Colorin Colorado sums it up well:
Many English language learners (ELLs) can speak English confidently in the lunch room or on the playground, yet when it comes time to read, write, or give a class presentation, they need more practice with the skills required to complete their work successfully. [From: http://www.colorincolorado.org/academic-language]
Colorin Colorado is a website that offers articles, videos, and posts related to academic language-- learn more about the difference between social and academic language and take a look at some strategies by veteran ELL teachers and researchers that will benefit all students in the classroom.
Articles:
- Narrowing the language gap: the case for explicit vocabulary instruction in secondary classrooms (Feldman/Kinsella, 2005)
- Six Key Strategies for Teachers of English-Language Learners (2005)
- Cutting to the Common Core: Making Vocabulary Number One (Kinsella 2016)
Word Lists:
1) Trying to come up with vocabulary lists for specific grades and subject areas?
2) Lists important academic terms and phrases in content areas for Kindergarten to grade 8
3) This is a gem!—see two specific links below-
Subject Specific Word list: http://www.vocabulary.com/dir-wordlist-word_list
- 100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know http://www.vocabulary.com/lists/558097#view=notes
4) Academic Word List Coxhead (2000). The most frequent word in each family is in italics. There are 570 headwords and about 3000 words altogether.
For more information see The Academic Word List.
- Kids’ list http://www.lextutor.ca/vp/kids/kid_list_display/kids02_fams.txt
- Connector Words - Common Transition Words: http://www.studygs.net/wrtstr6.htm
*Reminder - Using transitional words and phrases helps papers read more smoothly, and at the same time allows the reader to flow more smoothly from one point to the next.
5) Signal Words
6) Most common prefixes & suffixes: