Creating Confident Educators for Today's English Learners

• In Event: Second Language Research SIG Poster Session

Abstract

The population of English Learners (ELs) is growing exponentially in U.S. PK-12 schools. Fifty-five percent of teachers find themselves teaching ELs, yet fewer than one-third have had any significant training in methods to support ELs’ language development or content learning (Quintero & Hansen, 2017). Inservice teachers need comprehensive, job-embedded professional development (PD) to fill the gap when it comes to application of second language acquisition, social-emotional needs of ELs, and strategies to support ELs’ learning overall. A year-long PD program, ESL Academy , focuses on embedding activities in teachers’ instructional contexts. This study describes the scope and depth of the program and examines changes in perceptions of teachers’ self-efficacy for teaching and supporting ELs pre and post Academy.

Authors

• Janet Penner-Williams, University of Arkansas

• Rebecca Carpenter de Cortina, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville