Term
Spring 2024
Capstone
Dissertation
Degree Name
EdD
Primary Advisor/Dissertation Chair
Michelle Benegas
Abstract
The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine how professional development contributed to the dispositions, knowledge, and skills of elementary English language (EL) teachers. Historically, EL teachers received little professional development and ongoing support within their discipline of English as a Second Language, which led to inconsistencies with how EL teachers perceived their role as a language development expert. Although the literature review identified the necessary dispositions, knowledge, and skills of EL teachers, there was little research about how EL teachers accessed professional development to engage in continuous growth in their field. As part of the study, professional development was facilitated among two cohorts of elementary EL teachers. The content consisted of components from the 2020 edition of the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards Framework, the adopted framework for ELD standards in Minnesota. After professional development, the participants were invited to take part in a retrospective survey to self-assess where they identified their knowledge prior to and after the professional development, which served as the quantitative data for the study. Six EL teachers from the survey population participated in qualitative focal interviews to reflect on their dispositions and skills. The purpose of the interviews was to allow for more nuanced responses beyond what was collected in the survey. The findings from this study revealed the areas that elementary EL teachers increased in knowledge as a result of the professional development and how they were supported in their professional growth. Several recommendations for policymakers, district and school leaders, and EL teachers are also included.
Keywords
ESL/ ELLs, Staff Development, Teachers/ Teaching, WIDA
Recommended Citation
Reese, Jessica, "Examining Elementary English Language Teachers’ Professional Development of Dispositions, Knowledge, and Skills" (2024). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations. 4593.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_all/4593
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations