Precision: Toward a meaning-centered view of language use with English learners in the content areas

Understanding the concept of the precision of language is important to understanding the alignment of English language proficiency standards and content standards. As the authors of this paper argue, precision goes beyond the structural elements of language to the disciplinary meaning of the language. They present divergent concepts of precision and work samples from students in an elementary science class to illustrate how disciplinary meaning is connected to English learners' (ELs) engaging in disciplinary practices. In order to have ELs meet rigorous content standards, a more meaning-centered view of language is needed.