Practical disciplinary literacy
Audit an authentic subject task
Locate the actual barrier before choosing a routine.
A worked school example
Year 8 science: explain a cooling result using a particle model.
Read the graph; distinguish observation and explanation; connect cause and effect.
Compare a labelled sketch and English explanation before deciding what needs teaching.
This is a suggested local planning example, not a school rating or an official EEF implementation tool.
Put it into practice
- Bring one task, its source or representation and three anonymised responses with supports recorded.
- Identify essential subject knowledge, the expert reasoning move and the reading, talk or writing required.
- Check understanding through a second mode when English obscures the reasoning.
- Choose one teachable barrier and one classroom routine; record evidence that would change your judgement.
Build your working record
Adapt and keep your resource
Edit these fields for your class or department. Drafts stay in this browser; use anonymised evidence. Download an editable text copy to keep it elsewhere.
Questions for a useful team conversation
“Do learners understand the concept, the representation and the English needed to explain it?”
Ask colleagues to bring a concrete task or response, explain one judgement and identify uncertainty. Invite learner perspectives without treating comments alone as attainment evidence.
Keep implementation proportionate
Start with one unit and a manageable sample of work. Use existing meetings and curriculum records where possible. Agree essential practice while allowing subject-specific representations and examples.
Avoid fixed promises about attainment or CEFR gains. Review access, reasoning, language and independence separately.
Open the existing whole-school planner