Developing Academic Language with the SIOP Model

This resource shows teachers how to promote academic language skills for all students—English learners and native English speakers alike. The text guides educators in designing and delivering lessons that engage students in learning and using the academic language effectively.

Building on the SIOP® Model’s instructional framework, this book offers guidelines and techniques for strengthening academic language and literacy development in all students—especially English learners—in today’s school curricula based on the Common Core and other state standards. The focus is on ways to develop and advance English learners’ proficiency in academic English across all grades and all subjects so they are able to access and acquire information related to academic topics; communicate and produce information in academic contexts; and create and extend knowledge through rigorous academic discussion

Packed with practical guidelines, activities, techniques, and lesson vignettes, the book helps educators with a number of teaching and learning tasks such as:

• Determining the academic language embedded in textbooks, classroom talk, instructional tasks, and standardized tests.
• Writing effective language objectives.
• Implementing a variety of techniques that can strengthen students’ academic vocabulary, oral language, and collaborative discussion skills to improve content area reading and writing.
• Diagnosing aspects of weak or missing language proficiency in order to target interventions that help students reach advanced levels of English proficiency.

With this resource as a guide, educators see how to advance students’ academic language abilities to be successful in school.

What They’re Saying About Developing Academic Language with the SIOP® Model:

"It has practical, realistic information that teachers need to help them design and deliver lessons that will build their students' academic English proficiency within the structure of content area achievement."

Dr. Margaret (Meg) E. D. Baker

Regional Title III Program Specialist

Georgia Department of Education

Atlanta, Georgia

"It does an excellent job of integrating theory and practice. The text builds on SIOP®, yet provides enough background information that if readers are not familiar with SIOP®, they will still understand the connections. The balance of practical suggestions with foundational theories provides readers with a good understanding of academic language and how to develop this type of language."

Dr. Laurie Weaver

University of Houston--Clear Lake

In Developing Academic Language with the SIOP® Model, teachers and teacher candidates get an informative look at how to use the highly effective SIOP Model to design effective lessons that meet high standards, while scaffolding content information and promoting language skills and development for all students—English learners and native English speakers alike—in today’s age of the Common Core and other state standards. The focus is on ways to develop and advance English learners’ proficiency in academic English across all grades and all subjects so they are able to access and acquire information related to academic topics; communicate and produce information in academic contexts; and create and extend knowledge through linguistic, conceptual, and sociocultural choices. The book is packed with practical guidelines, activities, techniques, and sample lessons.