The Language Lens for Content Classrooms: A Guide for K-12 Educators of English and Academic Language Learners

Every teacher is a language teacher, every student is a language learner, and every classroom needs a Language Lens.

Sarah Ottow has spent 20 years helping schools and organizations develop a Language
Lens—a cultural and linguistic responsiveness that improves the learning experience
and achievement of every language learner. The Language Lens for Content Classrooms:
A Guide for K-12 Educators of Academic and English Language Learners is the starting
point for any general education, or content, teacher of:

• English Language Learners: students who are learning English as a second (or more!) language, and who m ay not speak English at home.
• Academic Language Learners: students who are learning the language necessary to access the curriculum—the nuanced language needed to process and apply content standards, skills, and knowledge that differ for every subject—who may or may not be ELLs.

It doesn’t matter if you teach Chemistry, Gym, or Language Arts; any student can be
a language learner, so this guide is for every K-12 instructor who is looking to be
more eective, inclusive, and responsive in their classroom.