Academic Success for English Learners from Coursera

This course is designed for early career teachers (0-3 years of experience) to build a solid foundation of knowledge and skills to work with English learners, no matter the age or subject taught. We’ll start off by learning about the importance of specialized instruction for ELs and principles that teachers should follow to set the stage for their academic. Next, we’ll expand on the concepts from module 1 and explore practical steps for teachers in the classroom, including how to make linguistic and instructional accommodations for ELs. We take a deeper dive into techniques for teachers and present strategies for students to bolster their own academic success in module 3. The course wraps up with module 4, which is all about facilitating academic success for special groups of English learners, including gifted students, long-term English learners, and ELs with disabilities.

Throughout this course, you will watch instructional videos, read scholarly articles, participate in discussion boards, and complete assignments that will encourage you to think about your practices as a teacher of ELs. Finally, you will complete this course with a treasure trove of practical classroom activities and tips for fostering academic success with English learners.

By participating in this course, teachers will be better prepared to serve the English learners in their classrooms through sheltered instruction principles, effective lesson planning and assessment practices, purposefully reflecting on teaching, and understanding the unique challenges faced by this group of students.

What's inside

Syllabus

Setting the Stage for Success

In Module 1, you will learn how to set the stage for academic success for English Learners. You’ll be introduced to the fundamentals of sheltered instruction. We'll explore factors that may affect the foundation of an EL’s academic success such as the classroom affective filter, engaging ELs’ families in their education and teacher expectations. You will be able identify the key components of a quality lesson plan within a sheltered instruction model. We wrap up the module by reflecting on your own experiences writing lesson plans for ELs and engaging their families. Learners will be required to evaluated a sheltered instruction lesson plan for best practices.

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

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Focuses on providing best practices and scaffolding for teachers working with English learners across all subjects

Led by experienced instructors with strong foundational knowledge in English language teaching, theory, and practice

Designed specifically for early career teachers looking to develop their skills in meeting the unique needs of English learners

Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and practices of sheltered instruction, an effective approach for teaching English learners

Covers a range of topics, including creating a supportive learning environment, adapting lesson plans, and providing appropriate assessments

Offers practical strategies and techniques for teachers to use in their classrooms, such as metacognitive and language learning strategies

Reviews summary

Practical strategies for english learner success

According to learners, this course is a highly practical and invaluable resource for early career teachers working with English Learners. Students praise its ability to provide a solid foundation in sheltered instruction principles and equip them with immediately applicable strategies for the classroom. Many found the lectures clear and engaging, and the assignments helped them reflect meaningfully on their teaching practices. While some more experienced educators noted it offers foundational rather than advanced techniques, the course is exceptionally well-suited for its intended audience, covering essential topics including linguistic accommodations, assessment, and supporting special groups of ELs.

Clear instructional videos and well-structured, engaging content.

"The instructor explained complex topics in an accessible way."

"The videos were clear and the assignments helped me reflect on my practices."

"The lectures were engaging, and the readings supplemented them well."

Covers strategies for gifted, long-term, and disabled English Learners.

"The module on special groups was particularly enlightening. I feel much more confident now."

"The segments on gifted ELs were something I hadn't seen elsewhere."

"I appreciated the specific guidance on supporting long-term English learners and those with disabilities."

Ideal for educators with limited experience with English Learners.

"Highly recommend for new teachers!"

"It's definitely for those new to teaching ELs."

"While the course covered important ground, I found it a bit too basic for my needs as an experienced teacher. It's a good start for someone completely new..."

Provides a solid and comprehensive overview of EL instruction.

"As an early career teacher, I found this course invaluable. It really laid out a solid foundation for working with English learners."

"The course provided a strong framework for understanding EL academic success."

"It offered me a comprehensive overview of EL instruction that was easy to follow."

Offers actionable tips and activities for teaching English Learners.

"This course was incredibly practical and relevant to my daily teaching. The strategies for differentiating instruction for ELs were immediately applicable."

"Absolutely brilliant! Every teacher needs to take this. The actionable steps and specific techniques for teachers and students were incredibly useful."

"I learned how to use practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work with English learners."

Some minor issues like repetitive discussions or dated examples.

"Some of the discussion board prompts felt a little repetitive by the end, but overall a positive experience."

"My only minor critique is that some of the video examples felt a little dated, but the principles are timeless."

"I found a few of the materials could benefit from a refresh, but the core concepts remain strong."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Academic Success for English Learners with these activities:

Volunteer at a Local Organization Supporting English Learners

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Gain practical experience and contribute to the community while supporting the language learning of English learners.

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Identify local organizations or programs that provide services to English learners
Contact the organizations and inquire about volunteer opportunities
Assist English learners with language practice, homework help, or other support services

Connect with Experienced Mentors in the Field

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Seek guidance and support from experienced professionals to enhance your knowledge and skills in teaching English learners.

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Identify experienced teachers, administrators, or researchers in the field of English language teaching
Reach out to potential mentors and request their guidance
Schedule regular meetings or communication to seek advice and support

Read Academic Articles on Language Learning Approaches

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Build a stronger foundation for understanding the theories and principles behind teaching English learners.

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Identify 5 peer-reviewed academic articles on language learning approaches
Read and summarize the key findings and implications of each article

Five other activities

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Gather Resources and Materials for Teaching English Learners

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Create a comprehensive collection of resources and materials that you can use to support the language learning of your students.

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Identify websites, databases, and other resources that provide materials for teaching English learners
Download and organize relevant resources, such as lesson plans, activities, and videos

Explore Online Resources for Lesson Planning in Sheltered Instruction

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Gain practical knowledge and skills in planning effective sheltered instruction lessons.

Browse courses on Lesson Planning

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Create an account on a reputable educational platform (e.g., Coursera, edX)
Enroll in a guided tutorial course or watch videos on lesson planning for sheltered instruction
Complete assignments and practice activities to reinforce your learning

Participate in Online Forums to Discuss Classroom Strategies

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Engage with other teachers to share experiences, ask questions, and gain new perspectives on teaching English learners.

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Join online forums or discussion groups for teachers of English learners
Participate in discussions, asking questions and sharing your own insights
Reflect on what you learn from others and incorporate new ideas into your teaching

Develop a Lesson Plan that Incorporates Strategies for Diverse Learners

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Apply your knowledge to create a practical lesson plan that caters to the diverse learning needs of English learners in your classroom.

Browse courses on Lesson Planning

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Choose a specific English language learning topic or skill
Research and identify appropriate strategies for teaching the topic to English learners
Develop a detailed lesson plan that incorporates differentiated instruction
Implement the lesson plan in your classroom and reflect on its effectiveness

Create Accommodation Plans for Students with Diverse Learning Needs

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Develop your skills in creating tailored accommodation plans that meet the unique learning styles and needs of English learners.

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Identify different learning disabilities and challenges that English learners may face
Practice creating accommodation plans for specific scenarios and case studies
Get feedback from peers or experts on your accommodation plans

Career center

Learners who complete Academic Success for English Learners will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

ELL Program Coordinator

An ELL Program Coordinator oversees and manages English language learning programs for schools or districts. This course may be helpful to those interested in becoming ELL Program Coordinators as it will introduce the principles of sheltered instruction, as well as effective assessment practices for ELs.

See salaries and explore the career path for ELL Program Coordinator

TESOL Teacher

A TESOL Teacher teaches English to students who are not native English speakers. This course may be useful for those interested in becoming a TESOL Teacher, in that it will provide a solid foundation of the principles and strategies for working with ELs.

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Instructional Designer

An Instructional Designer creates and develops educational materials and programs to facilitate learning. The principles of sheltered instruction, as well as the focus on practical classroom accommodations for ELs, may be useful to those looking to become Instructional Designers.

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Literacy Coach

A Literacy Coach provides support and guidance to teachers to help improve their literacy instruction. This course may be useful for those who want to become Literacy Coaches in that it will help them to build a foundation for understanding the principles of sheltered instruction and effective assessment practices for ELs.

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Gifted and Talented Teacher

A Gifted and Talented Teacher works with students who are identified as gifted or talented to provide them with challenging and enriching learning experiences. This course may be useful for those interested in becoming a Gifted and Talented Teacher, as it will help them to build a foundation for understanding the principles of sheltered instruction and effective assessment practices for ELs.

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Bilingual Teacher

A Bilingual Teacher teaches core academic subjects to students in two languages, allowing them to continue developing their native language while learning English. The sheltered instruction principles introduced in this course may be helpful to Bilingual Teachers.

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Language Arts Teacher

A Language Arts Teacher develops and implements lesson plans to teach students reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. The principles of sheltered instruction and the focus on practical classroom accommodations for ELS may be of great use to Language Arts Teachers.

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Special Education Teacher

A Special Education Teacher works with students who have disabilities to provide individualized instruction and support. This course may be useful for Special Education Teachers, as it will provide an overview of principles and strategies for assessing and supporting ELs with disabilities.

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Educational Consultant

An Educational Consultant provides support and guidance to schools and other educational institutions to help improve their educational practices. This course may be helpful in providing the foundation for supporting and guiding ELs, as well as teachers who work with them.

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Adult Education Teacher

An Adult Education Teacher works with adults to help them improve their literacy and numeracy skills. This course may be useful for Adult Education Teachers, as it will help them to build a foundation for working with ELs.

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Educational Researcher

An Educational Researcher conducts research to improve educational practices and policies. This course may be useful for those interested in becoming an Educational Researcher, as it will provide them with an overview of principles and strategies for assessing and supporting ELs.

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Curriculum Developer

A Curriculum Developer designs and develops educational materials and programs. This course may be useful for those interested in a career in Curriculum Development in that it will help them to understand principles of effective lesson planning for English learners.

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School Administrator

A School Administrator manages the operations of a school and provides leadership to teachers and staff. An understanding of the principles and strategies for supporting English learners may be useful for School Administrators to effectively lead their schools.

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Higher Education Instructor

A Higher Education Instructor teaches courses at a college or university. This course may be useful for those interested in becoming a Higher Education Instructor, as it will provide them with an overview of principles and strategies for assessing and supporting ELs in higher education.

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ESL Teacher

An ESL Teacher works with non-native English speakers to help them learn and improve their English language skills. This course may be useful in helping one to build a foundation for working with English learners in order to set the stage for their academic sucess.

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