CALLA+Approach

** ***__DEFINITION:__** // (From: http://www.gwu.edu/~calla/) // The CALLA approach was designed to provide comprehensible instruction for English Language Learners (ELLs) in bilingual or ESL programs. It integrates content area instruction, language development, and clear instruction in learning strategies. It sees content as the primary focus of instruction, academic language develops when the need for them emerge from the content area. The goal is for students to learn essential academic content and language and to become independent and self-regulated learners through increasing commands over a variety of strategies for learning in school. CALLA also provides teachers with a task-based 5 phase instructional design that allows them to combine content, language, and learning strategies in a planned lesson plan. 1. **Preparation** - activate background knowledge of strategies 2. **Presentation** - teacher models the use of the new strategy for a particular task and explains how and when to use it 3. **Practice** - students practice the strategy in class activities 4. **Evaluation** - students evaluate their use of the strategy and its effectiveness for the task 5. **Expansion** - students extend the use of the strategy into new situations or tasks Strategies in the CALLA approach are divided into 3 major categories: 1. Metacognitive: planning, self-monitoring, classifying, etc. 2. Cognitive: note taking, making references, summarizing, and self reflection. 3. Social Affective: cooperative learning, asking questions, etc A model of calla can be seen at http://calla.ws/calla_model.html. ** *__VALUE and/or CHALLENGES:__ ** Values: The lessons created using the CALLA approach rely on scaffolding. With proper guidance from the teacher, ESL students will build on prior knowledge and internalize new knowledge and skills, and develop greater proficiency. Challenges: I also believe that scaffolding can be a challenge to some students who depend too much on the teacher. If they are behind their peers they are always going to rely on their teacher and not try to do things on their own. I also feel some students may not be ready (natural order hypothesis) to learn academic language which will cause them to fall behind their peers. Anna Uhl Chamot and J. Michael O’Malley ** *__MY EVALUATION:__  ** In my personal opinion, I do not believe that the CALLA approach may be the most beneficial approach to second language learners. I do believe that some students may learn from it but I also believe that some students might not learn from it. I feel that this approach may be better for older students learning a new language. I believe that young learners (Kindergarten to about 3rd grade) may become lost using this approach. I feel that they need to develop more language skills so that they can learn more academic language. *__LESSON PLAN EXAMPLE:__ **  http://calla.ws/ContentExamples/content_lessons.html
 * Cognitive Academic Language Learning Approach (CALLA)
 * *__MAJOR THEORISTS and/or RESEARCHER:__ **