Engaging English Language Learners: synthesize and personalize

Gather your thoughts about this case and personalize the lessons learned from David’s attempts to teach science to English language learners.

Synthesize what you have learned from this case

Instructional Decisions

  1. Describe the shift in David’s teaching, from the beginning of the case, to the changes based on his collaboration with Donna. What specific changes did he make, and how did those changes impact his disposition toward his students?
  2. Return to your first impression—how has your thinking changed? Find your first impression comments in your account space (go to “My account”). Reread your comments. To what degree has your thinking about this case changed?

Personalize the case

Choose the set of questions that best connect to your professional situation. Share your ideas with others by creating a new discussion or by contributing to an ongoing discussion.

Administrators


  • What are the key lessons you learned from David's case?

  • What are the more common approaches to teaching science in your context? How effective are these approaches? What changes would you like to see in your context that would promote a more comprehensible
    approach to teaching science to ELLs? Explain your answers.

Practicing Teachers


  • What are the key lessons you learned from David’s case?

  • How do you address core subject learning in your classroom? What are the benefits and potential drawbacks of your approach? Is your approach highly contextualized and comprehensible so that students benefit from a variety of opportunities to learn from you and their peers? What changes are you thinking about? Explain your answer.

Prospective Teachers or Interns


  • What are the key lessons you learned from David’s case?

  • What are the most common strategies for teaching science in your classroom? What are the benefits and potential drawbacks of these strategies? As you begin to take on more responsibility for instructional decisions in your career, what principles will guide your decisions in teaching science? Explain
    your answer.

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