AVReading

This year, using Jeff Zwier’s Building Academic Language as a guide, we have examined ways that we can better help our students “talk” the language of school. As we bring this study to a close, I would like to highlight a few last academic language practices offered by Zwiers. First, it should be re-stated that building academic language requires constant attention. It means devoting time and thought to assist our students with not only the content of what we teach, but the language and grammar of school and the specific disciplines with which we work. Once that commitment is made, we have to work to find novel and varied ways to foster this language growth. Here are a few more practices that might be of use to you towards that end. Presentations and Evaluations: While some of us are using student presentations (group and individual), we might want to re-think how we use them, specifically with student audiences. For example, we typically put the emphasis on the product (the...