Mishka Barnes discusses how English learners acquire academic language skills needed for reading comprehension. She explains that academic language consists of academic vocabulary, discourse forms, and grammar/conventions. ELs must learn this language to achieve academic success. Teachers should thoroughly teach Common Core standards, using synonyms, and focus on academic vocabulary. They should provide reading instruction in small groups using modeling, scaffolding, visuals, and comprehension strategies. Progress is tracked using WIDA performance definitions which are also used to set language goals.

1. How do English
Learners’ acquire
Academic Language to
Obtain Reading
Comprehension Skills?
Mishka Veira Barnes, Ed. D.
Local School ESOL Lead Teacher
Cobb County School District

2. Team Building Activity
Write your name and teaching experiences on an index
card. State one interesting fact about you.
Hi, I’m Mishka.
I love to
snorkel.

3. What is Academic Language?
Academic Language consists of three
components
Academic Vocabulary
Discourse-Forms of Communication
Grammar and Conventions
(Egbert& Ernst-Slavit, 2010)

4. Academic Language and Reading
 Students who do not acquire academic
language will most likely not achieve
academic success because they will not
understand the skills and the vocabulary
related to the curriculum.

5. How Do We Learn?
We remember:
20% of what we read
20% of what we hear
30% of what we see
50% of what we see and hear
70% of what we see, hear, and discuss
90% of what we see, hear, discuss, and
practice
Rutgers Cooperative Extension & Research, 2004

6. As Confucius said…
I hear and I forget
I see and I remember
I do and I understand

7. How do Children Learn?
Children are active learners and thinkers.
(Piaget, 1970)
Children learn through social interaction.
(Vygotsky, 1962)
 Children learn effectively through
scaffolding by adults. (Bruner, 1983)
Cummins (1980) reported that it will take
5 to 7 years for ELs to learn academic
language.

8. Activity: Create a Word Splash “What’s your
Theory?”
How do YOU think ELs Learn Academic Language?
We will Share!
Word Splash
Motivated
Social interaction
Non-threatening
(Use index cards)

9. Epiphany
ELs must learn and use
academic language to
function or perform on an
English Language
Proficiency Level 5:
Bridging.

10. WIDA Performance Definitions - Listening
and Reading Grades K-12
Level 5: Bridging
• Rich descriptive discourse with complex
sentences
• Organized related ideas
• Compound, complex grammatical constructions
(e.g., multiple phrases and clauses)
• A broad range of sentence patterns characteristic
of particular content areas
• Technical and abstract content-area language,
• Words and expressions with shades of meaning
across content areas

11. WIDA Performance Definitions - Listening and
Reading
Level 5: Bridging
• Rich descriptive discourse with complex sentences
• Organized related ideas
• Compound, complex grammatical constructions
(e.g., multiple phrases and clauses)
• A broad range of sentence patterns characteristic
of particular content areas
• Technical and abstract content-area language,
• Words and expressions with shades of meaning
across content areas

12. How do we learn Language?
By Learning:
 Discourse-forms of communication
Example - a play, magazine article
 Language Function- How can we use language?
Example- to explain, to retell, to summarize
 Academic vocabulary -Content area vocabulary
Example- fossils
 Grammar- Conventions
Example- I am going to the park.- correct
 I go to the park.-incorrect

13. How can we help ELs acquire academic
language? Thoroughly teaching the CCGS
Activity 1:
Look at copies of the ELA Common Core
Georgia Standards Work with a partner
1. Highlight the task and the important
academic vocabulary
2. Create Synonyms for the Verbs, Tasks, or
Academic Vocabulary
*****Think of the tasks***
You will share!!

14. Example
 ELACC2RL1
Ask and answer such questions as
what, when, where, when why, to
demonstrate and show
understanding of a key details in a
text.

15. Unpack the Standard in a
whole-group setting
 While unpacking the standard in
front of the students use
synonyms to explain or focus on
the academic vocabulary.

16. Unpacking The Standards

17. Unpacking the Standards

18. Unpacking the Standards

19. You can also create a Synonym Wall

20. How do you teach Reading Instruction and
Common Core Standards?
Lesson Planning
Components of a Common Core
Classroom
~Standards posted and discussed(Include
Synonyms)
~Lesson Framework
Opening
Work Session
Closing
Small Group instruction
Assessments

21. Activity 2: Lesson Planning
Instructional Teaching Strategy
See Lesson Plan Handouts
 With a partner, create a lesson plan
including all the components of a
Common Core Classroom.
You will share!!
I have included created a lesson
plan to help ELs acquire Academic
language to learn reading
comprehension skills.

22. Lesson Plan Components:
 Standards
 EQ
 Opening
 Academic Vocabulary
Select Academic Vocabulary from the text and
Rate and Discuss academic vocabulary in text
Rating 1- Never heard it-
Rating 2- Heard it-
Rating 3-Use it-

23. More Lesson Plan Components
 Language Function
 Work Session
 Stations
 Assessments
 Closing

24. While in small groups-
Use these Instructional Strategies
 Modeling
 Scaffolding
 Visuals
 Comprehensible Input
 UNRAVEL (Reading Comprehension
Strategy)

25. Use WIDA Performance Definitions
 Use this rubric to determine
students performance in
reading, listening, speaking, and
writing.
 Use this rubric to set language
goals
 Determine students’ progress

26. Closing: How do English Learners’ Acquire Academic
Language to Obtain Reading Comprehension Skills?
Teachers Must:
 Thoroughly Review and Explain Standards ( Use
Synonyms)
 Teach Academic Vocabulary in Text
 Teach Reading Instruction in a small-group setting
Instructional Strategies- model reading
comprehension strategies, scaffold instruction, use
visuals, comprehensible input, use UNRAVEL
 Track ELs progress using the WIDA Performance
Definitions
 Set Language Goals use WIDA Performance
Definitions