4 Tips for Teaching English through Science
By Judie Haynes
Classroom teachers often find that multilingual learners struggle with science, but Judie Haynes has found that MLs can be successful with the following supports and lesson modifications.
- Limit the vocabulary list to what students actually need to learn. Everyday words and their use should be separated from science words. The vocabulary should be pre-taught, practiced, and displayed on a word wall.
- Create a packet of notes with pictures to make the concepts in a science textbook more comprehensible. It’s difficult for MLs to take their own notes.
- Model all aspects of the science class, from procedures for conducting experiments, pronunciation of science terms, to helping students learn how to find the main ideas in reading, and providing word banks and sentence starters.
- Give students a purpose for their science studies. Sponsor events such as a science fair. Haynes’ students in grades K-3 did group projects while those in grades 4-6 had individual experiments using the scientific method. MLLs got to talk about their projects with their classmates during the fair, providing rich and authentic interaction and communication. They also showed their work to their families, who all turned out the night of the fair.
You can find more specific information in the article.
Judie Haynes was president of NJTESOL/NJBE 2010-2012. She taught elementary ESL for 28 years and is the author and coauthor of eight books for teachers of MLs. She writes monthly blogs for the TESOL International Association.