School EAL/D audit and professional development in schools
Understanding the modern and multicultural classroom
Professional development (PD) is available for both teaching and support staff. Because of the rapid changes within the modern classroom, staff are confronted by increasingly complex situations on a daily basis - many of which they are not equipped to handle. Little professional development is directed at second language acquisition or understanding the culturally and linguistically diverse classroom..
Through structured professional development tailored to meet the particular needs of the individual school community, all staff (teaching and support) can be empowered to handle the daily challenging issues that often occur due to a lack of intercultural understanding.
Issues that may be covered in PD time include
* classroom role - of teacher and teacher aide;
* classroom literacy - of staff and students;
* classroom diversity - in cultural, linguistic and educational needs.
Content, length of professional development and costs will be negotiated on an individual school basis.
Professional research can also be undertaken, in your school, to determine the true number of students who are from bi/multi lingual homes - many of whom are unknown to the school. These students have specific English language needs. Once the audit is completed, we are then be able to provide PD to staff that will assist them in catering to the needs of these diverse learners.