Professional Development

The Arabic Literacy Coach Training Program is designed to provide each participant with the skills and knowledge needed to become Arabic Language leaders in their respective schools. Participating teachers should be committed to enhancing their professional practice in Arabic and in performing an advocacy role in their school for systemic program improvement and reform.

The coaching program and training sessions take place at Riffa Views International School in Bahrain (an ISS Managed School). Teachers enrolled in the program are required to attend eight 4 or 5 day training sessions in Bahrain during the course of the two year program.

The literacy coach training program consists of 8 modules of 30 hours. We are working to gain certification for the program. Trainee coaches are expected to attend all four/five days of each module and to complete required assignments. There are also two site visits during the course of each year of the pilot in which a team member will spend one/two days coaching and guiding the implementation in each school.

The Arabic literacy coaching model consists of 8 modules. Each module is comprised of 30 hours of training. The modules are as follows:

1. Foundational Knowledge
2. The Classroom Environment
3. Standards-based Assessment
4. Literacy Coaching Essentials
5. Standards-based Instruction
6. Reading workshop
7. Writing workshop
8. Professional Learning and Leadership within a school community

Pilot Schools

Ongoing professional development is strongly recommended to ensure successful implementation of the program. Core professional development for implementation is listed in the tables below. Courses may be modified to target the specific needs of schools. The WLI has a team of trainers who can offer the following:

Implementing the Arabic WLI (1 day intro)

• The communicative approach
• ACTFL Standards intro
• Unit design
• The classroom environment

Instructional Strategies for Arabic Language Learners (2-3 days)

• Effective communication skills
• Strategies, routines and procedures
• Motivation theories and strategies
• Differentiation techniques in a standards based classroom

Standards-based assessment (2-3 days)

• Moving from textbook centered to standard and criterion based instruction and assessment
• Creating standards based rubrics
• Principles of literacy assessment
• Authentic and continuous assessment
• ACTFL language proficiency levels

Needs assessment (1-2 days)

Establish a baseline and growth targets to guide program implementation and development over time. Critical elements for successful program implementation have been identified based on the Danielson Framework for Teaching. These are assessed through observations and interviews.