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A Language-Based Approach to Content Instruction (LACI) in Science for English Language Learners

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Science Teacher Preparation in Content-Based Second Language Acquisition

Part of the book series: ASTE Series in Science Education ((ASTE))

Abstract

To learn about science, English language learners (ELLs) need to be able to understand the language of science, as language is an integral part of learning science content. Science teachers need to be prepared for meeting ELLs’ content and language needs. Because of the growing number of ELLs in mainstream classes, all teachers – not just bilingual or English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) specialists – need to be prepared for meeting ELLs’ content and language needs. The context of this chapter is a teacher preparation model that started in California and was applied in Indiana, New York, and Florida with both in-service and pre-service teacher. Over the course of the past 10 years, elementary and secondary teachers learned about a language-based approach to content instruction (LACI) to address the content and language needs of ELLs in their classes. This chapter argues that LACI enables teachers to simultaneously focus on language and content in the content area of science. Using examples from classroom discourse in a fourth-grade classroom in Indiana, the chapter presents principles – the 6 Cs of support – for implementing LACI in science instruction.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA

    Luciana C. de Oliveira

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  1. Luciana C. de Oliveira
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Correspondence to Luciana C. de Oliveira .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York, USA

    Alandeom W. Oliveira

  2. Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA

    Molly H. Weinburgh

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de Oliveira, L.C. (2017). A Language-Based Approach to Content Instruction (LACI) in Science for English Language Learners. In: Oliveira, A., Weinburgh, M. (eds) Science Teacher Preparation in Content-Based Second Language Acquisition. ASTE Series in Science Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43516-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43516-9_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-43514-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-43516-9

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

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