Our Approach

What does English Language and Literacy Acceleration do?

ELLA professional development is effective because it is ongoing and intensive, maintains a focus on students, actively engages teachers, incorporates peer collaboration, acknowledges and integrates teachers’ expertise, and has immediate and clear application to the classroom.

ELLA Professional Development Model: Focused, Intensive & Sustained
Reflect and Refine: Examine evidence (student data) to determine instructional efficacy and student needs
Gain New Knowledge: Learn all together about research-based, effective, and practical instructional strategies
Put Knowledge into Practice: Peer collaborative coaching and reflection: Watch a model lesson; watch a colleague teach; give feedback
Plan with New Knowledge: Work together in teams to plan lesson using the new strategies
Credit: Abdal-Haqq, 1995; Ball, 1996; Little, 1988; Putnam & Borko, 1997; Wilson & Berne, 1999

Our sustainable, rigorous, results-oriented approach comprises two parts:

Interactive presentation

Participants learn manageable chunks of research alongside corresponding instructional strategies that they can use in their classrooms immediately. The presentations include modeling of the strategies, opportunities to practice the new strategies, structured reflection, and time for planning.

On-site technical assistance

ELLA works at the school site to ensure successful implementation of the strategies learned. This coaching includes demonstration lessons, classroom observations, facilitation of peer coaching, lesson planning, data analysis, program planning, collaborative observations with principals, and support in other areas.

What do teachers learn?

ELLA-trained teachers learn to plan and incorporate multiple components of effective instruction for diverse learners, including:

Rigorous and explicit instruction in academic vocabulary, reading and listening comprehension, writing, and other forms of academic literacy
Increasing active participation and student engagement
Scaffolding and structuring academic language practice
Making grade level content comprehensible
Teaching English Language Development (ELD)
Implementing routines to foster a positive classroom climate
Using screening, formative, and outcome data to inform instruction

What do participants receive?

All participants, regardless of the ELLA format chosen by their school, receive comprehensive materials, tools, and templates:

Notes on presentations
Lesson planning templates
Research articles and bibliography
Peer collaborative coaching and team meeting forms
Forms to gauge and track levels of student engagement

Participants in the intensive summer institutes also receive professional books and supplementary materials

Administrators receive coaching in using an observation protocol that helps ensure systemic and strategic implementation of the strategies learned.