Lesson Planning with the ELL in Mind from Coursera

In this course you will learn how to design lesson plans around the needs of your ELL students and their language level through the analysis of content language and cognitive demands. You will learn how to align language objectives to the adopted standards of your school and content area. You will learn how to modify existing course materials as well as develop graphic organizers and languages frames to support ELLs’ access to content. Analysis of second language acquisition theories will be applied to lesson planning.

Upon completing this course, you will be able to:

* Conceptualize theories of second language acquisition as they apply to the planning of lessons through annotation

* Assess the linguistic needs of your students using BICS and CALP

* Identify content specific vocabulary, grammatical structures, and language functions necessary for a student to succeed in your

classroom

* Write language learning outcomes that align to your student’s linguistic and cognitive ability and your school’s adopted

standards

* Adapt a lesson plan that accomplishes the learning outcomes outlined in the lesson objectives

* Modify materials to support ELLs’ access to content

* Use a wide variety of graphic organizer templates and language frames to support ELLs’ access to content

* Develop activity types appropriate to the cognitive and linguistic abilities of ELLs

* Incorporate community and culture into lesson planning

What's inside

Syllabus

ELL Language and Communication Skills Across the Curriculum

Welcome to week 1! This module is very important as it introduces you to the basics of second language acquisition. By the end of this module, you will be able to: conceptualize theories of SLA as they apply to ELL students in your mainstream classrooms, assess your student’s language skills and abilities using BICS and CALP, classify vocabulary types specific to your content, identify grammar structures specific to your content, identify language functions specific to your content and strategically pre-plan vocabulary and language functions necessary for lessons in your mainstream classroom. Lots to learn! Let's get started!

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what should give you pause

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Examines theories of second language acquisition and uses them to design lesson plans that meet the needs of ELL students at varying language levels

The course aligns with teachers' needs by offering strategies for adapting lesson plans and materials to provide linguistic accessibility for ELL students

Develops lesson planning skills by teaching how to write learning outcomes, plan activities, select materials, and incorporate community and culture

Incorporates practical examples through the provision of fully developed lesson plans with analysis of their strengths in supporting ELL students

Emphasizes the importance of strategic planning by providing criteria for selecting and adapting materials that meet the input and cognition demands of ELL students

Reviews summary

Practical lesson planning for ells

According to learners, this course is a highly valuable resource for teachers working with English Language Learners. Students praise the focus on practical strategies and the useful templates and materials provided, such as graphic organizers and language frames, which they found could be immediately applied in their classrooms. The course effectively links second language acquisition theory with concrete lesson planning techniques, providing a solid and actionable foundation for adapting lessons. While some experienced educators might seek more advanced content, the course is widely seen as providing clear, relevant tools and a manageable structure, making it essential for educators seeking to support their ELL students effectively.

Workload is significant but manageable.

"The workload was significant but felt fair and appropriate for the depth of content covered each week."

"It definitely took dedicated time each week, especially for the assignments, but I found it manageable alongside my job."

"Balancing the course material and assignments with full-time teaching was challenging at times, but doable."

"I spent a few focused hours per week on the materials and completing the assignments."

Assessments test practical application.

"The assignments, particularly the final project, felt highly relevant to actual lesson planning I do for my students."

"The assessments effectively tested my understanding of how to apply the concepts learned throughout the modules."

"The peer review process was surprisingly helpful for getting constructive feedback on my drafted lesson plan."

Effectively links SLA theory to practical planning.

"The connection between Second Language Acquisition theory and its application to lesson planning was very clear and well-explained."

"Understanding concepts like BICS and CALP in the first week really helped frame how I should assess my students' linguistic needs."

"The course did a great job blending theoretical background with practical steps for the classroom."

"It wasn't just theory; it showed me *how* to use the theory to make better lesson plans."

Provides a strong foundation in ELL lesson planning.

"This course is perfect for teachers who are new to working with ELLs or need a solid refresher."

"I feel much more confident in my ability to plan lessons that meet the needs of my diverse learners after taking this."

"It provides a great starting point and comprehensive overview for adapting my existing lessons."

"For an introductory course, the coverage felt comprehensive and relevant to my teaching context."

Provides valuable templates and examples.

"The graphic organizer templates and language frames provided are fantastic resources I will use regularly."

"I appreciated the detailed examples of modified materials; they were insightful and easy to adapt."

"The resources given were truly helpful for designing inclusive lessons from scratch."

"The provided templates and examples were practical and saved me a lot of time."

Provides immediately applicable strategies for teaching ELLs.

"I can immediately apply the strategies learned to my classroom practice."

"The techniques for adapting materials and language scaffolding are incredibly useful for my students."

"Gave me concrete tools and methods to help my ELL students access content more effectively."

"This course gave me practical, actionable steps I could implement right away in my lessons."

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 Lesson Planning with the ELL in Mind with these activities:

Gather resources to support ELLs in the classroom

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Gather resources such as graphic organizers, websites, and videos to support ELLs in the classroom.

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Identify the needs of your students
Find resources that meet those needs
Organize the resources in a way that is easy to access

Read "Teaching English Language Learners" by Thomas and Collier

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Read "Teaching English Language Learners" by Thomas and Collier to gain a deeper understanding of the theories and practices of teaching ELLs.

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Purchase or borrow the book
Read the book
Take notes on the key concepts
Apply the concepts to your own teaching

Attend a workshop on teaching ELLs

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Attend a workshop to learn more about the specific needs of ELLs and how to best support them in the classroom.

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Find a workshop that meets your needs
Register for the workshop
Attend the workshop
Implement what you learned in the workshop in your classroom

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Practice identifying key language skills of ELLs

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Practice identifying key language skills of ELLs such as BICS and CALP to better scaffold instruction in your class.

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Review the concept of BICS and CALP
Identify examples of BICS and CALP in your content area
Create a plan for how you will scaffold instruction for ELLs in your classroom

Develop a lesson plan that incorporates the needs of ELLs

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Develop a lesson plan that incorporates the needs of ELLs by including modified materials, graphic organizers, and language frames.

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Choose a lesson topic
Identify the language skills of your ELLs
Plan activities that will meet the needs of your ELLs
Create modified materials, graphic organizers, and language frames
Implement the lesson plan

Mentor a new teacher who is teaching ELLs

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Provide guidance and support to a new teacher who is teaching ELLs by sharing your own experiences and knowledge.

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Find a new teacher who is teaching ELLs
Offer to mentor the teacher
Meet with the teacher regularly to provide guidance and support

Contribute to an open-source project related to ELL education

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Contribute to the development of open-source resources by creating or updating materials for teaching ELLs.

Show steps

Find an open-source project that you are interested in contributing to
Create or update materials for teaching ELLs
Submit your contributions to the project

Career center

Learners who complete Lesson Planning with the ELL in Mind will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Education Administrator

An Education Administrator helps to manage a school or other educational institution. As an Education Administrator, you will need skills in lesson planning, curriculum development, and working with students. The course you have mentioned will indeed be beneficial in your career growth as the training you shall receive in language learning outcomes will help you provide clear and effective instruction to students. You will also learn how to modify existing course materials as well as develop graphic organizers and languages frames to support ELLs’ access to content. As someone who will be working in an environment with diverse cultures, knowledge of various languages will provide you with an edge in effective communication.

See salaries and explore the career path for Education Administrator

Curriculum Developer

A Curriculum Developer creates and implements educational programs and curricula. As a Curriculum Developer, you will need skills in lesson planning, curriculum development, and assessment. The course you have mentioned will be of great use to you as you will learn how to design lesson plans around the needs of your ELL students and their language level through the analysis of content language and cognitive demands. You will also be able to modify existing course materials as well as develop graphic organizers and languages frames to support ELLs’ access to content.

See salaries and explore the career path for Curriculum Developer

Language Arts Teacher

A Language Arts Teacher teaches students how to read, write, speak, and listen. As a Language Arts Teacher, you will need skills in lesson planning, classroom management, and assessment. The course you have mentioned will be very useful to you as you will learn how to design lesson plans around the needs of your ELL students and their language level through the analysis of content language and cognitive demands.

See salaries and explore the career path for Language Arts Teacher

TESOL Teacher

A TESOL Teacher teaches English to speakers of other languages. As a TESOL Teacher, you will need skills in lesson planning, classroom management, and assessment. The course you have mentioned will be very useful to you as you will learn how to design lesson plans around the needs of your ELL students and their language level through the analysis of content language and cognitive demands.

See salaries and explore the career path for TESOL Teacher

Adult Education Teacher

An Adult Education Teacher teaches academic or vocational skills to adults. As an Adult Education Teacher, you will need skills in lesson planning, classroom management, and assessment. The course you have mentioned may be useful to you as you will learn how to design lesson plans around the needs of your ELL students and their language level through the analysis of content language and cognitive demands.

See salaries and explore the career path for Adult Education Teacher

Instructional Designer

An Instructional Designer creates and develops instructional materials and programs. As an Instructional Designer, you will need skills in lesson planning, curriculum development, and assessment. The course you have mentioned may be useful to you as you will learn how to design lesson plans around the needs of your ELL students and their language level through the analysis of content language and cognitive demands.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Educational Consultant

An Educational Consultant provides advice and support to schools and other educational institutions. As an Educational Consultant, you will need skills in lesson planning, curriculum development, and assessment. The course you have mentioned may be useful to you as you will learn how to design lesson plans around the needs of your ELL students and their language level through the analysis of content language and cognitive demands.

See salaries and explore the career path for Educational Consultant

School Counselor

A School Counselor provides counseling and support to students in a school setting. As a School Counselor, you will need skills in counseling, crisis intervention, and assessment. The course you have mentioned may be useful to you as you will learn how to design lesson plans around the needs of your ELL students and their language level through the analysis of content language and cognitive demands.

See salaries and explore the career path for School Counselor

Social Worker

A Social Worker provides support and assistance to individuals and families. As a Social Worker, you will need skills in counseling, crisis intervention, and assessment. The course you have mentioned may be useful to you as you will learn how to design lesson plans around the needs of your ELL students and their language level through the analysis of content language and cognitive demands.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Speech-Language Pathologist

A Speech-Language Pathologist assesses and treats speech and language disorders. As a Speech-Language Pathologist, you will need skills in assessment, therapy, and counseling. The course you have mentioned may be useful to you as you will learn how to design lesson plans around the needs of your ELL students and their language level through the analysis of content language and cognitive demands.

See salaries and explore the career path for Speech-Language Pathologist

Occupational Therapist

An Occupational Therapist helps people to regain or improve their physical and cognitive skills. As an Occupational Therapist, you will need skills in assessment, therapy, and counseling. The course you have mentioned may be useful to you as you will learn how to design lesson plans around the needs of your ELL students and their language level through the analysis of content language and cognitive demands.

See salaries and explore the career path for Occupational Therapist

Physical Therapist

A Physical Therapist helps people to regain or improve their physical function. As a Physical Therapist, you will need skills in assessment, therapy, and counseling. The course you have mentioned may be useful to you as you will learn how to design lesson plans around the needs of your ELL students and their language level through the analysis of content language and cognitive demands.

See salaries and explore the career path for Physical Therapist

Recreational Therapist

A Recreational Therapist uses recreational activities to help people to improve their physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being. As a Recreational Therapist, you will need skills in assessment, therapy, and counseling. The course you have mentioned may be useful to you as you will learn how to design lesson plans around the needs of your ELL students and their language level through the analysis of content language and cognitive demands.

See salaries and explore the career path for Recreational Therapist

Rehabilitation Counselor

A Rehabilitation Counselor helps people with disabilities to regain or improve their physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being. As a Rehabilitation Counselor, you will need skills in assessment, therapy, and counseling. The course you have mentioned may be useful to you as you will learn how to design lesson plans around the needs of your ELL students and their language level through the analysis of content language and cognitive demands.

See salaries and explore the career path for Rehabilitation Counselor

School Psychologist

A School Psychologist provides psychological services to students in a school setting. As a School Psychologist, you will need skills in assessment, therapy, and counseling. The course you have mentioned may be useful to you as you will learn how to design lesson plans around the needs of your ELL students and their language level through the analysis of content language and cognitive demands.

See salaries and explore the career path for School Psychologist

Reading list

We've selected 12 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Lesson Planning with the ELL in Mind.

Measuring Second Language Pragmatic Competence

Save

Provides a comprehensive overview of second language acquisition theory and research. It valuable resource for teachers who want to understand the theoretical underpinnings of their work.

Measuring Second Language Pragmatic Competence: A...

Paperback

Measuring Second Language Pragmatic Competence: A...

Kindle Edition

Teaching English as a Second Or Foreign Language

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Provides a step-by-step guide to teaching English to speakers of other languages. It covers topics such as lesson planning, materials development, and assessment.

Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language,...

Paperback

$$$

Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language

Kindle Edition

$$$

Language Assessment

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Provides a comprehensive overview of language assessment principles and practices. It valuable resource for teachers who want to learn more about how to assess their students' language skills.

Language Assessment: Principles and Classroom...

Paperback

$$$

The Practice of English Language Teaching Book with...

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Provides a comprehensive guide to teaching English to speakers of other languages. It covers topics such as lesson planning, materials development, and assessment.

The Practice of English Language Teaching

Paperback

Love Letters to Poe

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Provides a practical guide to teaching English as a foreign language. It covers topics such as lesson planning, materials development, and assessment.

Love Letters to Poe: A Toast to Edgar Allan Poe

Kindle Edition

Contemporary Linguistics

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Provides a cognitive approach to second language acquisition. It valuable resource for teachers who want to understand how their students learn languages.

Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction (Learning...

Paperback

$$$$

Interpreting as Translanguaging

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Provides a comprehensive overview of language teaching theory and practice. It valuable resource for teachers who want to learn more about the latest research in the field.

Interpreting as Translanguaging: Theory, Research,...

Kindle Edition

How Languages Are Learned 5th Edition

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Provides a comprehensive overview of second language teaching and learning. It valuable resource for teachers who want to learn more about the latest research in the field.

How Languages are Learned 5th Edition (Oxford...

Paperback

How Languages Are Learned 5th Edition (Oxford...

Kindle Edition

Second Language Acquisition and Lifelong Learning

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Provides a comprehensive overview of second language acquisition theory and practice. It valuable resource for teachers who want to learn more about the latest research in the field.

Second Language Acquisition and Lifelong Learning...

Paperback

Second Language Acquisition and Lifelong Learning...

Kindle Edition

Task-Based Language Teaching

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Provides an introduction to the major theories in second language acquisition. It valuable resource for teachers who want to learn more about the theoretical underpinnings of their work.

Task-Based Language Teaching: Theory and Practice...

Kindle Edition

Psychology for Language Teachers

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Provides a comprehensive overview of second language learning and teaching. It valuable resource for teachers who want to learn more about the latest research in the field.

Psychology for Language Teachers: A Social...

Paperback

Les consciences réfractaires

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Provides a comprehensive overview of second language acquisition. It is written in French and valuable resource for teachers who want to learn more about the latest research in the field.

(Français) Les consciences réfractaires: Contre-histoire de la...

Kindle Edition

Lesson Planning with the ELL in Mind

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Practical lesson planning for ells

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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