Academic Language Functions for the Common Core
Students practice grammatical forms within ACADEMIC language functions. This prepares English learners for the rigorous demands of the Common Core State Standards. Language functions include describing, explaining, expressing, sequencing, comparing and contrasting, inferring, persuading, predicting, analyzing, and many more.
The four clocks illustrate the development of parts of speech as English learners move from one proficiency to another.
English learners tend to reach a plateau at the Intermediate level. These charts are essential to teach the skills needed to reach grammatical fluency and accuracy so that students can break through that plateau.