7 Steps to a Language-Rich Interactive Classroom

Course Description

This 4-week asynchronous professional learning course is designed to guide educators through the practical strategies outlined in 7 Steps to a Language-Rich, Interactive Classroom (2nd Edition) by John Seidlitz and Bill Perryman. Participants will explore research-based methods to increase student talk, scaffold academic language, and support the language development of English learners and all students in inclusive, interactive classrooms. Weekly readings are paired with scholarly resources, reflective discussions, and practical deliverables to support immediate classroom application. Ideal for general education, ESL, and content-area teachers, this course empowers educators to build a classroom culture where every student has access to meaningful language and learning opportunities.

Learning Objectives:

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

• Identify and implement the seven steps for fostering a language-rich, interactive classroom to support English learners and all students.
• Design and apply structured student talk routines that promote academic discourse and equitable participation.
• Create scaffolds such as sentence stems and response frames to support oral and written language development in content areas.
• Integrate vocabulary and structured conversation strategies into lessons to enhance student comprehension and engagement.
• Develop writing tasks with feedback structures that promote both content understanding and academic language growth.

This class is available for License Renewal credit.

Course Details:

Date: Available for registration anytime between August 21, 2025 – August 20, 2026
Course #:  LR 288:709
Instructor:  Steven McHugh (steven@growprofessionally.com)
Number of License Renewal Credits:  1
Registration Deadline: Last day to register is Thursday, August 20, 2026, by 5:00 p.m.