Mastering Academic Language
A Framework for Supporting Student Achievement
The achievement gap is a language gap—and you can bridge it!
As teachers, we take the language of school—academic language—for granted. But for many of our students, academic language is more than a new language. It is the "make or break" skill for school success. This exciting and much-needed book shows how teachers can help students become fluent, confident speakers of academic language.
Debbie Zacarian shares a step-by-step, research-based approach to scaffolding K-12 instruction for students who do not have the language and literacy skills that are needed in school. Readers will find
- Practical teaching strategies based on the four key facets of academic language fluency
- Richly detailed case studies about students’ experiences with academic language across the content areas
- Guidance on family involvement
- Thought-provoking study questions, along with performance assessment tools
An ideal resource for school- and district-wide Common Core initiatives, this book provides teachers with the foundation and tools to ensure an equitable education for all students.
"This book engages teachers in active reflection on the nature of academic language and how it is used in different content areas across the curriculum. It represents an extremely useful tool for school communities to promote academic learning for all students."
—Jim Cummins, Professor
OISE/University of Toronto
"Mastering Academic Language provides a practical look at the sociocultural foundations of academic language, relevant classroom and student examples, and a helpful framework for organizing and enacting the complex processes of developing language across a variety of contexts."
—Jeff Zwiers, Researcher
Stanford University, CERAS 527
To view Debbie's webinar, Unleashing the Power of Academic Language, please visit http://www.corwin.com/learning/zacarian.html.
Free resources
Debbie Zacarian's Unleashing the Power of Academic Language Webinar
Hear from Debbie Zacarian about the critical role academic language plays in student achievement.
"This book engages teachers in active reflection on the nature of academic language and how it is used in different content areas across the curriculum. It highlights the need for instruction to connect to students' lives, stimulate their intellectual curiosity and cognitive growth, and expand their power to use multiple forms of language in creative and powerful ways. It represents an extremely useful tool for school communities to promote academic learning for all students."
"Mastering Academic Language provides a practical look at the sociocultural foundations of academic language, relevant classroom and student examples, and a helpful framework for organizing and enacting the complex processes of developing language across a variety of contexts."
"This book is a must read for teachers and administrators. It provides a comprehensive approach to helping EL students learn academic language, key to success in the content areas. This book provides an excellent opportunity for leaders as a book study with its guidance and reflections throughout the chapters."
"Educators of all levels and expertise will enjoy this easy read which connects every aspect of student achievement from vocabulary acquisition to assessment to individualizing instruction."
"Mastering Academic Language artfully weaves together vignettes with high-quality research while providing a new lens with which to see schooling and the achievement gap."
