English Through Inquiry: Implications of WIDA for Secondary Science Education Professional Development
Abstract
The adoption of the WIDA standards in Indiana provides the state with an opportunity to create professional development for secondary science teachers that could transform how English language learners in the state of Indiana learn science. A look to recent literature in both language and multicultural education indicates inquiry can be used as a framework to structure such professional development, with special attention to how science teachers address academic language development, contextualize content to students’ prior knowledge, and, perhaps most importantly, design instruction that allows students to question the status quo in science knowledge and practice. Such transformation could lead to student science learning that exceeds the expectations outlined in both language development and science state standards documents.References
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