An Examination of an English Language Development Professional Learning Community

Autor/in	Vargas, Lilia A.
Titel	An Examination of an English Language Development Professional Learning Community
Quelle	(2012), (153 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit Ed.D. Dissertation, California State University, Fullerton
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
ISBN	978-1-2676-1764-4
Schlagwörter	Hochschulschrift; Dissertation; English (Second Language); Pedagogical Content Knowledge; Knowledge Level; Curriculum Development; Individualized Instruction; Language Arts; Administrator Attitudes; Teacher Attitudes; Teacher Collaboration; Educational Practices; Constructivism (Learning); Questionnaires; Focus Groups; Classroom Observation Techniques; Expectation; English Language Learners; California + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Thesis; Dissertations; Academic thesis; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Pädagogische Kompetenz; Wissensbasis; Curriculum; Development; Curriculumentwicklung; Lehrplan; Entwicklung; Individualisierender Unterricht; Sprachkultur; Lehrerverhalten; Lehrerkooperation; Bildungspraxis; Fragebogen; Expectancy; Erwartung; Kalifornien
Abstract	California has the largest enrollment and fastest growing population of English Language Learners (ELLs) in the country. Just as ELLs enter school with diverse academic, linguistic, cultural, and social assets, teachers also enter the classroom with varying levels of preparation, skills, experiences, and knowledge about how to meet the cultural and linguistic needs of this student group. Despite the busyness of a school and daily interaction with others, teachers may find themselves feeling isolated once they step into their classrooms. The purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge, skills, and perceptions of a select group of school leaders within the English Language Development Curriculum Improvement Team (ELD CIT). The ELD CIT represented a cross section of school leaders across the district and operated as a Professional Learning Community (PLC). The following questions guided the study: (a) what was the knowledge base of teachers and administrators who participated in the ELD CIT with regard to differentiating instruction in Language Arts for ELLs? (b) how did perceptions about ELD and ELLs influence the ELD CIT participants' instructional practices? and (c) how were teachers' knowledge and perceptions used in the development of the ELD CIT professional learning community? Through the use of a constructivist framework, questionnaires, focus group interviews, classroom observations, artifacts, observation field notes, and analysis, the following five themes emerged: (a) participants held affirmative views about their ELLS and held high expectations about their students' abilities to learn, (b) participants acquired the knowledge and learned specific instructional strategies that allowed them to differentiate instruction for their ELLs, (c) the collaborative model of the ELD CIT strengthened and validated their abilities to provide effective instruction to their ELLs, (d) a culture of appreciation characterized the climate of the ELD CIT and participants' classrooms, and (e) there is the need for all teachers to have the opportunity to participate in this type of collaboration in order to share ideas, knowledge, experiences, and expertise. The implications of these findings supported the need for school leaders to engage in meaningful conversations about ELLs and their linguistic and cultural needs at a local and state level. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.] (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10