Creating a Classroom Environment for English Learners will provide teachers and administrators the strategies, knowledge and skills required to understand and overcome the barriers that limited or non-english speaking students face. To achieve this, the course and content will draw upon the textbook, “Unlocking English Learners’ Potential,” by Diane Staehr Fenner and Sydney Snyder. Differentiation is an essential classroom component to increase students’ success rate in not only learning, but retaining information learned at school. Specific strategies will be discussed, encouraged to implement, analyzed and reflected upon to assist in creating a successful learning atmosphere as well as build upon different cultural norms and expectations to give teachers a better understanding of their students.

At the completion of this course, the learner will be able to:

• Articulate the benefits and misconceptions of a culturally diverse school. InTASC 1,2,3,5,6
• Develop a framework to embed differentiation and scaffolding strategies within the classroom. InTASC 4,5,6,7,8
• Analyze pedagogical approaches that encourage students to embrace diversity and learn from others. InTASC 1,3,5
• Implement strategies to increase student success in one-on-one, small group and whole group lessons. InTASC 1,2,3,9,10