Getting to Academic English: Instructional Practices for Secondary English Learners

1. Getting to Academic English: Instructional Practices for Secondary English Learners Nancy Frey, Ph.D. PPT at www.fisherandfrey.com Click “Resources”

2. Disciplinary Literacy

3. Why Can’t the English Teachers Teach This Stuff? Reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing • Literacy is utilized in all content areas • Language is specialized in each area • All learning occurs through language • Literacy = Language and Language = Learning

4. Increasing Specialization of Literacy Shanahan & Shanahan, 2008

5. Disciplinary Literacy is Academic Language

6. What makes literacy hard in the disciplines? The goals of reading and writing and the approaches to reading and writing are different depending on the content area. The texts are written differently. Mathematics Science History/Social Studies

7. Math Reading Goal: arrive at “truth” Importance of “close reading” an intensive consideration of every word in the text Rereading a major strategy Heavy emphasis on error detection Precision of understanding essential Conclusions subject to public argument

8. Mathematics Text 1.1 Introduction to Linear Equations A linear equation in n unknowns x1, xx…, xn is an equation of the form a1x1 + a2x2 +…+ anxn = b, where a1, a2,…,an, b are given real numbers For example, with x and y instead of x1 and x2, the linear equation 2x + 3y = 6describes the line passing through the points (3, 0) and (0, 2). Similarly, with x, y and z instead of x1, x2 and x3 the linear equation 2x + 3y + 4z = 12 describes the plan passing through the points (6, 0, 0), (0, 4, 0), (0, 0, 3). A system of m linear equations in n unknowns x1, x2, …, xn is a family of linear equations

9. Look inside the science text… • Value on linking findings to other scientific principles • Transformation of text information to another visual representation • Marshaling background knowledge

10. The Antarctic krill is (Euphausia superba) is a species of krill found in the Antarctic waters of the Southern Ocean. Antarctic krill are shrimp-like invertebrates that live in large schools, called swarms, sometimes reaching densities of 10,000-30,000 individual animals per cubic meter. They feed directly on minute phytoplankton, thereby using the primary production energy that the phytoplankton originally derived from the sun in order to sustain their pelagic (open ocean) life cycle. They grow to a length of 6 cm, weigh up to 2 grams, and can live for up to six years. They are a key species in the Antarctic ecosystem and are, in terms of biomass, likely the most successful animal species on the planet. Science Text

11. Chart

12. History Reading History is interpretative Importance of authors and sourcing in interpretation Consideration of bias and perspective (including one’s own) are essential Helpful to recognize history as an argument based on partial evidence (narratives are more than facts)

13. Multiple Gist Text Set • Chart of slaves owned by Jackson • Text of Jackson’s inauguration • Bank Veto Speech

14. Tools for Transforming Texts • In the mind and on paper • Language frames • Visual displays • Notetaking guides

15. Multiple Text Discussion Web in History YES NO Text 1 Evidence Text 1 Evidence Text 2 Evidence Should explorers risk lives to achieve goals? Text 2 Evidence Our View Text 3 Evidence Text 3 Evidence

16. Guided Notetaking in Science

17. Alphabet Vocabulary Chart

18. Alphabet Vocabulary Chart

19. Alphabet Vocabulary Chart

20. Alphabet Vocabulary Chart

21. Establishing Purpose: Why are we doing this anyway?

22. Two Components: Language Purpose Content Purpose

23. “Here’s what you’re going to learn today, and this is what I want you to do with it.”

27. The established purpose focuses on student learning, rather than an activity, task, or assignment.

28. Students can explain the established purpose in their own words.

29. Writing to Explain One’s Thinking

32. Writing to Summarize

33. What are Comon Grammar Errors English Learners Make? Generative Sentences • Given a word and conditions about the placement of the word, write a sentence • Forces attention to grammar and word meaning • Use student examples for editing

34. “Volcanoes” in the 4th Position

35. “Volcanoes” in the 4th Position

36. Try these . . .

37. Try these . . .

38. Try these . . .

39. Expanding a Generative Sentence

40. Basic Writing Frame • Although I already knew that ________, I have learned some new facts about _____. For example, I learned that _______. I also learned that ______. Another fact I learned _______. However the most interesting thing I learned was______ .

41. Making a claim I think that_________, because ________________. Although I agree that ______________, I still think that _________. She says ______, and I agree, because _________. Supporting/critiquing a claim Her idea that __________ is supported by _______________, ___________, and _______. For example, ________________ shows that ________________. They say that ___________ , but _______, _____, and ____ say differently. Introducing and addressing a counterargument Of course, you might disagree and say that _________________. Some might say _________, but I would say that _____________. While it is true that __________, that does not always mean that _________. Stating a conclusion or summing up an argument In conclusion, I believe ____________________. In sum: _____________ is shown by _____________ and ______________. For these reasons, _______________ should be ________________. Source: Glencoe Literature, 2009. Used with permission of Glencoe/McGraw-Hill.

42. Creating to Explain One’s Thinking

43. The teacher’s role in developing academic language • Analyze what makes the language demanding for individuals or groups. • Develop scaffolds and supports to help students understand and apply academic language. • Use strategies to develop their proficiency in academiclanguage.

44. Disciplinary Literacy

45. Getting to Academic English: Instructional Practices for Secondary English Learners Nancy Frey, Ph.D. PPT at www.fisherandfrey.com Click “Resources”