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Educating English learners in elementary classrooms: a phenomenological approach to understanding the beliefs of teachers and the needs of EL students
Dissertation   Open access

Educating English learners in elementary classrooms: a phenomenological approach to understanding the beliefs of teachers and the needs of EL students

Alexis Michele Storm
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Drexel University
28 Sep 2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00000578
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Abstract

English language--Study and teaching Teachers--Attitudes
English learners (ELs) have rapidly become a major part of the public schooling system today. The influx of EL students implies that elementary teachers must be prepared to meet the educational needs of this student population and must have the knowledge and preparation for these students in their classrooms. Elementary teachers must understand how EL students learn best to meet EL students' diverse needs. This knowledge can allow ELs to access proper resources and services to receive an equitable education. Using a constructivist conceptual framework, this study will explore the attitudes and beliefs of eight elementary teachers from a single elementary school located in Delaware and the effects on their instruction of EL students. The research questions that will be used to drive this study include: 1) What attitudes and beliefs do current elementary teachers have about EL students? 2) What do elementary teachers know regarding culturally responsive teaching (CRT) practices? 3) What resources and supports do elementary teachers need to be prepared to make informed decisions about EL's and special education referrals? Through a phenomenological method, this study will include one on one semi-structured interviews, a teacher participant journal, and a teacher questionnaire to provide an interpretive description of the lived experiences of the participants. Emerging themes will be constructed based on the analysis of the data.

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