The Urgency of Teacher Preparation Programs to Prepare Classroom Educators for Teaching in Multilingual Classrooms

Abstract

As the U.S. experiences increases in language learners, teachers struggle with employing methods that promote students' language development and academic growth. The purpose of this chapter is to explore how teachers can attend to creating inclusive, linguistically diverse classrooms for language learners by first highlighting some essential understandings for educators. In addition, the authors will provide an overview of influential theories that articulate the types of professional learning, development, and experiences that nurture and cultivate educators' skills, knowledge, and professional dispositions to best meet the academic, social, and cultural needs of language learners. Finally, using study findings of practicing classroom teachers, the authors will present effective essential practices used in classrooms with high populations of language learners.