Research
2008-2009 Funded Project
Leading to Learn: A School Wide Study Group Effort in Learning About How to Teach Literacy to English Language Learners
The purpose of this project, led by Mollie Lloyd, clinical assistant professor of literacy education, is to provide teachers and administrators at New Hope Elementary School professional development on teaching literacy to English language learners (ELLs) and to positively impact ELL students’ literacy learning. Specifically this project focuses on the process of using past participants of a study group as literacy coaches in a school-wide study group professional development. Teachers at New Hope Elementary (Orange County Schools) are facilitating school-wide study groups focusing on the literacy teaching of English language learners and the literacy participation of ELL students. The principal and assistant principal also participate in the study groups and will provide additional internal support.
Significance to New Hope Elementary
New Hope Elementary has experienced significant growth in their ELL population, and the principal and teachers have expressed the need for help in how to best teach literacy to ELLs. The rationale for this study is based on the current research in the (1) importance of the teacher in student learning and (2) effective educative professional development with internal and external supports to facilitate teacher learning. Teachers engaged in study groups with internal and external supports should inform their learning about literacy teaching that positively impacts their ELL students’ literacy learning. Using New Hope teachers as facilitators of school-wide study groups will help build professional development capacity within the school and could ultimately impact the district’s literacy coaching efforts.
Significance to RTSP
The RTSP collaborative will be significantly enhanced by (1) School of Education faculty providing the much needed external supports; (2) New Hope Elementary administrators supplying the necessary internal supports; and (3) school-wide participation at New Hope engaging in study groups on ELLs’ literacy instruction. Such collaborations should serve to solidify the university-community schools partnerships and could also serve as a model for future university-community schools partnerships across the RTSP initiative as well as function as a pilot for future research studies.
