As teachers, we take the language of school, academic language, for granted. But for many of our students, academic language is more than a new language. It is the "make or break" skill for school success. This exciting and much-needed book shows how teachers can help students become fluent, confident speakers of academic language. Debbie Zacarian shares a step-by-step, research-based approach to scaffolding K-12 instruction for students who do not have the language and literacy skills that are needed in school. Readers will find: practical teaching strategies based on the four key facets of academic language fluency; richly detailed case studies about students' experiences with academic language across the content areas; guidance on family involvement; and thought-provoking study questions, along with performance assessment tools. An ideal resource for school- and district-wide Common Core initiatives, this book provides teachers with the foundation and tools to ensure an equitable education for all students.

1. A Call for Reframing -- 2. Using a Four-Pronged Framework -- 3. Learning as a Sociocultural Process -- 4. Learning as a Developmental Process -- 5. Learning as an Academic Process -- 6. Learning as a Cognitive Process -- 7. Engaging in Parent Partnerships -- 8. Making Data-Driven Decisions -- Index.