The Missouri Reader Vol. 37, Issue 2 | Page 10

expanded through the use of interactive
approaches that encourage thoughtful
discussion of ideas (Shannahan & Beck, 2006).
Collaborative small-group discussions can help
lower ELs' anxiety levels and assist students in
learning how to ask and answer their own
questions (Diaz-Rico, 2013).

however, only 75% of the teachers’ email
addresses were available. From this pool, we
randomly selected 200 hundred teachers. They
were sent a cover letter via email that described
the study and provided directions to a website
in order to complete the online survey.

Findings

Methodology
This was a descriptive research study that
employed random sampling methods. We
utilized an online survey instrument, InQsit, to
collect data. The survey was developed by the
authors for the purpose of this study. The
survey included two sections: general
demographic data and more specific
instructional information regarding the use of
strategies and materials. Two open-ended
questions completed the survey, asking ESOL
teachers if they would like to offer advice to
classroom teachers and university professors in
teacher education programs.
An administrator with the Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
was contacted to in order to obtain the names
and email addresses of ESOL teachers
throughout Missouri school districts. A list of
over 500 ESOL teachers was provided by DESE;

Two hundred ESOL teachers were contacted
and sent a survey; 77 responded, reflecting a
39% response rate. The teachers who
responded to the survey represented the
following demographics:
 94% were certified ESOL.
 90% had Master’s degree or higher.
 92% had 5+ years teaching experience.
 75% had been teaching ESOL for 5+ years.
 89% reported their ethnicity as Caucasian.
 61% spoke another language with at least
intermediate level proficiency.
Survey respondents were asked to share
information about the schools in which they
taught. They reported Spanish (99%) was the
most common language represented, followed
by Chinese (58%), Vietnamese (49%), Arabic
(46%), Tagalog (30%), Hindi (30%), Korean (30%)
and Urdu (25%). See Figure 1.

IRA 59th ANNUAL CONVENTION
Reading…The Teachable Moment
In New Orleans at the
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

May 9-12, 2014
Registration Opens December 2013
For more information go toMissouri Reader, 37 (2) p.10
©The
http://www.reading.org/convention.aspx