledge and teacher sense of efficacy for teaching ELLs.

Authors

• Monica Kowalski, University of Notre Dame

• Kathryn Lichon, University of Notre Dame

• Stephen Ponisciak, University of Notre Dame