Transcript Playing Detectives: Where are the Language Objectives in

Playing Detectives: Where are the
Language Objectives in Science
and Social Studies Courses?
Presented by: Gretchen Chaney, Title
III Sheltered Instruction Facilitator
Content and Language Objectives
In Science and Social Studies
Purpose
to understand the importance of writing content and language
objectives for each lesson and sharing them with English
Language Learners everyday.
Content Objective
Participants will be able to:
Explain the importance of including language and content
objectives in lessons for English Language Learners (ELLs)
Language Objectives
Participants will be able to:
Identify the difference between content and language objectives
by developing them for lesson plans and using resources.
Debate the inclusion of both kinds of objectives and use of
supplementary materials.
Preparation Features
Clearly defined content objectives for students
Clearly defined language objectives for students
Content concepts appropriate for age and
educational background.
Supplementary materials used to a high degree,
making the lesson clear and meaningful (e.g. graphs,
models, visuals)
Adaptation of content (e.g.text, assignment) to all
levels of student proficiency.
Meaningful activities that integrate lesson concepts
(e.g. surveys, letter writing, simulations, constructing
models) with language practice opportunities for
reading, writing, listening, and/or speaking.
What is a Language Objective?
Reading
Writing
Listening
Speaking
Activity
#1 Think-Pair-Share: What is the difference
between content and language objectives?
Reason language objectives are
problematic:
Content teachers do not know how to
identify potential language objectives
Content teachers do not have time to teach
language
Teaching language is often considered the
role of the ESL teacher
Content teachers do not know enough
about their ELLs’ proficiency levels to
determine appropriate language objectives.
The SIOP enables teachers to help
students overcome obstacles they face due
to lack of language proficiency.
What is difficult in Science for
ELL’s?
Discourse
Structures
Academic
Language Skills
Conceptual
Understanding
Study Skills
Discourse structure may be very
different from the students’ previous
English experience.
Grammatical forms and structures in
textbooks become increasingly complex.
All four academic language skills are
required.
Scientific misunderstandings are
remarkably persistent
Study skills are similar to those in
language arts and social studies.
Content and Language
Objectives
Example of a content objective for middle school
science:
(4) Scientific processes. The student knows
how to use tools and methods to conduct
science inquiry.
TESOL Objective 2: The student will use
English to achieve academically in content
areas.
What is difficult in Social Studies for
ELL’s?
Conceptual
Understanding
Vocabulary
Language
Functions and
Discourse
Structures
Academic
Language Skills
Study Skills and
Learning Strategies
Curriculum assumes prior historical, geographical,
and civic knowledge and culturally based values
which may be unfamiliar to students.
Specialized vocabulary often refers to abstract
concepts.
Discourse is primarily expository; language functions
include both lower and higher-level thinking skills.
Reading texts include sentences with multiple
embedded clauses, complex past tense forms, and
extensive use of pronouns.
Decontextualized language is used in relationship to
unfamiliar concepts.
Students may have had little experience locating
information, using maps and graphs, and using
effective strategies for listening, reading, and writing.
Content and Language
Objectives (cont)
Example of a content objective for middle school
social studies:
Social Studies Grades 8, 10, and 11
Obj. 1: The student will demonstrate an
understanding of issues and events in U.S.
history.
TESOL Objective 2: The student will use
English to achieve academically in content
areas.
Content and Language
Objectives (cont)
Example of a content objective for
secondary social studies:
Social Studies Grades 8, 10, and
11
Obj. 2: The student will demonstrate
an understanding of geographic
influences on historical issues and
events.
TESOL Objective 2: The student
will use English to achieve
academically in content areas.
Content and Language
Objectives
Example of a content objective for science:
Biology (12) Science concepts. The student knows
that interdependence and interactions
occur within an ecosystem. The student is expected to
(E) investigate and explain the interactions in an
ecosystem including food chains, food webs,
and food pyramids. (Tested at grade 10)
TESOL Objective 2: The student will use English to
achieve academically in content areas.
Activity #2
Participants will work in small groups to
develop 3 language objectives for their
content area
Select one member of each group to share
findings.
What are some examples of
reading objectives?
Examples of writing objectives?
Examples of listening objectives?
Examples of speaking objectives?
Question and Answer
Wrap-up
If your horse is dead, GET OFF!
DEAD
HORSE
•Make a new plan!
Works Cited
Drs. Echavarria, J.,Vogt, M.E., and Short,D.(2000) Making Content
Comprehensible for English Language Learners: The SIOP Model.
Needham Heights, MD: Allyn & Bacon.
Uhl Chamot, A. and J. Michael O'Malley. (1994) CALLA Handbook:
Implementing the Cognitive Academic Language Learning
Approach.
Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company.
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