Meeting Instructional Needs of English Language Learners with Special Needs

Catalog description

A major objective of this course is for students to be able to develop or modify instructional plans that reflect evidence based practices for adapting for the needs of English Language Learners (ELL) with special needs. The course has been developed to fulfill Pennsylvania Department of Education requirements and in recognition of the growing number of ELLs in the general population and thus, in special education settings. This course covers (1) theory and research on the instructional needs of ELLs and (2) the knowledge base on effective instruction for students with special needs and assists students in bringing these two areas of research together. Major topic areas include principles and issues in second language acquisition; ELLs characteristics including linguistic and cultural factors that affect second language acquisition; techniques and methods of research-based instruction for ELLs with special needs; lesson planning and instructional modifications for ELLs with special needs; and appropriate assessment practices for ELLs with special needs.