Welcome to ProjecTELL
Mission:
Funded by the U. S. Department of Education under the Bilingual Education: Professional Development Program, ProjecTELL was a collaborative program that enabled DeSales University and Lehigh Carbon County Community College to assist teachers in the Bethlehem Area School District raise achievement for English Language Learners. A particular focus of ProjecTELL was that of improving instruction and school climate for English Language Learners through increased cultural awareness, sensitivity and ongoing professional development for teachers and paraprofessional educators. Graduates of the fifteen-credit ProjecTELL curriculum received a Teaching English Language Learners certificate and an ESL Specialist Endorsement approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Competencies that were developed included:
- use of instructional strategies to develop basic and higher level thinking skills
- ability to align standards with curriculum, instruction and assessment
- ability to be sensitive to cultural issues that may affect student achievement and participation in learning activities
- use of selected strategies for teaching English language learners
- reflective teaching through collaborative action research and use of reflective practices such as journal writing and peer coaching
- dialogic teaching emphasizing classroom interaction in the service of knowledge and skill acquisition
Philosophy:
Changes in teacher practices are most likely to occur when teachers change their beliefs. ProjecTELL assisted teachers to articulate, reflect on, and change their beliefs about teaching and learning, specifically in reference to English language learners. The program was designed to sensitize teachers to the needs of students from various cultures and backgrounds, to impact information on language and literacy acquisition, to focus on best practices with regard to standards and alternative assessment, and to provide peer coaching and action research mechanisms that would enable teachers to become reflective practitioners.
Three principles guided ProjecTELL activities:
- understanding and applying research-based knowledge concerning the impact of culture on teaching and learning
- aligning standards with curriculum, instruction, and assessment in ways that do not fragment the curriculum
- disseminating strategies for teaching English language learners
ProjecTELL outcomes include:
- increased cultural sensitivity and awareness for all participants
- changes in teacher beliefs and instructional practices
- continuing education and pedagogical skill building for paraprofessional educators
Anticipated impact on students served by the Bethlehem Area School District:
- increased student achievement
- increased student involvement in learning
- building of school/community partnerships
Advisory Board:
The Advisory Board met twice a year to discuss the progress of the ProjecTELL grant. Members of the Advisory Board included:
- Doris Correll, Coordinator for English Acquisition and Literacy, BASD
- Cindy Glick, Community Relations Department, Just Born, Inc.
- David Longenbach, Associate Academic Dean, LCCC
- Guadalupe Matias, Principal at Marvine Elementary, BASD
- Kathy Quigney, Acting Principal at Donegan Elementary, BASD
- Lawrence Sparta, Education Relations Director, PPL
- Thomas Thomasik, Director of Human Resources, BASD
- Patricia Viera, District Evaluator, BASD and ProjecTELL Participant
