What's on the “LO” Menu? Supporting Academic Language Objective Development

Abstract

To effectively serve culturally and linguistically diverse students in public schools, many pedagogical models call for the integration of content and language instruction. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) also present increased attention to how language is conceptualized for all students. One technique to heighten both teacher and student focus on academic language is via the use of language objectives in tandem with content objectives. In this article, the authors offer a language objective (LO) menu from which teachers can identify the language demands of their lessons, recognize student needs relative to those demands, and select appropriate instructional strategies to meet language objectives. Sample language demands, objectives, and strategies are provided for elementary, middle, and high school academic language development.