Multicultural and Diversity Professional Development

Ms. Carol Daniels, Executive Director of Professional Development
Ms. Brenda Wims, Director, Professional Development
Ms. Sharron Patterson, District Diversity Specialist for Professional Development

ESOL Applied Linguistics
This course is designed to help teachers address the important role linguistics plays when working with ESOL students. The teachers will acquire a greater understanding of the structure of English from a modern day linguistic perspective and will analyze the structure of English in contrast with the languages of target populations in a given class. They will complete activities which will demonstrate linguistic differences in languages and the ability to overcome linguistic interferences in reading and content area materials.

ESOL Cross-cultural Communications and Understanding
This course is designed to identify the major cultures represented by the LEP students in Florida public schools in order to develop better cross-cultural understanding among all groups, and to appropriately meet their special needs within the school and community setting. Teachers will acquire and use knowledge of the cultural characteristics of students to enhance instruction and develop their abilities to modify instruction and the classroom environment in a manner which builds an understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity of students.

ESOL Curriculum and Materials Development
This course is designed to improve and enhance the participant's knowledge of ESOL curriculum and materials appropriate for use with LEP students . Participants will learn the best teaching practices that align literacy and language that they will use to teach challenging subject matter, critical thinking and problem solving skills. They will be able to evaluate and design instructional materials according to levels of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Testing and Evaluation (formerly Empowering ESOL Teachers)
This course is designed to empower teachers of ESOL students develop the ability to provide appropriate, comprehensible, interactive, and cognitively challenging instruction which will facilitate their language development and academic achievement. This course also highlights points from the other four courses, therefore it is highly recommended for any teacher whose classes include students with limited English proficiency and are required to have only 60 hours of in-service training.

ESOL Methods of Teaching
This course is designed to enable participants to identify and apply major ESOL methodologies and approaches. Teachers will learn best practices to teach subject matter, critical thinking and problem solving skills, and to determine the appropriateness of instruction and learning opportunities for ESOL students to help them succeed. By reviewing current research based theory and practice, they will be able to produce lesson plans that provide multi-level ESOL activities for the classroom.