This course explores 7 Steps to a Language-Rich, Interactive Classroom by John Seidlitz and Bill Perryman, a practical guide for increasing student engagement and academic language development. Participants will examine each of the seven steps and learn how to create environments where all students have structured opportunities to listen, speak, read, and write daily.

Educators will reflect on their current instructional practices, collaborate with peers, and design lessons and routines that make content comprehensible and interactive.

Required Text:

• 7 Steps to a Language-Rich, Interactive Classroom (2nd Edition) by John Seidlitz and Bill Perryman

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify and explain the 7 Steps of a Language-Rich, Interactive Classroom.
• Implement strategies that promote student talk, engagement, and academic vocabulary use.
• Create classroom environments that value participation and equitable access to language.
• Design lessons that integrate all four language domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
• Use reflection and feedback to sustain language-rich instruction.
• Model academic language through teacher talk and questioning.
• Develop a professional plan for sharing strategies schoolwide.