Reading and Writing in Science: Tools to Develop Disciplinary Literacy

Abstract

(from the cover) Science literacy goes beyond learning facts and concepts in a classroom. Rather, science literacy enables students to continue to learn, reflect, and communicate about science throughout their lives. Reading and Writing in Science provides an approach for building students' disciplinary literacy so they can learn from science texts, reflect on content, generate new ideas, and share content-based thoughts. Written by a science educator and a literacy expert, this resource gives middle and high school science teachers specific strategies and tools for guiding students as they approach science texts and produce their own writing. The authors show teachers how to: (1) Build students' background knowledge and discipline-specific vocabulary; (2) Develop students' science reading skills while they access content; (3) Use writing frames, graphic organizers, writing-to-learn, and a writing protocol to get students started on science writing; and (4) Improve instruction and target specific needs through formative assessment. Help your students develop disciplinary literacy so they can learn about, think about, and write about science in school and beyond. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)