Welcome to the Language and Literacy Learning Center

We listen to you, assess your needs, and work with you to tailor our professional development approach to meet your needs.

The Language and Literacy Learning Center has the flexibility to work with educators at the classroom, school, district, and state levels to develop the most effective approaches to staff development. We understand the challenges and constraints involved in executing embedded and ongoing professional development; and we help you by offering a variety of service delivery options.

Our "professional development academies" take a comprehensive school reform approach to improving instructional support to English language learners (ELs) and striving readers. School teams are encouraged to attend, comprised of mainstream teachers, English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers, administrators, and specialists. Teams receive ongoing virtual and on-site support as they strive to make needed improvements in school policy, teacher practice, and student achievement.

  • Book Study:
    The participants will have weekly readings, tasks to perform in the classroom and synchronous and asynchronous reflection sessions using technology.

  • Online ESL Instruction Modules:
    Teachers take self paced modules that range from 1-3 hours each on topics such as, but not limited to: language acquisition, building background, differentiating instruction, and differentiating assessment.

  • English Language Learner Academies (ELLA):
    School teams of six to eight teachers and administrators attend both face to face workshops and webinars that advance their knowledge and use of best practices for teaching ELs. They are also asked to participate in implementation activities in the classroom and then share and reflect with other teachers using multi-media formats.

  • E-Coaching:
    Through a variety of synchronous and asynchronous activities and the use of technology, a teacher receives coaching on a designated topic or on the implementation of a particular strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you help me (or my teachers) with differentiated instruction?

  • ESCORT can work with your school using a number of possible activities to help teachers learn about language acquisition and differentiated instruction and assessment. Our services range from working with school leadership teams to individual educators.

What does the comprehensive school team model look like in action?

  • Year 1 is CONTENT LEARNING. School teams (usually the principal with ESL and mainstream teachers, up to eight total) spend the school year learning about teaching ELs in content classes. Training consists of a series of face-to-face workshops and virtual learning.

  • Year 2 is BEGINNING IMPLEMENTATION. Leadership teams begin a series of on-going, job-embedded trainings with other selected school faculty. Teams receive content and implementation support from ESCORT staff through face-to-face meetings and virtual learning.

  • Year 3 is FULL IMPLEMENTATION. Leadership teams continue on-going, job-embedded professional development with coaching from ESCORT staff.

  • Year 4 is EVALUATION AND REFINEMENT. School teams are at a level where professional study groups are meeting regularly and colleagues are co-planning and co-teaching lessons with peer coaching taking place. The teams will collect data on three levels: organizational change; change in teacher practice; and change in student achievement. They will use the data to refine the professional development efforts in their schools.