What best demonstrates academic language development in edTPA tasks?

• A. Incorporating discipline-specific vocabulary, sentence frames, and opportunities for students to use precise language in explanation and justification.
• B. Using general language without disciplinary terms.
• C. Focusing only on grammar worksheets.
• D. Skipping opportunities for explanation.

Answer: (A)

Academic language development in edTPA tasks centers on students using discipline-specific vocabulary and structured language to explain and justify their thinking. The best choice explicitly brings in domain terminology, sentence frames that scaffold students’ expression, and authentic opportunities for students to articulate precise explanations and justifications. This combination helps students participate in disciplinary discourse, build confidence in using the right terms, and demonstrate reasoning in a clear, well-supported way—all central to edTPA expectations.

General language without disciplinary terms misses the specialized vocabulary students need to discuss concepts accurately. Focusing only on grammar worksheets doesn’t cultivate the vocabulary, phrasing, or reasoning language used in real disciplinary argumentation. Skipping opportunities for explanation removes essential practice in expressing and defending ideas in precise terms.