Teaching English Language Learners in Secondary Subject Matter Classes

The focus of this review paper is on the assessment of English Language Learners (ELLs) and the ways in which the language gap negatively influences ELLs in classroom assessments. The research body provides an outline of differentiated instruction and assessment highlighting the primary obstacles that hinder ELLs from achieving success in various classroom assessments. It explains the importance of addressing the language gap due to its wide-reaching impact. Additionally, it underscores the significance of differentiating instruction and scaffolding assessment to accommodate language, culture, and previous educational experience. This consideration is especially crucial as assessment results may be biased or inaccurate if these factors are not taken into account. Finally, the paper discusses several strategies that teachers can implement to enhance their instruction and assessment methods.

The paper intends to discuss English Language teachers' and students' perceptions and preferences toward English Language Teaching and Learning through online or virtual classes. The COVID 19 outbreak and the nationwide lockdown created a new set of environments for all. All educational institutions were closed down to prevent the widespread of the virus as a result the teaching and learning activities were disrupted extensively. All sorts of activities, including teaching and learning, were being carried out through online mode. Traditional classroom teachings shifted to online classroom teaching in order to continue with teaching and learning practices. The online mode of teaching became an effective strategy to continue the teaching and learning process without any interruption. The closure of educational institutions affected a large number of students. The abrupt change in teaching and learning methods impacted both the teachers as well as students. The main purpose of the study was to examine the perception and preferences of learners and teachers towards online learning and teaching. The study adopted the questionnaire method, and the data were collected from undergraduate students (Currently in B.A Third Semester) of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Madhya Pradesh by sending a questionnaire to participants' email ids. The English language teachers and students were selected for the present study. English language course is taught at this university as a compulsory subject for first-semester undergraduate students. Two questionnaires, one for the teachers' group and another for the students' group, were prepared to know the opinion of both the participant groups. The study reveals that students are more satisfied with face-to-face teaching than the online mode. All learners believe that learning and speaking English is an advantage, but they prefer classroom teaching over online. Similarly, the teachers’ group also showed their preferences for offline teaching over online teaching. The present paper elaborates on the findings of the present study.

This qualitative research study focuses on English language learners who are continuing their education in the U.S. high schools and examines their translanguaging in the classroom. When students are learning a second language, they use their linguistic repertoire and their knowledge in English and their native language for negotiation of meaning. In order to gain a better understanding of the students' translanguaging, one ESL teacher and 10 ESL students were interviewed and observed in a classroom. The ESL students spoke Arabic as their native language and had beginning to intermediate proficiency levels. The findings of the study showed that English language learners use various strategies to make the content comprehensible by making connections between their knowledge in their L1 and L2.

이 연구에서는 사례연구를 통해 중등 초임 과학영재교육 담당교사의 코티칭 과정에서 나타나는 과학수업 반성의 특징을 조사했다. 중등 과학영재교육 경력이 5년 미만인 초임 교사 2인을 선정하여 총 3회에 걸친 9차시의 과학영재수업을 공동으로 계획, 진행, 평가하도록 했다. 두 교사의 모든 코티칭 과학영재수업을 참관했고, 반성대화 전사본과 반성일지를 Davis(2006)가 제안한 '생산적 반성'의 관점에서 분석했다. 연구 결과, 자료의 종류 및 수업 차수에 관계없이 두 교사의 수업 반성 과정에서 모두 '과학영재 교수전략 및 지도'와 '과학영재학생' 측면이 비교적 많았다. 두 측면보다 적긴 했지만 '과학영재 교육과정' 측면에 대한 반성의 빈도도 낮지 않았다. 그러나 '과학내용지식'과 '과학영재교육 평가' 측면에 대한 반성은 매우 적었다. 통합 수준에 대한 결과에서는 두 교사의 반성 과정에서 과학영재수업의 5가지 측면 중 2~4가지 측면이 다양한 형태로 통합되어 있었다. 특히 '과학영재 교수전략 및 지도'나 '과학영재학생' 측면과 다른 측면이 통합된 경우가 많았다. 이런 경향은 과학영재교육 경험이 더 많은 교사에게서 강하게 나타났으며, 이 교사의 경우에는 '과학내용지식'과 다른 측면이 통합된 경우도 적지 않게 나타났다. This study investigated secondary beginning science-gifted education teachers' reflection on their science teaching through coteaching with the case study. We selected two beginning teachers whose teaching careers in secondary science-gifted education were less than five years. The teachers planned, performed, and reflected together their science teaching for science-gifted students during nine class hours over three times. We observed their science classes through coteaching, and analyzed the transcripts for reflective discussions between them and their reflective journals in terms of 'productive reflection,' a concept suggested by Davis (2006). The results revealed that the aspects of 'instructional strategies and instruction for science-gifted education' and 'science-gifted students' were most frequently included in their reflection processes on science teaching, regardless of the type of data and the class time. 'Curriculum for science-gifted education' were also frequently included although fewer than two previous aspects. However, 'subject matter knowledge' and 'assessment' was hardly included. Two to four aspects among five aspects of the science teaching for science-gifted students were variously integrated in their reflection processes. Especially, the integrations between 'instructional strategies and instruction for science-gifted education' or 'sciencegifted students' and the other aspects were most frequent, and this tendency was stronger in more experienced teacher in science-gifted education. The integrations between 'subject matter knowledge' and the other aspects were often included in the more experienced teacher's reflection processes.

The prime aim of the study was to investigate and understand first-year pre-engineering students’ perceptions about mathematics teachers’ knowledge and instruction. A case study method was employed as a mode of inquiry and a Likert-type survey for data collection. Participants included 158 first-year pre-engineering students and five mathematics teachers from Assosa University, Ethiopia. IBM SPSS statistics 20 was used to analyze the quantitative survey data, and open-ended qualitative questions were analyzed by creating common themes. The mean score for each category of teachers’ knowledge was computed. Accordingly, the higher mean was obtained for subject matter knowledge, and the lower mean was obtained for instructional representation and strategies category. The study revealed that students believe their teachers’ subject matter knowledge is constructive. Students have confidence in their teachers’ subject matter knowledge. However, students also believe that their teachers’ teaching methods and overall instructional strategy should be improved. Finally, we proposed that students’ evaluation of their teachers’ knowledge can develop higher education teachers’ professional growth to improve engineering students’ mathematics teaching and learning.

The number of English Language Learners (ELLs) is increasing rapidly in American schools, and mostly, they are enrolled in mainstream classes. This means that mainstream teachers have an important role in the academic success of these students. However, research on mainstream teachers and ELL students suggests that mainstream teachers may have negative perceptions of ELLs, and they may use the wrong approach to teaching these students, owing to their lack of knowledge in ELL education. This study aims to demonstrate how online classes on ELL education, and developing online communities of practice, might change mainstream teachers' methods of instruction of ELLs. The results showed that mainstream teachers significantly changed their perceptions and instructional strategies for teaching ELLs as a result of taking online classes, and particularly, online discussions had an important role in this change of perception. Some implications for developing online ELL education courses for pre-service and in-service teachers are also provided.

Experiential learning theory places experience at the center of learning. Kolb’s four-stage cycle of experiential learning suggests that effective learners must engage fully in each stage of the cycle – feeling, reflection, thinking, and action. This research assesses the alignment of Kolb’s experiential learning cycle with the week-long Summer Institute of Assisting, Collaborating, and Training ESL Secondary Content Teachers (ACT-ESL), the first stage of a professional development model designed to train content teachers of English Language Learners (ELLs). Qualitative and quantitative data analysis from pre- and post-surveys determined positive changes in participants’ understanding of key ELL concepts, knowledge, and understanding of instructional strategies and practices. Analysis indicated that the Summer Institute had a large effect (d > 2.00 for each scale), regardless of previous training in ELL instructional strategies. Findings show that the Summer Institute incorporated the cycle of learning and tenets of Kolb’s experiential learning theory and evidenced teacher learning.

We conducted a short subject matter knowledge-based intervention in a quasi-experimental design and explored whether providing health-related subject matter knowledge affects university students’ risk perception and their behavioural intentions. We chose the everyday context of using antiperspirants that contain aluminium and focused on the presumption that antiperspirants facilitate Alzheimer’s disease development. This study was devoted to a risk perception gap caused by the epistemic and ontological uncertainty involved in the contextual background of using antiperspirants and developing Alzheimer’s disease . By computing repeated measures ANOVA, we found that imparting subject matter knowledge as system, action-related and effectiveness health knowledge increased students’ cognitive and affective risk perception. Path analyses revealed that cognitive and affective risk perception had an indirect, negative effect on behavioural intentions towards using antiperspirants. Attitudes and perceived behavioural control fully mediated the relationship between risk perception and intention. The mediation effect differed between students who received subject matter knowledge and students who did not. We discuss the findings from our study related to the role of subject matter knowledge for understanding risk perception, the ambiguity of overcoming and creating a risk perception gap when uncertainty holds and how risk perception relates to attitudes and behavioural intention.

Relations between teachers’ subject matter knowledge, teaching experience and their mental models of children’s minds and learning

To explore whether teaching English-language learners (ELLs) with an emphasis on English story problems is appropriate, we compared the performance of a group of Latino first graders when working in Spanish and in English on two equivalent sets of story problems. The students’ performance was slightly higher in English than in Spanish but lower than monolingual students from other studies. ELLs’ success in English indicated that the children's knowledge of conversational English was sufficient to comprehend story problems, leading us to conclude that teaching through story problems is a viable approach with ELLs.

Children with intellectual disabilities have difficulties in language acquisition and learning in general and therefore demands specialized and effective instructional strategies. For this reason, the purpose of this study was to examine effectiveness of integrating drawing, as a specialized instruction, in teaching English Language to children with intellectual disabilities. Quasi-experiment was employed with which pre-test and post-test of both control and experimental groups were analyzed. The results saw the experimental group performing better in the post-test results as compared to the control group, proving that integrating drawing in teaching English Language is an effective instructional strategy. Therefore, the researchers recommend that teachers and other educational implementers working with children with intellectual disabilities should consider integrating drawing in teaching and learning of English Language.

This study documents how an urban high school science teacher engaged her English Language Learners (ELLs) in the discourse-intensive science and engineering practices of (1) arguing from evidence and (2) obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information. The teacher taught an introductory integrated science course to classes with a large percentage (44%) of students who spoke Spanish as their first language. We investigated the instructional strategies this teacher used to support her ELLs in the practices of argumentation and communication, and the ways ELLs constructed and communicated claims, evidence, and reasons in whole class and small group settings as a result. From qualitative analyses of teacher interviews, classroom interactions, and student products, we found that the teacher routinely implemented three types of instructional supports to help ELL students argue from evidence and communicate information: primary language support (although she herself was not fluent in Spanish), deliberate scaffolds, and small group instruction. Further, given these multiple opportunities for engagement, we found that ELLs experienced both successes and challenges participating in class, crafting arguments from evidence, and reading and producing written texts: While ELL students constructed aspects of arguments in small groups, the substance of their discussions was not necessarily reflected in their whole class participation or written products. Taken together, our findings emphasize the need to more closely attend to the teaching and learning of discourse in science. We end with ways to strengthen both research on and teaching of science for ELLs. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 51: 31–64, 2014

Nationwide, K–12 students designated as English language learners (ELLs) must learn both language and content simultaneously, and ELLs score far below the national average in math achievement. Many educators have suggested that identifying or developing teachers with skills specific to ELLs’ instructional needs may be critical to addressing this challenge. This study seeks to identify the characteristics and learning experiences of general education teachers who are differentially effective at promoting math achievement among ELLs compared to non-ELLs. Our analyses indicate that individual teachers can learn specific skills that make them more effective with ELL students. In particular, prior experience teaching ELLs predicts improvements in novice teachers’ differential instructional effectiveness with ELLs. We also find that both in-service and pre-service training focused on ELL-specific instructional strategies are associated with higher differential gains for ELLs. Our findings lend support t...

This book is written for K-12 teachers and educators to understand the school experiences and life journeys of the English Language Learners (ELLs) through four Chinese ELLs by documenting their transitional experiences into an American school.Traditionally, Chinese students are perceived as the model minority in American schools who are academically successful. Yet, this book provides a new perspective by documenting the life journey and school experiences of the four Chinese ELLs. The book gives a detailed account of the four ELLs in transition from Chinese language and culture into American school and culture. Interview, observation, and documentary data at their homes and American school reflect this transitional journey. The book helps K-12 teachers and educators understand that Chinese students also come from different family backgrounds and have different previous schooling experiences. This will help teachers and educators better working with Chinese and all ELLs who adapt the new school environment.This book is reader-friendly and carefully crafted with six chapters. Each chapter focuses on one Chinese ELL with genuine research data. The book begins with an introduction to provide basic information of the four ELLs and concludes with the final chapter that provides an update on the ELL students.This book can also be used as reading texts by college students in teacher education and training programs. The book is targeted for the TESOL organizations. The TESOL has one of the largest memberships with over 12,000 members representing 156 countries (TESOL Brochure, 2017). This book also benefits various attendees of professional education conferences.

This study investigated the development of prospective elementary teachers (PETs)’ subject matter and pedagogical content knowledge for teaching early algebra through participation in case discussions. PETs attended five weeks of intervention as part of a method course, which included case discussions. During the intervention, the participants were presented with big ideas of equivalence and equations, generalized arithmetic, and functional thinking as the content of early algebra through text-based classroom cases. Data were collected through one-hour individual interviews before and after the early algebra lessons. The analysis of the pre-interviews indicated that prospective elementary teachers may not be ready to foster algebraic thinking in elementary grades in terms of the required knowledge for teaching. We found that PETs needed more development of required subject matter knowledge to guide algebraic thinking in elementary grades, such as the relational meaning of the equal sign, generalizing, representing, or justifying arithmetic or functional relationships, and reasoning with them. Likewise, PETs were found to lack in pedagogical content knowledge related to students’ conceptions and misconceptions and effective teaching strategies to promote early algebraic thinking. However, we found that specifically designed method courses could help develop PETs’ knowledge of teaching early algebra. Following early algebra lessons centered around case discussions, PETs showed progress in multiple aspects of knowledge across all big ideas, though their improvement in generalized arithmetic was somewhat less pronounced. This progress was observed in their subject matter and pedagogical content knowledge.