ENGLISH IN A GLOBAL CONTEXTEESL 617

BYRAMONA GREATHOUSE, ELOISA WRIGHT

AND ROBIN STUTTS

To Educate Classroom Teachersabout the Importance of

Maintaining Students’ Native Language

Wikispaces Website

Our website is designed to deliver professional development to classroom teachers which pertains to maintaining and developing the native languages of our EL students. A book study Online resources Discussion pages Wikispaces Link

http://teachingelstudents.wikispaces.com/

Locating Project Content

From the home page of the Wikispaces website use the links for “All Pages” to navigate through the site

Focus materials for our project are located primarily on the home page and the Classroom Teacher PD page

Related information is found on the Importance of Native Language page

Remaining pages contain resources, tips and materials for classroom teachers, school personnel, and parents of EL students

Theories & Motivation

“The loss of the language is like throwing away your universe” McCarty and Zapita

“During the initial years of exposure to English, continuing cognitive and academic development in first language is considered to be a key variable for academic success in the second language” (Garcia 1994; Tinajero & Ada, 1993. In Collier, 1995) .

“What constitutes meaningful language use is influenced by an individual’s prior experience, culture, motivation, and goals”(Delpit, 1995)

Uses of the Wikispaces WebsiteThis website is to be shared with school

teachers in both school districtsDevelopment of the web site will be ongoingWe plan to fully develop a section with

resources for the parents of EL students

References

Collier, V.P. (1995). Acquiring a second language for school. National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education, Vol. 1, No. 4. Retrieved from http://www.thomasandcollier.com/Downloads/1995_Acquiring-a-Second-Language-for-School_DLE4.pdf

Delpit, L. D. (1995). Other people’s children: Cultural conflict in the classroom. New York: The New Press.

Jenkins, J. (2009). World Englishes 2nd Edition. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

Walker, A., Shafer, J. & Liams, M. (Winter 2004). “Not in my classroom”: Teacher attitudes towards English language learners in the mainstream classroom.

NABE Journal of Research and Practice. Retrieved from http://www.mville.edu/images/stories/Graduate_Academics_Education/ChangingSuburbs/ELLStrategiesAndResources/Teacher_attitudes_in_classrooms.pdf