Teaching Science to English Language Learners / Edition 1

by Joyce Nutta, Nazan U. Bautista, Malcolm B. Butler

Overview

Books in the Teaching English Language Learners (ELLs) across the Curriculum Series are written specifically for pre- and in- service teachers who may not have been trained in ELL techniques, but still find themselves facing the realities and challenges of today's diverse classrooms and learners. Each book provides simple and straightforward advice on how to teach ELLs through a given subject area, and how to teach content to ELLs who are at different levels of English language proficiency than the rest of their class. Authored by both language and content area specialists, each volume arms readers with practical, teacher-friendly strategies, and subject-specific techniques.

Teaching Science to English Language Learners offers science teachers and teacher educators a straightforward approach for engaging ELLs learning science, offering examples of easy ways to adapt existing lesson plans to be more inclusive. The practical, teacher-friendly strategies and techniques included here are proven effective with ELLs, and many are also effective with all students. The book provides context-specific strategies for the full range of the secondary sciences curriculum, including physical science, life science, earth and space science, science as inquiry, and history and nature of science and more. A fully annotated list of web and print resources completes the book, making this a one volume reference to help science teachers meet the challenges of including all learners in effective instruction.

Special features:

• practical examples of science exercises make applying theory to practice simple when teaching science to ELLs
• an overview of the National Science Education Standards offers useful guidelines for effective instructional and assessment practices for ELLs in secondary grades
• graphs, tables, and illustrations provide additional access points to the text in clear, meaningful ways.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415996259
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/02/2010
Series:	Teaching English Language Learners across the Curriculum
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Joyce W. Nutta is an Associate Professor of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Education and the ESOL Co-ordinator of the College of Education at the University of Central Florida.

Nazan U. Bautista is an Assistant Professor of Science Education in the Department of Teacher Education at Miami University.

Malcolm B. Butler is an Associate Professor of Science Education at the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Table of Contents

List of Figures x

List of Tables xi

Series Introduction xiii

Part 1 Your English Language Learner Tony Erben 1

1.1 Orientation 3

1.2 The Process of English Language Learning and What to Expect 5

Principle 1 Give ELLs Many Opportunities to Read, to Write, to Listen to, and to Discuss Oral and Written English Texts Expressed in a Variety of Ways 6

Principle 2 Draw Attention to Patterns of English Language Structure 7

Principle 3 Give ELLs Classroom Time to Use their English Productively 8

Principle 4 Give ELLs Opportunities to Notice their Errors and to Correct their English 8

Principle 5 Construct Activities that Maximize Opportunities for ELLs to Interact with Others in English 10

1.3 Deciding on the Best ESOL Program 13

1.4 Teaching for English Language Development 18

1.5 Not All ELLs are the Same 22

Stages of Cultural Adjustment 24

Cultural Practices at School 25

1.6 Culturally Responsive Pedagogy 27

1.7 Not All Parents are the Same: Home-School Communication 30

Ideas: On Fostering Access 31

Ideas: On Fostering Approachability 31

Ideas: On Achieving Good Follow-Through 32

1.8 English Language Learners with Special Needs 33

Part 2 What We Know From Research 37

2.1 Principles of Science Teaching and Learning 39

2.2 Science-Focused ESOL Research 42

Overview of Research on Science Instruction for ELLs from 1982-2005 42

2.3 Supporting Communication in Content Instruction for ELLs 45

2.4 Stages of Second Language Acquisition 47

2.5 Adapting Direct Instruction, Inquiry-Based Learning, and Assessment 49

Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) 49

Assessment and Accommodations for Teaching Academic Subjects to ELLs 52

2.6 Supporting ELLs' Academic Language Development in Science 55

Part 3 Teaching Science 57

3.1 Teaching Science to ELLs at Secondary Grade Levels 61

3.2 Pre-K-12 English Language Proficiency Standards for Science 70

3.3 Culturally and Linguistically Congruent Instruction and Assessment 75

3.4 Science and Culturally Relevant Teaching 77

3.5 Classroom-Based Science Assessment at the Secondary Level 79

3.6 Life Science 82

3.7 Physical Science 90

3.8 Earth and Space Science 99

Moon Phases: Language Intensive Instruction Compared to Hands-On, Minds-On Instruction 101

Moon Phase Lesson Plan-Language Intensive Instruction 101

Understanding the Seasons 106

3.9 Science as Inquiry 111

3.10 History and Nature of Science 117

3.11 Personal and Social Perspectives in Science 121

3.12 Science and Technology 124

3.13 Unifying Concepts and Processes 127

Part 4 Resources 131

4.1 Internet Resources for Teachers 133

Lesson Plans and Activities 133

Scientific Issues 138

Museum Resburces 139

Professional ESL Organizations 140

4.2 Literature for Teachers 142

Online Articles and Texts that Focus on Teaching Science for ELLs 142

Research Articles 145

Classroom-Based Articles: Middle School Science 151

Classroom-Based Articles: High School Science 152

Content-Based ESL Articles 153

Books and Book Chapters 153

Journals 155

4.3 Materials for Teachers 156

Teacher Professional Development 156

Videos and DVDs 157

Podcasts, Videocasts, and Webcasts (Science and Science Teaching) 159

4.4 Resources for Students 162

Web Resources 162

Dictionaries 165

Glossary 167

Notes 172

References 174

Index 183

Editorial Reviews

"Teaching Science to English Language Learners is a good combination of theoretical background and practical ideas that will serve science teachers well…As the United States becomes increasingly diverse, it is important that science teachers have the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of all students. Teaching Science to English Language Learners provides an important piece of this knowledge by effectively bringing together and contextualizing key principles that must be considered when teaching science to ELLs."—Teachers College Record

From the Publisher