Preparing Content Teachers to Teach ELLs in their Classroom

Abstract

This capstone project aims to support content teachers to be prepared to teach English Language Learners (ELLs) in their classrooms. Many teachers are not prepared to teach their ELLs because teachers feel unprepared, have low self-efficacy, and lack of theoretical knowledge. A review of studies has shown these reasons and causes consequences to the ELLs. Due to content teachers not being prepared, there are studies demonstrating ELLs’ academic performances and their selfefficacy have been affected. Solutions to the problem is to get to know your ELLs, implement different instructional strategies, and use additional resources to help support ELLs in the classroom. Recommendations include adding more time to present the professional development sessions, presenting additional series of the professional development throughout the school year, and giving teacher choice on what they need to better support their ELLs.