EDU 824 Article Review

Joi Kilpatrick EDU 824 Article Review The Language of Science: Addressing the linguistic challenges of science texts Linda Kucan and Juanita Bohila In the 2016 article, Kucan and Bo... See More

Joi Kilpatrick EDU 824 Article Review The Language of Science: Addressing the linguistic challenges of science texts Linda Kucan and Juanita Bohila In the 2016 article, Kucan and Bohila, discuss the importance of vocabulary for science instruction. The article focused on the use of the glossary in science text and how it should be used. Kucan and Bohila suggest that glossaries should cross reference vocabulary to give students added information to support the learning of the concepts. Vocabulary in text should be easy to comprehend, so students can gain an understanding of the meaning of the text. Additionally, they suggest that mini-glossaries should be placed in the reading of the text. The article suggests that vocabulary should use the scaffolding approach to teach students vocabulary. The scaffolding approach focuses on show and tell, visual aids, pre teaching, prior knowledge and discussion. When teaching vocabulary it in science or any other content area, it is important to make it plain for students. One of the strategies that was used in the study was using graphic organizers. As an administrator in a primarily ESL school, I have found that vocabulary is a weakness in their learning. However, focusing on vocabulary will help all students gain a deeper understanding of the concepts. Additionally, using graphic organizers and cross referencing vocabulary for students will give them a deeper understanding. Kucan, L. & Bohila, J. (2016). The Language of Science: Addressing the linguistic challenges of science texts. The Science Teacher, (54-59).