Engaging English learners in the science and engineering practices (original) (raw)

NGSS Instruction: A Powerful Lever for Equitable Learning, Language Development, and Learning in Other School Subjects. Policy Brief

WestEd, 2021

Initiative supported several K-8 school districts in implementing the NGSS, which call for substantial changes in science teaching and learning. This brief describes some key results and takeaways from WestEd's evaluation of the initiative, which found that NGSS teaching: » Fosters strong student engagement and deep learning for K-8 students, particularly for students who have often been inadequately reached through traditional science instruction. » Has natural synergy with the core subjects of English language arts (ELA) and math, and supports language development.

English language learners in science education (2014)

A focus on high academic standards and achievement for all students has been at the heart of sweeping educational reforms since the publication of A Nation at Risk (National Commission on Excellence in Education, 1983). In recent years, this push for high achievement in science education has grown in both urgency and complexity as a result of four primary factors: (a) the growing cultural and linguistic diversity of the U.S. student population; (b) the persistence of testing gaps across demographic subgroups coupled with the increased accountability demands for all students following the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 and the Race To The Top (RT 3 ) initiatives that began in 2010; (c) an increase in both cognitive and linguistic demands inherent in A Framework for K-12 Science Education (National Research Council [NRC], 848 2011) and the Next Generation Science Standards (Achieve, 2013); and (d) a combination of evolving personal and social reasons for why all students need to learn challenging science, such as to make informed decisions about technologically driven problems and solutions, for career and college readiness, and as a robust context for learning valuable academic English.

Towards equity for multilingual learners

NSTA Science and Children, 2023

In this article, we show how the NGSS offer a new op¬portunity to see language development and science learning as mutually supportive, an approach that has the potential to support equity in science learning for MLLs. We present a sample activity structure for in¬troducing phenomena that allows students to simultaneously develop language and engage in scientific sensemaking. This activity contrasts with traditional approaches that teach lan¬guage before students engage in science activities, through strategies such as engaging in chants to build word recogni¬tion, pre-teaching vocabulary, or practicing certain sentence structures.

Integrating science and English proficiency for English language learners. (2012)

Despite the expectation that all students should achieve high academic standards, content area instruction and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) instruction for English language learners (or ELLs) have traditionally been conceptualized as separate domains, resulting in educational inequities for ELLs. This is because effective instruction to promote academic achievement for ELLs requires integration of content and language. Such inequities are more pronounced in urban schools where ELLs are disproportionately represented. In science education, research on instructional interventions to simultaneously promote science and English proficiency of ELLs has begun to emerge in recent years. Grounded in this emerging research literature, we offer specific instructional strategies to integrate science and English proficiency for ELLs in five domains: (1) literacy strategies with all students, (2) language support strategies with ELLs, (3) discourse strategies with ELLs, (4) home language support, and (5) home culture connections.

Equal Access to Content Instruction for English Learners: An Example from Science

2012

Equal access to content instruction is the foundation of educational equity-it reduces opportunity gaps that lead to achievement gaps. Achievement gaps lead to gaps in college and career access, which lead to income gaps. Income gaps lead to language gaps, thus perpetuating one of the most critical gaps we face in education. This paper is about the importance of equal meaningful access to content instruction for English learners and how academic-language instruction through content improves both content and English achievement. In this paper we use quality science education as an example of providing meaningful access to content instruction through hands-on, inquiry-based lessons to apply higher-order thinking skills that promote the development of academic language. We conclude by advocating that this type of science education should be available to all students and suggest policies and practices to increase the likelihood of this taking place. Do English Learners Have Equal Access to Content Instruction? English learners are students in U.S. schools whose first language is other than English and who are in the process of learning English. These students include those who are just beginning to learn English as well as those who have developed considerable proficiency. English learners are a heterogeneous group of students, coming from diverse linguistic, economic, and educational backgrounds. They can be newcomers, with various levels of prior schooling, as well as students born and educated in the United States. State-approved oral language and literacy assessments determine that these students lack the clearly defined

Promising instructional strategies for English learners in the science classroom

2014

English learners to thrive in the science classroom, teachers should build on a foundation of effective instruction and then explore what a partnership between content and language teachers can offer. Partnering to support academic achievement: The TESL professor and the science teacher Academic language development for English learners (ELs) has become the new focus in many K-12 content-area classrooms. While many teachers have been exposed to current ideas in academic language development and want to include it in their classroom teaching, they are often not sure how to begin. This can be stressful for content teachers who have not been formally trained in teaching English as a second language, and challenging for ESL teachers put in the position of teaching content outside the realm of teaching language. Effective instruction to promote academic achievement for ELs requires integration of content and language (Lee & Buxton, 2013). Due to the steady growth of ELs in U.S. schools, there is a continued need for language and content teachers to collaborate and support academic language development in content-area classrooms. In this article, we will share what we learned when a TESL professor (Sarah) and an in-service science teacher (Jessica), collaborated to find practical ideas to teach academic language in the science classroom.

Science education with English language learners: Synthesis and research agenda

Review of Educational Research, 2005

This review analyzes and synthesizes current research on science education with ELLs. Science learning outcomes with ELLs are considered in the context of equitable learning opportunities. Then, theoretical perspectives guiding the research studies reviewed here are explained, and the methodological and other criteria for inclusion of these research studies are described. Next, the literature on science education with ELLs is discussed with regard to science learning, science curriculum (including computer technology), science instruction, science assessment, and science teacher education. Science education initiatives, interventions, or programs that have been successful with ELLs are highlighted. The article summarizes the key features (e.g., theoretical perspectives and methodological orientations) and key findings in the literature, and concludes with a proposed research agenda and implications for educational practice.