CALLA Method: The Cognitive Academic Language
Learning Approach (CALLA) method is an
instructional method of the cognitive approach that
focuses on explicitly teaching CLD students to
understand and tactifully apply metacognitive,
cognitive, and social/affective strategies.
Cognitive Learning Strategies
Strategies that involve the mental or
physical manipulation of
infomation, including classification,
linking new information to prior
knowledge, and summarizing
Elaboration of
background knowledge
Predicting/Making
Inferences
Academic Content
Content from the General
Education Curriculum:
Science, Math, Social
Studies, Language Arts
Academic Language
Focusing on Literacy
Learning Strategies
Explicit Instruction
of strategies
A Cognitive-Social Model of Learning:
An emphasis on cognition and a
recognition that the social and cultural
learning environment strongly
influences the way in whcich students
learn as well as their motivation for
learning.
Metacognitive Learning Stategies
Strategies that incorporate
three domains: awareness of
one's own cognitive abilities,
the ability to discern the
difficulty of a task, and the
knowledge of how and when
to use specific strategies
Graphic Organizers
Self-Monitoring
Social/Affective Learning Strategies
Strategies that capitalize on the
interconnectedness of the cognitive and
the sociocultural dimensions of the CLD
student biography; they may involve the
learner as an individual or the learner in
interaction with another or others.
Questioning for
clarification
Cooperative
Learning
Literacy Across the Curriculum
Integrates
literacy and
content
instruction
Language Experience Approach
Helps develop initial language and
literacy and uses students prior
experience to bridge new ideas and
concepts
Balanced Reading Approach
Provides phonics and reading
authentic texts based on student
needs
Process Writing
Assists writers in all content
areas and helps students
develop confidence and
increased skill in writing
Cooperative Learning
A learning strategy
used in CALLA and
explicitly taught to
students
Inquiry Approaches
Students investigate
questions and problems of
personal interest
Standards-based Instruction
Lessons based on national and
state standards for content and
language
A combination of methods, strategies, and
approaches are essential for CLD students.
Instruction must be scaffolded and explicit for CLD
students to be able to use and apply learning
strategies. Additionally, CLD students often struggle
with reading, writing, and using higher-order
thinking skills. Therefore, it is imperative that
teachers integrate content instruction, language
instruction, and strategies instruction. The CALLA
Method is a method that encourages this
integration.