Language and Literacy in Inquiry-Based Science Classrooms, Grades 3-8

Zhihui Fang - University of Florida, USA
Linda L. Lamme - University of Florida, USA
Rose M. Pringle - University of Florida, USA
Language and Literacy in Inquiry-Based Science Classrooms, Grades 3-8
September 2010 | 168 pages | Corwin
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ISBN: 9781452271750
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ISBN: 9781412988421
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Description

"Finally, a book with sound research and ready-to-use strategies to connect reading and science!"
—Jenny Sue Flannagan, Director, Martinson Center for Mathematics and Science, School of Education, Regent University

"This work shows how reading scientific texts differs from reading literary texts and describes the tools teachers need to teach reading in science."
—Stephen P. Norris, Canada Research Chair in Scientific Literacy, University of Alberta

"The authors address what few recognize—that reading is an issue in science, but ultimately no one is teaching students to read science."
—Sally Koczan, Science Teacher, Wydown Middle School, Clayton, MO

Boost students' understanding of science with literacy strategies!

Research has long supported the positive effects of integrating literacy practices into the science curriculum; now this helpful and timely resource offers science educators effective strategies that they can implement immediately. Teachers of students in Grades 3–8 will find innovative ideas—aligned with national science education standards—for incorporating language analysis and science literature into inquiry-based science classrooms. Included are activities as well as sample lessons to help students:

  • Read and comprehend science texts
  • Find related resources to explore particular interests
  • Build their science vocabulary
  • Write to learn science concepts

This volume is valuable for teachers, leaders of professional development workshops, institutes, topical seminars in science and literacy, science and reading methods courses, and study groups.

Contents

Foreword by Sandra K. Abell

Foreword by Sandra K. Abell

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

About the Authors

About the Co-Authors

  • 1. Teaching Science as Inquiry
  • Inquiry-Based Science
  • Language and Literacy in Inquiry-Based Science
  • Overview of This Book
  • 2. The Challenges of Science Reading
  • What Does It Take to Comprehend a Text?
  • Linguistic Challenges of Science Reading
  • Conclusion
  • 3. Using Trade Books to Support Science Inquiry
  • Why Read Trade Books in Science?
  • Award-Winning Science Trade Books
  • Becoming Familiar With the Format of Science Trade Books
  • Using Trade Books to Empower Science Learning
  • Conclusion
  • 4. Learning Language, Learning Science
  • Building a Language-Rich Science Curriculum
  • Developing Vocabulary Knowledge
  • Learning About Nouns
  • Disentangling Discourse
  • Conclusion
  • 5. Scaffolding Reading Through Strategy Instruction
  • Reading Strategy Instruction and Text Comprehension
  • Reading Strategy Instruction in Action: A Vignette
  • Bootstrapping Comprehension: Activating and Integrating Prior Knowledge
  • Monitoring Comprehension: Promoting Thinking During Reading
  • Consolidating Comprehension: Organizing Information From Text
  • Principles and Practice of Reading Strategy Instruction in Science
  • Conclusion
  • 6. Learning to Write and Writing to Learn in Science
  • Why Write in Science?
  • Learning to Write Scientifically
  • Writing to Learn in Science: An Instructional Framework
  • Implementing the Writing-to-Learn-Science Instructional Model
  • Classroom Activities That Promote Writing to Learn Science
  • Conclusion

Endnotes

Endnotes

References

References

Index

Index

Description

"Finally, a book with sound research and ready-to-use strategies to connect reading and science!"
—Jenny Sue Flannagan, Director, Martinson Center for Mathematics and Science, School of Education, Regent University

"This work shows how reading scientific texts differs from reading literary texts and describes the tools teachers need to teach reading in science."
—Stephen P. Norris, Canada Research Chair in Scientific Literacy, University of Alberta

"The authors address what few recognize—that reading is an issue in science, but ultimately no one is teaching students to read science."
—Sally Koczan, Science Teacher, Wydown Middle School, Clayton, MO

Boost students' understanding of science with literacy strategies!

Research has long supported the positive effects of integrating literacy practices into the science curriculum; now this helpful and timely resource offers science educators effective strategies that they can implement immediately. Teachers of students in Grades 3–8 will find innovative ideas—aligned with national science education standards—for incorporating language analysis and science literature into inquiry-based science classrooms. Included are activities as well as sample lessons to help students:

  • Read and comprehend science texts
  • Find related resources to explore particular interests
  • Build their science vocabulary
  • Write to learn science concepts

This volume is valuable for teachers, leaders of professional development workshops, institutes, topical seminars in science and literacy, science and reading methods courses, and study groups.

Contents

Foreword by Sandra K. Abell

Foreword by Sandra K. Abell

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

About the Authors

About the Co-Authors

  • 1. Teaching Science as Inquiry
  • Inquiry-Based Science
  • Language and Literacy in Inquiry-Based Science
  • Overview of This Book
  • 2. The Challenges of Science Reading
  • What Does It Take to Comprehend a Text?
  • Linguistic Challenges of Science Reading
  • Conclusion
  • 3. Using Trade Books to Support Science Inquiry
  • Why Read Trade Books in Science?
  • Award-Winning Science Trade Books
  • Becoming Familiar With the Format of Science Trade Books
  • Using Trade Books to Empower Science Learning
  • Conclusion
  • 4. Learning Language, Learning Science
  • Building a Language-Rich Science Curriculum
  • Developing Vocabulary Knowledge
  • Learning About Nouns
  • Disentangling Discourse
  • Conclusion
  • 5. Scaffolding Reading Through Strategy Instruction
  • Reading Strategy Instruction and Text Comprehension
  • Reading Strategy Instruction in Action: A Vignette
  • Bootstrapping Comprehension: Activating and Integrating Prior Knowledge
  • Monitoring Comprehension: Promoting Thinking During Reading
  • Consolidating Comprehension: Organizing Information From Text
  • Principles and Practice of Reading Strategy Instruction in Science
  • Conclusion
  • 6. Learning to Write and Writing to Learn in Science
  • Why Write in Science?
  • Learning to Write Scientifically
  • Writing to Learn in Science: An Instructional Framework
  • Implementing the Writing-to-Learn-Science Instructional Model
  • Classroom Activities That Promote Writing to Learn Science
  • Conclusion

Endnotes

Endnotes

References

References

Index

Index

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Language and Literacy in Inquiry-Based Science Classrooms, Grades 3-8


September 2010 | 168 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 01/02/2026 9781412988421 $37.95
Lifetime 01/02/2026 9781452271750 $35.00

"Finally, a book with sound research and ready-to-use strategies to connect reading and science!"
—Jenny Sue Flannagan, Director, Martinson Center for Mathematics and Science, School of Education, Regent University

"This work shows how reading scientific texts differs from reading literary texts and describes the tools teachers need to teach reading in science."
—Stephen P. Norris, Canada Research Chair in Scientific Literacy, University of Alberta

"The authors address what few recognize—that reading is an issue in science, but ultimately no one is teaching students to read science."
—Sally Koczan, Science Teacher, Wydown Middle School, Clayton, MO

Boost students' understanding of science with literacy strategies!

Research has long supported the positive effects of integrating literacy practices into the science curriculum; now this helpful and timely resource offers science educators effective strategies that they can implement immediately. Teachers of students in Grades 3–8 will find innovative ideas—aligned with national science education standards—for incorporating language analysis and science literature into inquiry-based science classrooms. Included are activities as well as sample lessons to help students:

  • Read and comprehend science texts
  • Find related resources to explore particular interests
  • Build their science vocabulary
  • Write to learn science concepts

This volume is valuable for teachers, leaders of professional development workshops, institutes, topical seminars in science and literacy, science and reading methods courses, and study groups.


Table Of Contents:

  • Foreword by Sandra K. Abell
  • Acknowledgments
  • About the Authors
  • About the Co-Authors
  • 1. Teaching Science as Inquiry
  • Inquiry-Based Science
  • Language and Literacy in Inquiry-Based Science
  • Overview of This Book
  • 2. The Challenges of Science Reading
  • What Does It Take to Comprehend a Text?
  • Linguistic Challenges of Science Reading
  • Conclusion
  • 3. Using Trade Books to Support Science Inquiry
  • Why Read Trade Books in Science?
  • Award-Winning Science Trade Books
  • Becoming Familiar With the Format of Science Trade Books
  • Using Trade Books to Empower Science Learning
  • Conclusion
  • 4. Learning Language, Learning Science
  • Building a Language-Rich Science Curriculum
  • Developing Vocabulary Knowledge
  • Learning About Nouns
  • Disentangling Discourse
  • Conclusion
  • 5. Scaffolding Reading Through Strategy Instruction
  • Reading Strategy Instruction and Text Comprehension
  • Reading Strategy Instruction in Action: A Vignette
  • Bootstrapping Comprehension: Activating and Integrating Prior Knowledge
  • Monitoring Comprehension: Promoting Thinking During Reading
  • Consolidating Comprehension: Organizing Information From Text
  • Principles and Practice of Reading Strategy Instruction in Science
  • Conclusion
  • 6. Learning to Write and Writing to Learn in Science
  • Why Write in Science?
  • Learning to Write Scientifically
  • Writing to Learn in Science: An Instructional Framework
  • Implementing the Writing-to-Learn-Science Instructional Model
  • Classroom Activities That Promote Writing to Learn Science
  • Conclusion
  • Endnotes
  • References
  • Index

Recent Product Reviews:

When comparing books, I preferred the resources in the Constructivist Science Book for beginning preservice teachers. The other book reads in an easier format for my students and has more relevant information given their new enrollment within our program.
Mrs Catherine Scott, Curriculum Instruction Dept, University of North Carolina - Greensboro
"My first thoughts were, 'I’m not one of those teachers who teaches science by reading out of the book.' Sneaking the strategies in Language and Literacy in the Inquiry Based Science Classrooms, Grades 3-8 convinced me that students could learn science and improve their literacy skills without taking away from my curriculum. The methods and ideas in this book are useful, non-threatening and helped me apply language practices that enhance science."
Sara Charbonnet, Science teacher, Department Chair, Westwood Middle School, School Board of Alachua County, FL
"This book embeds literacy tasks into science inquiry to enhance the functionality of instruction, support the construction of understanding, and develop a fundamental sense of science literacy. This results in fuller participation in the public debate about issues of science, technology, society and environment, which in turn leads to informed decisions and sustainable actions."
Larry D. Yore, Distinguished Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Faculty of Education, University of Victoria
"This must-read book sets the standard for teaching reading comprehension with expository text! I have already implemented some of the activities mentioned with great success."
Briana Nurse, Middle School Literacy Coach and Founder of Wellness Tutoring Services, North Bergen, NJ
"Reading and writing can no longer be optional extras in the science classroom. This work shows how the demands of reading scientific texts differ from those of reading literary texts, clarifies the features of scientific text that must be learned so that it's readable, and describes the tools teachers need to teach reading in science."
Stephen P. Norris, Canada Research Chair in Scientific Literacy, University of Alberta

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