ACADEMIC DISCOURSE 6-12
Course Location: www.teachnkidslearn.com
As a result of this course, participants will increase the amount of discourse in the classroom, thereby also deepening students’ reading and writing skills. Research shows that as students increase academic discourse, their reading and writing skills are also enhanced as they more deeply learn the academic vocabulary and text structures of the content area. Throughout the course, participants will learn strategies for increasing student interaction, as well as increasing the quality of student interactions to be sure that they focus on content, utilizing the language of the content areas. Vocabulary instruction as well as other key aspects of academic language instruction will be integrated into instruction. Participants will build lesson plans that show more formal, academic language and vocabulary use based on the course of study.
This course is divided into modules that presented in a progression of topics that build off of the previous module. While this is a self-paced online course, participants will engage in a variety of activities to learn, practice, and apply the skills outlined in this course. Participants go through a sequence of designed activities which are reflective, experiential and interactive.
At the beginning of each module, participants are introduced to information which is either foundational or research based and asked to complete a self-assessment, observation, or evaluation of their lesson, teaching strategies, and/or curricular materials. Participants then use this information throughout the module so that links are constantly being made between the information being presented and what is happening in their classroom. At the end of each module participants are then asked to make a change or changes to their thinking based activities on their new understandings. Participants implement the changes and then reflect on the Discussion Board with their peers to discuss the successes, challenges, and changes for the next implementation.
Throughout this course, participants are required to complete and submit assignments and participate in online discussion board postings based on specific lesson activities. Within these activities participants will need to include current instructional practices/lesson examples and modifications that would be made based on the content being covered within each module.
The combination of direct instruction, job-embedded application, and building a community of learners will help to increase the likelihood of participants understanding and transferring their new learning to their classroom instruction.
Throughout the course participants will have access to a content specialist available for regular communications, targeted classroom video lesson segments; research based observational protocols, research documents, extended educational materials, and instructional resources. Participants will explore real instructional challenges that many teachers face in their classroom and identify strategies to address such complex issues.
- Location of Meeting:www.teachnkidslearn.comLocation of Meeting:On going On Line