Engaging ELLs and Their Families in the School and Community

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/ell-families

Introduction

### Course Review: Engaging ELLs and Their Families in the School and Community on Coursera **Overview** The course "Engaging ELLs and Their Families in the School and Community" is an essential offering for educators, administrators, and community members dedicated to supporting English Language Learners (ELLs) and their families. This comprehensive course provides valuable insights and practical strategies aimed at enhancing the engagement of ELL students both inside and outside the classroom. As globalization continues to influence classroom demographics, understanding how to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps becomes imperative, making this course highly relevant in today’s educational landscape. **Course Content and Structure** Spanning six modules, the course is thoughtfully structured to ensure a holistic approach to engaging ELLs and their families. 1. **Introduction to Key Aspects of Engaging ELLs and their Families**: The foundation of the course, this module provides educators with the tools to understand the diversity of ELL cultures, assess current engagement practices, and incorporate culturally sensitive techniques into their teaching. It is a crucial starting point for anyone looking to understand the needs of ELLs. 2. **Case Study: The American Dream Academy, Phoenix, AZ**: This week focuses on actionable strategies for outreach to ELL parents and developing plans for parental involvement. The insights gained from the American Dream Academy highlight the importance of effectively involving families in the educational journey. 3. **Case Study: Longfellow Elementary School, Sheboygan, Wisconsin**: By integrating culture into classroom practices, this module emphasizes the significance of understanding cultural backgrounds and establishing clear expectations. The inclusion of Total Physical Response (TPR) strategies adds a dynamic angle to engaging ELLs. 4. **Case Study: Alhambra High School, Phoenix, AZ**: This case study showcases how to create a culturally supportive environment and promote inclusivity through clubs and activities. It inspires educators to leverage sports and extracurricular activities as tools for deeper engagement. 5. **Community Outreach**: This pivotal module encourages educators to extend their reach beyond the classroom. Participants learn to identify community resources and implement technology-based solutions for effective communication with families, fostering a more robust home-school partnership. 6. **Review and Assessment**: The final module provides an opportunity for participants to synthesize their learning. The completion of a final exam and optional peer review helps reinforce the strategies learned throughout the course. **Recommendations** This course is highly recommended for: - **Classroom Teachers**: Those looking to enrich their teaching practices with culturally responsive strategies will find this course invaluable. - **School Administrators**: Leaders seeking to foster an inclusive school culture can gain insights on how to support ELL families effectively. - **Community Organizations**: Nonprofits and community services aiming to improve outreach efforts to ELL families will benefit from the community engagement strategies shared in this course. **Final Thoughts** "Engaging ELLs and Their Families in the School and Community" is not just an academic course; it’s a call to action for educators who want to make a meaningful difference in the lives of ELL students and their families. The variety of case studies and practical strategies presented make this an immersive learning experience that promotes inclusivity and community collaboration. In conclusion, if you are committed to enhancing the educational experiences of ELLs and fostering strong relationships with their families, this Coursera course is an essential step on that journey. Sign up today and start transforming your classroom and community!

Syllabus

Introduction to Key Aspects of Engaging ELLs and their Families

Welcome to week 1 of the course! This is an important module, as it sets the foundation for many of the strategies presented in this course. We hope that you find the module very informative. By the end of this module, you will be able to define the culture of ELLs in K-12 classrooms across the U.S., recognize cultural impact on learning and formal education, assess your school’s engagement of ELLs and their families, incorporate culturally sensitive techniques to engage ELLs in the classroom and school and implement strategies for engaging ELLs’ families in the school and larger community. Let's get started!

Welcome to week 2 of the course! We are thrilled to introduce you to a stellar organization, the American Dream Academy, and the many things that they do to engage families. By the end of this module, you will be able to implement strategies for reaching out to ELL parents, apply concepts of parental training to your own teaching and school contexts, develop a plan for success for parental involvement to implement in your own classroom and school context, apply concepts of teaching training to your own school context, and devise solutions for parent involvement in your own classroom and school context. Let's get started!

Welcome to week 3 of the course! In this module, we showcase another exciting case study in hopes that you can adapt many of the ideas presented. By the end of this module, you will be able to integrate culture into classroom practices such as building background knowledge, implement TPR strategies in classroom activities to support ELL engagement, understand the importance of setting clear expectations for learning and classroom behavior, set clear expectations that are sensitive to cultural differences, use bilingual and multicultural strategies to foster a welcoming environment. Let's get started!

Welcome to week 4 of the course! We are so excited for this module and to introduce you to Alhambra High School. We hope that you find this module inspirational and that you are able to adopt and adapt many of the ideas presented. By the end of this module, you will be able to apply strategies for creating a culturally supportive school environment, connect students to the school community through creating clubs and school-wide activities, implement new strategies for bringing diverse cultures to the school, and use sports as additional opportunities for school engagement. Let's get started!

Welcome to week 5 of the course! In this module, we are going to take you beyond the classroom and look at a variety of ways to engage the family in different aspects of the community. By the end of this module, you will be able to identify organizations in your community that provide support for families, approach organizations regarding working with your students and their families, and implement online resources and apps in your classroom communication as a method for reaching parents and maintaining parent-teacher partnerships. Let's get started!

Welcome to week 6! Congratulations and well done. It is now time to apply the many strategies for Engaging the ELL and their Families in the School and Community to your own teaching context. By the end of this module, you will be able to synthesize course material, complete the final exam and complete the optional peer review. Good luck!