Dr. Seuss goes to high Dr. Seuss goes to high schoolschool

An An interdisciplinary interdisciplinary approach for approach for integrating science integrating science and literature.and literature.

www.richmond.k12.mi.us

I believe that science I believe that science shouldn’t be taught as shouldn’t be taught as an isolated subject, but an isolated subject, but should include;should include;

ReadingReading Writing (including Writing (including

research)research) HistoryHistory MathMath MS Print Shop

According to Jim According to Jim Trelease, author of Trelease, author of The Read Aloud The Read Aloud Handbook, other Handbook, other benefits of reading benefits of reading aloud to your aloud to your students include;students include;

- Provides a positive reading role model

- Furnishes new information

- Demonstrates the pleasure of reading

worldinfo.infobbc.co.uk

Animal Behavior

- Provides examples of good sentences and good story grammar

- Enables students to be exposed to a book they might not otherwise be exposed to

-Provides opportunity for discussions concerning the content of the book usinfo.state.gov

Many students with Many students with learning and learning and behavior problems behavior problems have listening have listening comprehension that comprehension that is several years is several years more advanced more advanced than their reading than their reading comprehension.comprehension.

Bos and Vaughn, 2003Bos and Vaughn, 2003

uhigh.ilstu.edu

wordinfo.info

Reproduction

One way students One way students develop the concept of develop the concept of fluent reading is through fluent reading is through listening and watching listening and watching others read aloud. others read aloud.

(Reutzel and Hollingsworth, 1993)(Reutzel and Hollingsworth, 1993)

drscavanaugh.org

Improves thinking skills;Improves thinking skills;

SummarizingSummarizing PredictingPredicting VisualizingVisualizing Making inferencesMaking inferences Determining Determining

important partsimportant parts

(Bernardo, 2004)

redpandaproject.org

worldinfo.info

Encourages Encourages purposeful use of purposeful use of language and language and writing extensionswriting extensions

uhigh.ilstu.edu

Compliments and Compliments and enriches enriches curriculumcurriculum

Symbiotic Relationships

symbiosis_necsi.org

Reasons I do it:Reasons I do it:

Improves thinking skillsImproves thinking skills Increases science content vocabularyIncreases science content vocabulary Encourages the enjoyment of readingEncourages the enjoyment of reading Covers state standards and benchmarksCovers state standards and benchmarks CSHS School Improvement PlanCSHS School Improvement Plan

Improves reading comprehension in content Improves reading comprehension in content areasareas

Increases vocabularyIncreases vocabulary

Never Cry WolfNever Cry Wolf; Farley ; Farley MowatMowat

A groundbreaking A groundbreaking essay about essay about Mowat’s study of Mowat’s study of wolves for the wolves for the Canadian Canadian government. It government. It portrays the social portrays the social complexity of these complexity of these animals.animals.

LA Benchmarks and Standards;SE-H-B5, SE-H-A10, SE-H-A1, SE-H-A2, SE-H-A3, SE-H-A9, SE-H-B6, SE-H-C5

Ecology of a Cracker Ecology of a Cracker ChildhoodChildhood; Jannise Ray; Jannise Ray

Ms. Ray was key in Ms. Ray was key in saving the almost saving the almost vanished longleaf vanished longleaf pine ecosystem pine ecosystem that once covered that once covered the south.the south.

LA Benchmarks and Standards;SE-H-B5, SE-H-A10, SE-H-A1, SE-H-A2, SE-H-A3, SE-H-A4, SE-H-A5, SE-H-A8, SE-H-A9, SE-H-B6, and SE-H-C1

Reading Aloud: Interactive Reading Aloud: Interactive StrategiesStrategies

Stop and JotStop and Jot Sketch to Stretch Sketch to Stretch JournalJournal

Adapted from Bernardo, 2004

britishcouncil.org

More strategiesMore strategies

Reading aloudReading aloud Reading Reading

independentlyindependently Reading strategy Reading strategy

worksheetsworksheets

Narrating (Re-telling)Narrating (Re-telling)

SAT (Stop and think). What do you think SAT (Stop and think). What do you think is going to happen next?is going to happen next?

cs.umbc.edu

A few more ideas…A few more ideas… 1. Pick a book and read it out loud to the class. 1. Pick a book and read it out loud to the class.

Various students can also read. If dictionaries Various students can also read. If dictionaries are available have four or five vocabulary are available have four or five vocabulary terms from the book on the board for students terms from the book on the board for students to define is a good bell ringer.to define is a good bell ringer.

2. Have students choose a book from the 2. Have students choose a book from the library they are to read outside of class. Make library they are to read outside of class. Make sure students select books on their reading sure students select books on their reading level. You want this to be a good experience for level. You want this to be a good experience for them. Oral presentations, PowerPoints, AR them. Oral presentations, PowerPoints, AR tests, posters, brochures and written reports tests, posters, brochures and written reports are some ways this can be assessed. are some ways this can be assessed.

3. Do not overlook picture books! They can be 3. Do not overlook picture books! They can be very useful as lesson starters. very useful as lesson starters.

4. If a classroom set of books is available call on 4. If a classroom set of books is available call on different students to read aloud. Having a reward different students to read aloud. Having a reward system always makes learning more fun. Index system always makes learning more fun. Index cards in a different color for each class makes cards in a different color for each class makes record keeping easy for monthly rewards, such record keeping easy for monthly rewards, such as free late-homework passes. Teacher mini-as free late-homework passes. Teacher mini-grants are an excellent source of funding for grants are an excellent source of funding for classroom sets. Grant reviewers like the words classroom sets. Grant reviewers like the words “science”, “literature”, “interdisciplinary”, and “science”, “literature”, “interdisciplinary”, and “relevant” all in the same paragraph.“relevant” all in the same paragraph.

5. For the physical sciences, one of our teachers 5. For the physical sciences, one of our teachers (Dr. Mike McCoy) has his students pick a science (Dr. Mike McCoy) has his students pick a science fiction book. They are then to report on the fiction book. They are then to report on the misconceptions in the book. misconceptions in the book.

Reading Strategy Reading Strategy WorksheetsWorksheets

Link to blank formsLink to blank forms

Most teachers would Most teachers would agree that this agree that this sounds like a good sounds like a good idea but …idea but …

How to fit it in an How to fit it in an already overloaded already overloaded schedule?schedule?

Where can I find Where can I find books to fit a books to fit a topic?topic?

Evolution and specie diversity

waza.org

unc.org

SchedulingScheduling

About 20 min. at a time.About 20 min. at a time.

if reading aloud.if reading aloud.

Students read outside of class and take Students read outside of class and take an AR test on it or make a report.an AR test on it or make a report.

Also:Also:Good for a Sub to doGood for a Sub to do

Good for when the power goesGood for when the power goes

California State Dept. of Education:California State Dept. of Education:http://http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/sc/ll/ap/searchlist.aspwww.cde.ca.gov/ci/sc/ll/ap/searchlist.asp..

National Science Foundation: (National Science Foundation: (Sorry, but I couldn’t get this one to Sorry, but I couldn’t get this one to link directly).link directly).

http://appserv02.uncw.edu/booksearch/BookSearchRhttp://appserv02.uncw.edu/booksearch/BookSearchResultsAll.aspesultsAll.asp

Outstanding Science Trade BooksOutstanding Science Trade Books published by NSTA published by NSTA in conjunction with the Children’s Book Council in conjunction with the Children’s Book Council http://www.nsta.org/publications/ostb/http://www.nsta.org/publications/ostb/

University of Florida and Florida State:University of Florida and Florida State:

http://www.magnet.fsu.edu/education/community/shttp://www.magnet.fsu.edu/education/community/scienceinliterature/scienceinliterature.htmlcienceinliterature/scienceinliterature.html

Sources for finding appropriate booksClick on the web address for a direct link.

““The program of study in science for The program of study in science for all students should be all students should be developmentally appropriate, developmentally appropriate, interesting and relevant to students’ interesting and relevant to students’ lives; emphasize student lives; emphasize student understanding through inquiry; and understanding through inquiry; and be connected with other school be connected with other school subjects (National Science subjects (National Science standards, 1996).standards, 1996).””

Whether students read literature Whether students read literature independently or it is read to independently or it is read to them, students who are engaged them, students who are engaged with quality texts will have the with quality texts will have the opportunity to develop a deeper opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the subject understanding of the subject matter and specific concepts.matter and specific concepts. (California Dept, 2006, para 6). (California Dept, 2006, para 6). Emphasis mine.Emphasis mine.

The literacy crisis we The literacy crisis we face is not can our face is not can our

children read, but do children read, but do they choose to read.they choose to read.

(Bernardo, 2004)(Bernardo, 2004)

We have become We have become an aliterate an aliterate society.society.

www.donor-conception-network.org

BibliographyBibliography Bernardo, P. (2004). Teaching readers to think. ASCD 2004 Bernardo, P. (2004). Teaching readers to think. ASCD 2004

Annual Conference. New Orleans.Annual Conference. New Orleans. Bos, C. & Vaughn, S. (2002). Strategies for teaching Bos, C. & Vaughn, S. (2002). Strategies for teaching

students students with learning and behavior problems. with learning and behavior problems. Downloaded July 12Downloaded July 12thth from the University of Phoenix from the University of Phoenix website: website:

California Dept. of Education. (2006). Literature for science California Dept. of Education. (2006). Literature for science and and math. Retrieved 21 July 2007 from math. Retrieved 21 July 2007 from http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/sc/ll/litscimathstands.asphttp://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/sc/ll/litscimathstands.asp

National Committee on Science Education Standards and National Committee on Science Education Standards and Assessment, National Research Council. (1996).Assessment, National Research Council. (1996).

National National science standards. science standards. [Electronic version]. [Electronic version]. Retrieved 21 July Retrieved 21 July 2007 from the National Academies 2007 from the National Academies Press Press website:http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses/overviwebsite:http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses/overvi

ew.html#contentew.html#content Trelease, J. (1989). The new read-aloud handbook. New Trelease, J. (1989). The new read-aloud handbook. New

York: York: Penguin Books.Penguin Books.

Lynda DeloLynda Delo

Captain Shreve High SchoolCaptain Shreve High School

Shreveport, LAShreveport, LA

E-mail: ljdelo@caddo.k12.la.usE-mail: ljdelo@caddo.k12.la.us