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Mastering Academic Language

A Framework for Supporting Student Achievement

Debbie Zacarian author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:SAGE Publications Inc

Published:12th Feb '13

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Mastering Academic Language cover

The achievement gap is a language gap—and you can bridge it!

As teachers, we take the language of school—academic language—for granted. But for many of our students, academic language is more than a new language. It is the "make or break" skill for school success. This exciting and much-needed book shows how teachers can help students become fluent, confident speakers of academic language.

Debbie Zacarian shares a step-by-step, research-based approach to scaffolding K-12 instruction for students who do not have the language and literacy skills that are needed in school. Readers will find

  • Practical teaching strategies based on the four key facets of academic language fluency
  • Richly detailed case studies about students’ experiences with academic language across the content areas
  • Guidance on family involvement
  • Thought-provoking study questions, along with performance assessment tools

An ideal resource for school- and district-wide Common Core initiatives, this book provides teachers with the foundation and tools to ensure an equitable education for all students.

"This book engages teachers in active reflection on the nature of academic language and how it is used in different content areas across the curriculum. It represents an extremely useful tool for school communities to promote academic learning for all students."
—Jim Cummins, Professor
OISE/University of Toronto

"Mastering Academic Language provides a practical look at the sociocultural foundations of academic language, relevant classroom and student examples, and a helpful framework for organizing and enacting the complex processes of developing language across a variety of contexts."
—Jeff Zwiers, Researcher
Stanford University, CERAS 527

"This book engages teachers in active reflection on the nature of academic language and how it is used in different content areas across the curriculum. It highlights the need for instruction to connect to students′ lives, stimulate their intellectual curiosity and cognitive growth, and expand their power to use multiple forms of language in creative and powerful ways. It represents an extremely useful tool for school communities to promote academic learning for all students." -- Jim Cummins, Professor of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning
"Mastering Academic Language provides a practical look at the sociocultural foundations of academic language, relevant classroom and student examples, and a helpful framework for organizing and enacting the complex processes of developing language across a variety of contexts." -- Jeff Zwiers, Researcher
"This book is a must read for teachers and administrators. It provides a comprehensive approach to helping EL students learn academic language, key to success in the content areas. This book provides an excellent opportunity for leaders as a book study with its guidance and reflections throughout the chapters." -- Maria Gillentine, Title III Program Specialist
"Educators of all levels and expertise will enjoy this easy read which connects every aspect of student achievement from vocabulary acquisition to assessment to individualizing instruction." -- Michael Clyne, 5th Grade Teacher
"Mastering Academic Language artfully weaves together vignettes with high-quality research while providing a new lens with which to see schooling and the achievement gap." -- Christine Landwehrle, Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction

ISBN: 9781452255439

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 500g

240 pages