Teaching learners of English in mainstream classrooms (K-8): one class, many paths

pt. 1. Language acquisition and language learning in the classroom

What do we know about first language acquisition?

What is the nature of the first language environment?

How is learning a second language in the classroom different from acquiring a first language?

What are factors affecting acquisition?

What strategies do ELLs use to acquire languages?

What can ELLs tell us about positive classroom environments and learning experiences?

pt. 2. Principles of integrated language teaching and learning

Activity-based language teaching and learning

Communicative teaching and learning

pt. 3. Reaching out to home and community

Teachers as cultural mediators

How do teachers connect to the homes and families of their students?

How can the school community support the education of English language learners?

How can the community outside the school support the education of ELLs?

pt. 4. Classroom management for integrated language learning

First things first: feeling ready to learn

Organizing the physical environment to promote language learning

Organizing the classroom social environment to promote language learning

Organizing instruction to promote language learning

pt. 5. Strategies for oral language development

Conditions for oral language learning

Academic language learning

Oral language development

Stages of oral language development

Teacher tools for oral language development

Assessing oral language development

pt. 6. Oral language development in the content classroom

Content learning and oral language development

Oral language development every which way

Listening in while not tuning out

Assessing listening and speaking skills in the content classroom

pt. 7. Developing literacy with English learners: focus on reading

What is literacy?

What is unique about English language learners who are developing literacy?

The language/literacy matrix

What tools and strategies can we provide to help ELLs develop literacy?

Issues in literacy development with older English learners

Assessing ELL literacy development

pt. 8. Developing literacy with English learners: focus on writing

Why teach writing with English learners?

How does writing develop with Ells?

Connecting writing to active, communicative language teaching and learning

Challenges of teaching writing to English learners

Developing a writing environment

Getting started: interactive writing

Scaffolding learners through the writing process

Assessing writing

pt. 9. Structuring and planning content-language integrated lessons

Lesson characteristics that support learning

A lesson format for integrated learning

Into the lesson: defining objectives, activating, and preparing for learning

Through the lesson: input for active understanding, vocabulary development, and practical purpose

Beyond the lesson: providing reasons for further communication

pt. 10. Assessment tools for the integrated classroom

What is assessment?

What are the fundamental principles of classroom-based assessment for ELLs?

What are the critical factors affecting the assessment of ELLs

What are examples of authentic, performance-based classroom assessment?

How do standards affect classroom assessment?

pt. 11. Putting it all together thematically: developing content-based thematic units

What is thematic instruction?

Why teach thematically?

How are thematic units structured?

What about standards in a thematic unit?

Organizing content curriculum in a thematic unit

Organizing language curriculum in a thematic unit

How can learning strategies be incorporated into a thematic unit?

A last word.