Finding the Language to Teach Science

Miami

Martina Perez is preparing her 4th graders for one of the most basic experiments in science, but she wants to review some basic English vocabulary with them first.

“Straw,” the elementary school teacher says, holding up the plastic tube for her class of mostly Haitian-American students to see. “Wa-sher,” she enunciates slowly, showing them a small, circular piece of metal and asking them to repeat after her.

From there, the teacher at Gratigny Elementary School introduces the children, many of whom have grown up speaking Creole, to a hands-on activity on electricity and magnetism, a lesson that presents them with a host of new and unfamiliar words. But rather than avoid that linguistic challenge,...