Empowering English Language Learners: A Sustainable Approach at Western Oregon University
The Project SPELL initiative, funded by a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, aims to enhance sustainable teaching practices for English Language Learners (ELLs) in the Salem-Keizer and Woodburn School Districts. This five-year program focuses on professional development for in-service and pre-service teachers, emphasizing ESOL and bilingual endorsements. Key components include coaching, professional learning communities, an annual ESOL/STEM conference, and integrating STEM content into teaching. By fostering collaboration and data-driven decision-making, the project seeks to improve educational outcomes for nearly 20% of Oregon’s ELL students.
Empowering English Language Learners: A Sustainable Approach at Western Oregon University
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Project SPELL Western Oregon University with Salem-Keizer School District & Woodburn School District Sustainable Practices for English Language Learners
Grant funds • National Professional Development Program • US Dept of Education/Office of English Language Acquisition • Approximately 2 million dollars for 5 years
Project Components • ESOL and ESOL/Bilingual endorsement for in-service teachers • Focus on STEM areas • Coaching • Professional Learning Communities and Action Research • Yearly ESOL/STEM conference in the Spring • Placement of WOU pre-service teachers completing ESOL and ESOL/Bilingual endorsement in participants’ classrooms
ESOL and ESOL/Bilingual Endorsement • Courses offered on site • Courses condensed in an intensive 12-month program • Teachers’ needs, local school realities embedded into course assignments, readings, and discussions • Infusion of STEM content
Coaching • Self-assessment and critical reflection • Practice refinement based on assessment of student learning • Focus on STEM content areas • Strategies: modeling of research-based methods, video studies, lesson/unit planning sessions, effective observations/providing constructive feedback • Emphasis on data-driven decision-making • Pre-service teachers placed in classrooms benefit from coaching
PLCs and Action Research • Focus on STEM content areas • Teachers identify current level of student performance, establish goals to improve current level, work together to reach goals, evaluate results • Emphasis on data-driven decision-making • Teachers conduct action research • Pre-service teachers placed in classrooms benefit from PLCs
Spring ESOL/STEM Conference • Culminating activity each year: conference held on WOU campus • Salem-Keizer and Woodburn participants attend • WOU pre-service teachers also attend • STEM workshops • ESOL topics identified by participants • Poster presentations of action research projects
Impact • 140 in-service teachers • 160 pre-service teachers • Potential to reach almost 20% of ELLs in Oregon
