Academic Language of PreK to 5th Grade Students: Innovative Measurement and Broad Conceptualization

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

Academic language is a specialized type of language used to acquire and express knowledge. It has been characterized as a pivotal skill repertoire that contributes to children’s reading and writing success. In much of the academic language research, vocabulary has played a prominent role. However, academic language includes word- (e.g., morphological knowledge), sentence- (e.g., use of conjunctions), and discourse-level patterns (e.g., narrative and expository structures) and in addition to word knowledge. Because the majority of research includes upper elementary and intermediate students as participants, relatively little is known about early academic language development and grade-based productions. As a complex and multi-faceted construct, academic language is challenging to measure properly, which has likely contributed to the paucity of research involving younger students. There is a need to address this gap in knowledge about academic language, as well as apply innovative measurement approaches to the study of children’s academic language.

In this symposium, three papers will be presented that inventory children’s academic language using language sampling and analysis. Each of the three studies includes participants of different ages/grades (PreK, K-3, and 5th), examines a different dimension of academic language (sentence complexity, discourse, and morphological knowledge), and applies a different measurement approach. Results from oral and written language sample analyses will be presented. Findings will be discussed in terms of broadening the conceptualization of academic language, especially for young children, and for the validation of innovative measurement techniques.

Sub Unit

• Language, Communication

Chair

• Trina D Spencer, University of South Florida

Discussant

• Mindy Sittner Bridges, University of Kansas Medical Center

Individual Presentations

• Use of Connectives: Exploring the Development of An Early Emerging Academic Language Feature among Preschool Children - Presenting Author: Beth M Phillips, Florida State Univeristy; Carla Wood, Florida State University

• Using Discourse Analysis Tools to Describe Academic Language Produced by K-3 Students - Presenting Author: Trina D Spencer, University of South Florida; Courtney Claar

• Morphologically Complex Word Use as an Index of Academic Language - Presenting Author: Carla Wood, Florida State University; Christopher State Schatschneider, Florida State Univeristy