Preparation of Teachers for Successful Extended Education Programs Serving English Learners

Abstract

Learning in the context of extended education has become increasingly important in the US for English learners (ELs) to provide much needed learning opportunities to enhance the education opportunities of ELs. High quality extended education programs provide an educational environment that supports EL’s linguistic development, English literacy, and academic knowledge. This chapter describe the characteristics of high-quality extended education programs benefiting ELs. Then, because staffing quality extended education programs is critical to its success, this chapter will also address professional development considerations necessary to guide teachers of ELs in developing an intercultural and linguistically responsive orientation. Taking into account adult learning theory, examples of learning experiences for teachers of ELs used to develop contextual understandings of their students’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds will be provided.