Language as scientific work
Literacy and English Language Development
Support collaborative, interpretive, productive, and language-analysis work without lowering the science demand.
01
Meaning before polish
Students rehearse ideas, interpret models and evidence, and produce oral, visual, or written explanations. Teachers can add visuals, home-language resources, sentence frames, and partner rehearsal, then fade supports as independence grows.
- Emerging: label, point, sequence, and connect evidence with supported language.
- Expanding: combine evidence with causal, contrast, and uncertainty language.
- Bridging: qualify claims, compare mechanisms, and adjust language for audience.
02
Read like a scientist
Students separate observation from inference, connect captions to diagrams, inspect source evidence, and explain what a representation shows and hides. Writing and speaking are used to revise thinking, not only report a final answer.
Professional review remains essential
Adapt this guidance to district policy, adopted materials, actual learners, available facilities, and current authoritative sources.