Teaching Science to ELs

Book excerpt: Teaching Science to English Learners is a go-to resource for science educators to promote listening, speaking, reading, and writing in their classrooms. Each chapter outlines specific, easy-to-implement strategies that foster academic language development and comprehension of science concepts, with specific scaffolds highlighted for each language proficiency level. Teaching Science to English Learners is thoughtfully designed to help teachers equip students to navigate inquiry-driven instruction, understand abstract science concepts, and master the multitude of science vocabulary that can be challenging for ELs and non-ELs alike. By equipping teachers with strategies to draw from students’ prior knowledge and focus on collaboration, this book helps science teachers make lessons accessible for all learners, while deepening content comprehension and developing academic language. Teaching Science to English Learners is the second in a set of books designed to help content-area teachers create learning environments in which English learners thrive.