Sunday, December 12, 2010

Integrating Science and Reading...It isn't that hard.






This post is in response to an article written by George Stockwell in the Newtown Patch. 


http://newtown.patch.com/articles/we-need-to-make-time-for-srbi


My response is to the fact that teachers are required to teach more reading and science is always the subject that takes a back seat. 


You are preaching to the choir here! Integrating science and reading can be done at all grade levels. A bit of creativity, open-mindedness, and persistence can make it happen. When push comes to shove, those three things lose out and it is the same old instruction. It isn't that hard. Science is the easiest subject to integrate. Using an inquiry based approach, you use every single skill and more that you would be using in a reading or literacy lesson. You are using the same and at times much more in depth thinking skills. The writing connection is more genuine and connected because it is based on what the kids are actually doing. Unfortunately when science is missing, the kids are the ones that lose out. I think everyone loses out. 


It just makes sense to integrate the two.  The book called The Essentials of Science and Literacy focuses on this very idea.


Here is a testimonial: 


Essentials of Science and Literacy provides classroom teachers with a wealth of classroom tested and research-based best practices designed to engage students. It addresses one of the major shortcomings in many classrooms, providing students with the time and opportunity to make sense and to communicate their understanding of the science investigation they are engaged in.

—Mike Klentschy
Author of Scaffolding Science Inquiry Through Lesson Design


Thanks again for keeping this at the forefront. I heard this type of discussion at our cohort meetings last year. This year I am hearing a much different tone, students are getting more science from the 30 teachers in our group. They are loving it and learning. They read every day too!


As Bill Nye always says..."Science Rules!"


Here is a link to a NSTA article that explains clearly how standards for these the two disciplines mirror one another.  

1 comment:

  1. Sorry for the late response to this, Tim. You're comments are excellent--as always. One of my objectives for 2011 Patch is to continue to reference your blog as well as Gael's and anyone else you may know of so if you know of anyone who I should add to my list of resources, by all means please pass along their contact information. Thanks.

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