Arlene Sandberg
Alaska Teacher of the Year
Mountain View Elementary School, Anchorage
Grade K-6, ESL

My teaching philosophy
In order for LEP (limited English proficient) students to succeed academically they must develop a high level of competence in reading and writing. This may take from five to seven years if they are literate in their first language. It is a process that takes time. In order to learn a second language students must interact in the language, feel safe to take risks. Classroom environments need to be supportive and provide a variety of instructional activities which are student centered. All teachers need to be trained in second language acquisition theory and best practices for making content comprehensible.

My philosophy in action
I am trained in sheltered instruction, which is a research based framework for teaching LEP students. It is student-centered, a lot of modeling and practice, cooperative learning and alternative assessments. My classroom is a warm, safe place where students are willing to take risks, where each student is rewarded for his or her achievements, and no one fails if they try their best. Only kind words are spoken and I take the time to connect to each student.

My greatest teaching accomplishment
My greatest accomplishment is when I see a student who came to me when they first arrived in this country, and in 4 years they are proficient on state benchmark assessments.

The most critical issues facing educators today
The most critical issue is closing the achievement gap for language majority students.

Ways to resolve this issue

• Provide students with research based literacy programs.
• Train all teachers in English Language Acquisition theories and effective instructional practices.
• Smaller class sizes and extended school day and year.
• Provide intensive support for newcomer and continued support for all LEP students.
• Provide literacy classes for parents.

One thought to inspire teachers to succeed
You have the power to make a difference - teaching is about making a difference for children.

One lesson every student should learn
Every student should learn to respect the differences in others.

Back to the 2006 Teacher Profiles home page