SIOP

SIOP or Sheltered Instruction etc. has been utilized in schools for many years. Training that I know of has been minimal with little follow up. Although teachers see the values of SIOP, it is difficult to stay enthused when there is no one to discuss the lessons, the benefits, or the student achievement. As the author of the article says, most teachers are either content teachers or language teachers. One of the biggest draw backs or barriers in using the SIOP method is the amount of planning time and resources needed. As I looked over the questions for MTSS or Multi Tiered Student Service implementation, the question that was asked over and over again regards planning time. The KNEA will go to the Shawnee Mission School Board with its requests and included in those request is more time for teacher planning. It is impossible to do a good job, much less an excellent job, without sufficient time and resources. Support and ongoing dialog about SIOP, is needed also to keep it in the forefront of teachers' minds. My experience has been that teachers believe SIOP training is not only beneficial for ELL students but for ALL students.