Multimodality in the New Content Standards Era: What Does It Mean for English Learners?

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 7
  In Roundtable Session: Multiple Ways of Content Engagement

Abstract

As new content standards in English language arts, mathematics, and science expect all students, including English learners (ELs), to use multiple modes beyond language, divergent conceptualizations of multimodality in EL education and the content areas come into view. Based on these conceptualizations, I propose a weak and strong version of multimodality. Whereas the weak version takes nonlinguistic modes (e.g., drawing) as scaffolds for language development, the strong version views multiple modes as essential to engaging in disciplinary practices. Using work samples from a fourth-grade science classroom, I argue that the strong version is not only necessary but transformative for ELs in the new content standards era. I end with a “call to action” for closer collaboration between the fields.

Author

• Scott Grapin, New York University