Full Description
This book presents a validated observation instrument to support and further develop the pedagogic expertise of teachers of English Learners in US schools. Based on sociocultural and second language teaching and learning theories, the Observation Protocol for Academic Literacies (OPAL) has a variety of uses across teacher preparation programs, pre-K-12 classroom contexts and school districts. This book leads the reader through the process of using OPAL with real classroom observations in the form of vignettes, in order to develop confidence and reliability scoring evidence in research-based practices. The book provides examples of its non-evaluative uses to conduct research, support teachers and identify areas of strength and weakness in their professional development. It also offers researchers and policymakers a tool for collecting classroom-based evidence to inform the implementation and refinement of English Learner programs.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. Building Expertise for Teachers of English Learners: Introduction to the Observation Protocol for Academic Literacies (OPAL) Instrument
Chapter 2. Seeing What's There: Sharpening Our Observation Skills
Chapter 3. OPAL Domain 3: Comprehensibility
Chapter 4. OPAL Domain 4: Interactions
Chapter 5. OPAL Domain 1: Rigorous and Relevant Curriculum
Chapter 6. OPAL Domain 2: Connections
Chapter 7. Using the OPAL for Professional Learning, Research and Evaluation Purposes
Appendices
References
Index
