This document argues that teaching science to all students using the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) can help improve English language acquisition for English language learners (ELLs) by engaging them in the language-intensive practices of science. The NGSS require students to observe, measure, describe, analyze, and defend their work using academic language, providing opportunities to learn both science content and language skills simultaneously in an authentic context. The document outlines how the NGSS are structured to support language development and provides examples of how certain performance expectations incorporate descriptive, technical, and analytical language use.
PCG Education White Paper - Next Generation Science in Support of Language Acquisition for All Students
1. Teaching science to every student, every day, will
improve language learning while also increasing
science content knowledge.
By Dr. Richard N. Vineyard & Dr. Jack W. McLaughlin
November 12, 2015
Next Generation Science
in Support of Language
Acquisition for All Students