What instructional recommendation should Ms. Calypso prioritize to support her students’ understanding of academic language?

Directly teaching academic vocabulary is essential for supporting students' understanding of academic language because it provides them with the necessary tools to comprehend and engage with complex texts across subjects. Academic language often includes specialized terms, phrases, and structures that can be quite different from everyday language. By focusing on academic vocabulary, Ms. Calypso enables her students to understand the language of instruction, engage critically with content, and articulate their thoughts more effectively in both spoken and written forms.

Building a robust academic vocabulary helps students to connect with the material on a deeper level and facilitates their ability to follow along with lessons and participate meaningfully in class discussions. This understanding directly impacts their overall academic performance and confidence. Supporting students in acquiring academic language equips them to tackle advanced concepts and enhances their literacy skills overall, which is especially beneficial for those with dyslexia who may struggle with recognizing and processing these complex terms.