From curiosity to comprehension: supporting diverse learners in academic language development

In this article, we describe a collaboration between two university science educators, a first grade teacher, and a special education teacher to modify a unit focused on carnivorous plants. Given the large number of students in the class with special education needs (SEN), additional supports were put in place to help students succeed in their understanding and use of the academic vocabulary associated with the unit. We will describe the unit activities, the supports, and how they impacted the students’ experiences.