Observation Protocol for Academic Literacies

Magaly Lavadenz is the Leavey Presidential Endowed Chair in Ethics and Moral Leadership in the School of Education and Executive Director of the Center for Equity for English Learners at Loyola Marymount University, USA. Her research interests include teacher education, language education policy and immigrant and diaspora communities.Elvira G. Armas is Director of the Center of Equity for English Learners and Affiliated Faculty in the School of Education at Loyola Marymount University, USA. Her research explores teaching and learning in linguistically and culturally diverse settings and collaboration between schools, families and communities.

• AcknowledgmentsChapter 1. Building Expertise for Teachers of English Learners: Introduction to the Observation Protocol for Academic Literacies (OPAL) InstrumentChapter 2. Seeing What’s There: Sharpening Our Observation SkillsChapter 3. OPAL Domain 3: ComprehensibilityChapter 4. OPAL Domain 4: InteractionsChapter 5. OPAL Domain 1: Rigorous and Relevant CurriculumChapter 6. OPAL Domain 2: ConnectionsChapter 7. Using the OPAL for Professional Learning, Research and Evaluation PurposesAppendicesReferencesIndex

This is a well-written, detailed, and clear description of the development and use of the OPAL that walks the reader through the process using actual classroom examples – well-positioned as an important, flexible resource for courses in assessment, second language acquisition, instructional methodology, and related areas as well as for professional development communities and coaching.