Scientific Minds Answers The Call For ELP
Austin, TX (PRWEB) August 28, 2014 -- Scientific Minds has recently added English language proficiency strategies to its middle school and high school Science Starter products. These strategies help teachers address the English language proficiency (ELP) standards that many states have developed or are in the process of developing in order to address career and college readiness for English language learners (ELLs). Some states call these English language development (ELD) standards.
Across the Unites States, from Oregon to Pennsylvania and Texas to North Carolina, states who receive an Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) waiver are required to have ELP standards in place. The intent of the requirement is to ensure that English language learners can access academic content at each grade level while they are learning English.
Scientific Minds has provided specific activities that address learning, speaking, and reading strategies for teachers using the Middle School Science Starters, Biology Starters, and Chemistry Starters in their classrooms. Angie Casteel, Director of Product Development for Scientific Minds, says the ELP strategies give teachers “targeted activities to improve the communication of students who aren’t participating in science discussion or are limited in their ability to construct written responses.”
“Building academic language proficiency is a huge part of learning science, whether a student is a native speaker or an English language learner. Students who are learning the academic language at the same time they are mastering the everyday language are certainly at a disadvantage. We really focused on strategies for constructing academic responses and participating in class discussion while using the Science Starters.”
Scientific Minds also publishes the Elementary Science Starters, a series of 130 digital science picture books available entirely in English and in Spanish. The company offers a free 7-day trial for each of its Science Starters products at http://www.ScientificMinds.com.
About Scientific Minds, LLC
Scientific Minds, LLC publishes award-winning online resources for 3-12 science education. Founded in 2007 by a veteran science teacher, Scientific Minds, LLC provides tools and processes to enhance science instruction and includes strategies to support all students. The company mission is to develop quality, web-based educational products that inspire, encourage, and promote next-generation skills for student success.
Angie Casteel, Scientific Minds, http://www.scientificminds.com, +1 (800) 886-8145, [email protected]
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