Vocabulary Strategies for Multilingual Learners (Project GLAD®)

Course Description

This course equips participants with seven practical and effective strategies for teaching vocabulary to multilingual learners. Each strategy is part of the larger OCDE Project GLAD® (Guided Language Acquisition Design) professional learning model, dedicated to building academic language and literacy specifically for those learning a new language. During our six weeks together, participants receive an introduction to the OCDE Project GLAD® model and go in-depth with each strategy. The course covers the rationale and research supporting why and when to use each strategy, how to prep the materials, steps for classroom delivery with demonstration videos at various grade levels, and extensions and modifications specific to your context. Participants will prepare (and teach, if school is in session) each strategy with instructor coaching. This course is for K-8 educators and is conducted in English.

Course Rationale

This course aims to equip educators with the rationale and methods for vocabulary development in a new language. Each language domain, whether expressive or interpretive, relies on acquiring and developing a personal lexicon. Students comprehend, speak, read, and write based on the vocabulary repertoire they have developed. This course enables teachers to understand and apply research and best practices for teaching vocabulary development and fluency, particularly in relation to multilingual learners. As students learn new words more quickly and retain them longer when taught in context, the strategies incorporate language learning within the framework of grade-level content. Through this integrative approach to language learning and vocabulary development, the strategies also incorporate designated and related language targets, such as using cognates, prefixes, suffixes, parts of speech, and syntax. 

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will have the opportunity to: 

• Develop a working knowledge of the research supporting vocabulary development for multilingual learners

• Increase personal repertoire of best practices and scaffolds for vocabulary development

• Distinguish between integrated and designated language instruction

• Determine which designated language targets to use within integrated vocabulary instruction

• Create six to seven Project GLAD® strategies for current and/or future implementation using the theory and practice from this course

• Collaborate and grow with other students by sharing ideas, insights, and artifact development

What Participants Are Saying About This Course

“Excellent course! Thank you!”

Course Delivery

Instructor-Facilitated

• Online asynchronous (no live sessions) coursework 

• Weekly learning modules to complete at your own pace

• Collaborative discussion boards

• Instructor feedback

• Optional office hours with the instructor for additional support

Students in an instructor-facilitated course must adhere to the session start and end dates listed on the website. Final coursework must be submitted within one week after the course end date. Course extensions beyond one week are subject to a $50 fee.

Course Access Information

Your Idioma Schoology course invitation will be emailed one week prior to the start of an instructor-facilitated 6-week course. You may access the Idioma Schoology login from the Login > Idioma Schoology Login dropdown menu at www.idiomaconsulting.com.

Course Learning Resources

• Video lessons provided by Next Steps 

• Research materials, such as articles, videos, and/or podcasts, will be assigned and provided throughout the course.  

Strategy Materials  

The student is responsible for acquiring and being prepared with the needed materials to prepare each strategy.

Strategy Materials Needed

• Grade level standards

• Target language development standards and proficiency levels (for example, ELD English Language Development Standards)

• White butcher paper

• Poster board and/or 12x18 construction paper

• Colored markers

• Sentence strips (or index cards)

• Access to a colored printer

• Access to a laminator, if possible

About the Instructors

Dr. Sara Martinez & Jody Bader, Instructors. Read more about Sara and Jody here.

Click here to request a syllabus.