Planning Science Instruction for Emergent Bilinguals: Weaving in Rich and Relevant Language Support

This practical resource guides educators through a planning process to integrate language, literacy, and science for emergent bilinguals, using a science unit as a shared text. It offers tools and examples to support bilinguals' language development and collaboration in science, addressing social inequity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 24 February 2023
Publisher: Teachers' College Press

This comprehensive guide for educators takes them through a thorough planning process, from selecting standards to designing learning activities, seamlessly integrating language, literacy, and science to cater to emergent bilinguals. Drawing on extensive and up-to-date research, the authors unveil effective strategies for secondary educators to leverage students' own language and lived experiences, coupled with authentic science practices, to provide robust and meaningful language support. By using a science unit as a shared text, readers will delve into gathering rich knowledge about emergent bilinguals, unpacking the ideas and language demands of Next Generation Science Standards, strategically embedding language and literacy standards into the curriculum, and sequencing learning activities around an anchoring phenomenon, a text, and an assessment. Throughout this process, readers will acquire a diverse range of planning tools and practical examples of how to effectively support emergent bilinguals in utilizing language to collaborate with others and interpret and produce texts that are integral to learning and engaging in science.

Moreover, Planning Science Instruction for Emergent Bilinguals goes beyond theory by demonstrating how this planning process can be employed to dismantle social inequalities faced by emergent bilinguals. The book offers valuable insights into intentional decisions educators can make when designing a science unit or learning experience. It showcases how to seamlessly weave together Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core English Language Arts Standards, and language development, creating a cohesive and inclusive curriculum.

To illustrate the practical application of these principles, the book provides a model unit on kelp forest ecosystems, showcasing how theory is translated into practice. It demonstrates how educators can use emergent bilinguals' assets, such as linguistic skills, family experiences, and personal interests, to create engaging and meaningful science instruction.

By embracing this resource, educators can foster a learning environment that celebrates diversity, supports language development, and equips emergent bilinguals with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in science and beyond.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780807768082