ELL Strategies for Mainstreamed Students

(Grades 6-12) / Flex Course

PDI Course Number: 118T02 / UCSD Course Number: EDUC40275


Course Description

As the student population becomes increasingly diverse, do you find yourself wondering how to best help the influx of English language learners in your own classroom? English language learners, also known as ELLs, are the fastest growing group of students over the past two decades, and while there are plenty of programs and resources available to them in the elementary grades, the fact is that these resources tend to dwindle at the middle and high school levels. This online course for teachers is designed for educators in grades 6-12 who wish to explore how to better help these students succeed academically, while simultaneously supporting their cultural heritage as well as their social and emotional well-being. Teachers will learn specific strategies to best support ELLs on their path to the acquisition of a new language. Teachers will take a deep dive into how culture affects the acquisition of a new language, and they will learn a variety of culturally responsive teaching strategies to support their English language learners. This course examines best practices for supporting and scaffolding ELLs in the areas of vocabulary, English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Teachers will learn how having a growth mindset favorably affects ELLs’ forward progress with language acquisition, and they will be introduced to a number of different strategies to assess these learners, both formally and informally. By the end of this continuing education course, teachers will feel far more comfortable teaching their English language learners. This online professional development course is worth 3 ⅓ semester units/5 quarter units (50 hours of training) from University of California San Diego (UCSD) Division of Extended Studies. For detailed information on receiving university credit for your PDI professional development course, visit our credit page.

Need help? Kimya Nabavi, PDI Program Coordinator, is ready to assist.

"This course was wonderful. There is so much information with the book, the articles, videos and online links. This is my third ELL course and I have learned so much." - Sharon Wholey


Enrollment Options

Course Only

$127 with the discount

Course with Credit from UCSD

$323 with the discount

This course is worth 3 ⅓ semester units or 5 quarter units of graduate-level credit from UCSD.

You have up to one year from the date you are enrolled to complete a flex course.


View the online course syllabus.

Print our customized course approval form to share with your school district.


TOPICAL OUTLINE

UCSD Course Number: EDUC40275

Unit One

  • ELL Student Profiles
  • The Path to Learning a New Language
  • Sociocultural Aspects of Language Acquisition
  • Assignment #1: Write an autobiography
  • Test #1

Unit Two

  • ELL Teaching Models
  • Types of ELL Instruction
  • Incorporating Culturally-Responsive Teaching Practices into the ELL Classroom
  • Assignment #2: Article reflection
  • Test #2

Unit Three

  • WIDA CAN DO Descriptors
  • General ELL Strategies
  • Vocabulary Strategies
  • Assignment #3: Share your expertise
  • Test #3

Unit Four

  • ELA Strategies
  • Mathematics Strategies
  • Science Strategies
  • Social Studies Strategies
  • Test #4

Unit Five

  • Growth Mindset
  • Formal Assessment of English Language Learners
  • Informal Assessment of English Language Learners
  • Test #5

Unit Six

  • The Role of Home Language and Culture
  • The Importance of Communication
  • Embracing Families as Partners
  • Assignment #4: Reflect on your classroom makeup and then design lesson plans that utilize strategies from the course
  • Assignment #5: Course Reflection

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