Academic Language in Early Childhood Classrooms

This article defines academic language by examining the central features of vocabulary, syntax, and discourse function. Examples of each feature are provided, as well as methods of identifying them in oral language and printed text. We describe a yearlong study that found teachers used different types of academic language based on instructional context. Using the results from this study, we present ideas for noticing and teaching academic language through different instructional settings in early childhood classrooms.