Integrating+Science+and+Literacy+(Mallory)

= Integration of Science & Literacy = Both science and literacy are important subjects in school. However, literacy is often one of the main focuses of the day, while science is getting "sidelined" to fit more instructional time in to teach reading, writing, and math. Therefore, researchers, administrators, and educators are now focusing on the idea of teaching science and literacy together. This integration would not take away any time from literacy instruction, and it would enhance classroom science time. This website will provide you with information on how the integration of science and literacy can work to benefit both the teacher and the students.With the upcoming change in standards in the education world, researchers predict that integrating science and literacy will become increasingly popular with the Common Core. Resources for educators, parents, and guardians can also be found listed at the bottom of the website. Typically science has been taught through the use of a textbook. These texts are often the main source of information for a topic, but not the most interesting tool for a teacher to use a a source of information, and students often are uninterested and unmotivated to read them due to reading level and text format. Students are often interested in science, but fail to read and learn through textbooks because they are often above grade level making it impossible for a student who is on grade level or below to easily retain the information (Atkinson, Matusevich & Hubert, 2009, p. 484). Many researchers are now studying the use of children's and adult literature to help to teach the science curriculum. Through my research I learned the pros and cons to using textbooks to teach science, as well as the benefits and downfalls to relying on children's literature. Although there was no clear cut answer, many researchers concluded the use of both could be beneficial. A textbook (or informational book) would help to supply the child with the needed facts and definitions to understand a topic, while a narrative may provide motivation and intrigue a student to learn more about the given science topic.

**Important Terms to Know**:
**Literacy**: Cultural and communicative practices that include all forms of communication relating to speaking, listening, reading, and writing. **"New" Literacies**: Includes communication practices through the use of media and technology. **Integration**: An act of combining two things. In this case, educators are teaching literacy skills and science at the same time. **Common Core**: A clear understanding of what students are expected to learn at each grade level (kindergarten through grade 12). **Narrative Text**: A fictional story about real events that has a plot, characters, conflict, resolution, and theme. **Expository Tex**t: A text that displays factual information through presenting ideas, sharing definitions, sequencing, and descriptions.

**Scholarly Articles Related to Science & Literacy**:
 * Atkinson, T. S., Matusevich, M. N., & Huber, L. (2009). Making Science Trade Book Choices for Elementary Classrooms.Reading Teacher, 62(6), 484-497.
 * According to these researchers, science textbooks are limited in many ways, however they do not think they should be completely abolished, instead just used as support in science instruction while also using children's literature. They also argued that not every children's book is appropriate for classroom use relating to science instruction because the text may lead to misconceptions, therefore, any book that is considered to be used as a support for science should be evaluated to determine the quality. The criteria requirements may include text structure, accuracy of content, interest level, grade and reading level relating to content and science curriculum, relevancy of images or pictures and so on.
 * Farland, D. (2006). Trade Books and the Human Endeavor of Science. Science And Children, 44(3), 35-37.
 * Many young students are often intrigued by scientists and their occupation, as they discover new things in our world. In this article, Farland researched the effects of using trade books about scientists to help teach the value of science, and science content. Her end results showed that students who read books about scientist have a much better understanding of the science world.
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Rillero, P. (2010). The Rise and Fall of Science Education: A Content Analysis of Science in Elementary Reading Textbooks of the 19th Century. School Science And Mathematics, 110(5), 277-286.
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Textbooks have been very important throughout history due to teachers not being as educated in the field of education. Textbooks have been known to be the most "direct and effective" method for teaching because they are organized by chapter and consist important facts about particular topics relating to grade level standards. Historically, science was in old textbooks known as readers, once it became more popular and was considered a school subject it was no longer included. Unfortunately teachers often do not have time to include science in their daily instruction, therefore, Rillero argues that science should be included in all textbooks including reading series to supplement regular science instruction.
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Spencer, B. H., & Guillaume, A. M. (2006). Integrating Curriculum through the Learning Cycle: Content- Based Reading and Vocabulary Instruction. Reading Teacher, 60(3), 206-219.
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Vocabulary is crucial in science instruction because it helps students to better understand the larger concepts of a topic. Explicit teacher instruction when teaching vocabulary is a must, and teachers should be able to relate each word they expect a student to know to something in their students' lives. It is important to study vocabulary whether using a textbook or children's literature, and this article helps to explain why, along with the differences in which types of books may be best for vocabulary instruction in the elementary classroom.

<span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">For a list of references <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">click here <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">.

**<span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">What YOU Should Do: **

 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Educat0rs: **
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Provide your students with meaningful experiences that integrate science and literacy.
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Read and supply your students texts that relate to science (ie. books, magazines, newspaper articles).
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Use multiple genres of text in your classroom daily
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Parents & Guardians: **
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Read with your child daily and choose books that relate to science.
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Help your child to observe the science all around them and conduct experiences

//<span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">The following websites are provided to help parents and teachers provide more literacy and science experiments for their children and students. //

<span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Book Lists & Blogs:
//<span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Below you will find a list of resources that all relate to books that are science related. Books are a huge key to literacy success, and can help to motivate student learning in the area of science as well. The books on each list will range in age from preschool through grade twelve, and be available in a variety of genres. Some genre eamples include narrative, expository, informational, hybrid, and poetry. //
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12
 * http://www.nsta.org/publications/ostb/
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Australian Academy of Science's list of science books for children
 * http://www.science.org.au/pi/goodbooks/index.html
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">National Council of Teachers of English book list for outstanding nonfiction books for children
 * http://www.ncte.org/awards/orbispictus
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">A blog about the integration of children's literature across the curriculum.
 * http://blog.richmond.edu/openwidelookinside/

<span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Science and Literacy Resources for Educators:
//<span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Websites to help teachers learn more about integrating science and literacy in elementary classrooms. //
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Tips for integrating science and literacy the classroom.
 * http://www.readingrockets.org/extras/stem_series/#STEM_tipsheets
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">The National Science Teachers Association
 * http://www.nsta.org/elementaryschool/
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">"Seeds of Science & Roots of Reading" How to Integrate Literacy and Science
 * http://delta-edu.com/seeds/
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Everyday Literacy: Science, Evan-Moor Publishing's Tools for Integration
 * http://www.evan-moor.com/Product.aspx?SeriesID=256
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Science Literacy and the Innovation Workforce of America: An article on the importance of science literacy for every student's future, as well as what needs to be done in every classroom, kindergarten through grade 12.
 * http://bayerus.online-pressroom.com/bayerus/assets/File/Final%20Bayer%20Compilation%20Report.pdf

<span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Science and Literacy Resources for Parents:
//<span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Websites dedicated to getting parents more involved in their child's science and literacy experiences. //
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Parental Involvement in Science Curriculum
 * http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/parent_resources.shtml
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Science Fair Project Idea List
 * http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_guide_index.shtml?From=Tab
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">National Geographics for Kids
 * http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Backyard Nature, where children can read about science and learn how to think like a scientist.
 * http://www.backyardnature.net/
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Lawrence Hall of Science: Online Games & Activities
 * http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/kidsite/
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">A "Did You Know?" Article: About A Young Child's Fascination with Literacy and Science
 * http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/kidsite/
 * <span style="color: #2d6f1b; font-family: Georgia,serif;">The International Reading Association's Resources for Parents
 * http://www.reading.org/informationfor/parents.aspx