How do you address language form (vocabulary, grammar, and discourse specific to a
particular content area) and language function (the purposes for communication/use of
language in academic and social contexts) in your classroom?
I believe that these opportunities are provided in everyday activities. Giving my
students time to speak with each other and listen to each other allows them to learn from each
other. provide my students with opportunities to learn through listening,
speaking, reading, and writing. This works for my classroom because it gives my
students practice no matter if they are native English speakers or not.
How do you address the relationship between verbal and written expression in your
classroom?
Students are definitely much stronger with verbal expression than written expression.
Not true for all students, but most I would say. To support this relationship, we use the
computer to do writing weekly. We can use text to speech or an app called co writer to help
students get their ideas onto the page. In addition, if the task is not specifically measuring
how well a student can write, words can be written for them. For example, if a math
question is asking a student to explain their thinking, we could write for them or record
their answer. In order to encourage more written expression, students need to first be
willing to even write. There are many barriers with written expression such as handwriting,
fine motor skills and spelling.
