Examining third grade English language development teaching practices

2018-04-12This study applied the gap analysis framework (Clark & Estes, 2008) to identify the gaps and assets of knowledge, motivation, and organization that impact English Learners from being proficient. The purpose of the study was to determine identify teacher gaps and assets to make recommendations to close those gaps. Using a multi-method approach of qualitative and quantitative data collection of needs assessments, surveys, observations, interviews, and document analysis, allowed for an in-depth analysis that revealed gaps and assets in each of the knowledge, motivation, and organization categories. Findings revealed 33 assets in knowledge, motivation, and organization. The findings also revealed eight gaps in knowledge, motivation, and organization. This study aims to bridge the identified gaps by matching them with research-based recommendations. The implementation and evaluation used Kirkpatrick and Kirkpatrick’s (2016) The New World Model to provide the necessary structure for the school and teachers to use to monitor progress and meet goals. This study can be used as a model for identifying assets and gaps, making research-based recommendations to close gaps, and solve teaching practice problems to raise students’ academic achievement and proficiency