Term
Spring 2026
Capstone
Capstone Project
Degree Name
MAT
Facilitator(s)
Shelley Orr, Karen L. Moroz
Content Expert
Keelen Bodell
Abstract
This capstone project examines how professional development can better support teachers working with multilingual and immigrant students in elementary classrooms. Research highlights that culturally responsive teaching, inclusive curriculum design, and social-emotional learning are essential for improving student engagement and academic success in diverse learning environments, and this project draws on these frameworks to explore how educators can create more equitable and effective instructional practices. The study uses a qualitative approach, combining a review of existing research with professional classroom experience in the United States, and focuses on strategies such as adapting instruction, building meaningful relationships, and creating accessible learning environments for students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Experiences working with students from Somalia, Ecuador, Mexico, Morocco, and Ghana inform the analysis and provide practical insight into the challenges multilingual learners face. Findings indicate that effective teaching requires a balance of academic support, emotional awareness, and culturally responsive strategies, and that professional development offering practical tools for differentiation and inclusive instruction significantly benefits teachers. The findings demonstrate the importance of culturally responsive and supportive teaching practices in promoting equity and improving outcomes for multilingual and immigrant students.
Project Type
Professional Development
Keywords
ESL/ ELLs, Multicultural Education, Staff Development, Teachers/ Teaching
Recommended Citation
Seitaptiieva, Safiie, "How Can Professional Development be Designed to Better Equip Teachers to Support Multilingual and Immigrant Students Emotionally, Socially, and Academically in U.S. Elementary Schools?" (2026). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects. 1172.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_cp/1172
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Projects