Science

Helpful Links

"Just because your newcomers don't have the academic language YET to understand core content, does not mean they should not be receiving core instruction. The ultimate goal of providing beginning English skills is to engage our students in core academic instruction." quote from Emily Francis at https://inspiringenglishlanguagelearners.weebly.com/blog/supporting-newcomers

ReWordify Enter complex text and watch it be simplified! http://rewordify.com/

Spanish/English Science glossary: http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/scmsAdmin/media/users/xr1/glossaries/Science/Elementary/ele_4_science_spanish.pdf

Teaching Science Strategies for Teaching Science. From The Sourcebook for Teaching Science webpage: https://www.csun.edu/science/ref/language/teaching-ell.html

National Science Teachers Association Strategies for Teaching Science. From NSTA website: http://www.nsta.org/about/positions/ell.aspx

Strategies for Teaching Science Vocabulary. From Learn NC website: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/7079

Lesson and Materials for Teaching Science. From Your Dictionary website: http://esl.yourdictionary.com/esl/esl-lessons-and-materials/tips-for-teaching-science-to-esl-students.html

Helping English Learners Understand Science. From United Federation of Teachers website: http://www.uft.org/teacher-teacher/helping-esl-students-science-class

http://www.ducksters.com/science/

https://www.csun.edu/science/ref/language/teaching-ell.html (Teaching strategies)

http://www.readingrockets.org/article/using-science-develop-ells-language-skills (Example lesson)

http://www.nsta.org/publications/news/story.aspx?id=53492 (Teaching strategies)

http://www.edmentum.com/sites/edmentum.com/files/resource/media/0272-27_DifferentiateInstructionESL_081415.pdf

http://www.ellteacherpros.com/science/ (many links)

https://www.amnh.org/learn-teach/english-language-learners/esl-strategies-to-construct-science-learning/ (strategies & sample lessons)

Challenges that ELs face when studying science:

http://multilingual.mpls.k12.mn.us/uploads/working-with-newcomers-teachers.pdf

* The vocabulary of science presents a huge difficulty. There are a special set of terms for the student to learn. Even simple words that the student may know could have another meaning in science.

* Material is covered very fast

* Directions are often multi-step and difficult.

* There are too many concepts explained on each page of a science text.

* Cooperative learning may not fit in with students experiences in learning.

* Visuals may be confusing and difficult to understand.

* Sentence structure is complex and the passive voice is used in textbooks.

* What was taught in class does not always match the assessment.

* ELs are not used to science labs or equipment

* Students lack background in scientific method

* There is no standard form of delivery of information

Earth Science:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/FreeDownload/The-Earths-Layers-in-Plain-English-2829621