Growing Language Through Science, K-5
Strategies That Work
- Judy Reinhartz - Educational Consultant
Foreword by Katherine I. Norman
Foster life-long teacher learning embedded in effective teaching practices and the science standards
Science is a natural motivator and an academic engine for utilizing language, but it is the teacher who is the key to fostering the innate curiosity in each learner. Growing Language Through Science offers a model for contextualizing language and promoting academic success for all students, particularly English learners in the K-5 science classroom, through a highly effective approach that integrates inquiry-based science lessons with language rich hand-on experiences. You’ll find
- A wealth of instructional tools to support and engage students, with links to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
- Presentation and assessment strategies that accommodate students’ diverse needs, while encouraging them to use communicative language, speaking, listening, reading, and writing
- Ready-to-use templates and illustrations to enrich the textual discussion
- Field-tested teaching strategies framed in the 5Es used in monolingual and bilingual classrooms
- Reflection exercises that enhance teacher instructional decision making.
Use this timely resource to build students’ science and language skills simultaneously – while helping them find the joy in learning.
"This book is timely, informative, and accessible to the practitioner. As an administrator, I would love to use this resource with our staff as a way to generate dialogue around the NGSS and the implementation of science as the content for language arts integration."
— Thelma A. Davis, Principal
Clark County School District, Las Vegas, NV
"The book’s major strengths are taking multiple teaching strategies that are proven to be beneficial for English learners and putting them together in an easy to understand format, allowing the teacher a view of what a lesson should look like, as well as numerous, ready-made lessons to follow.”
— Lyneille Meza, Coordinator of Data & Assessment?
Denton ISD, Denton, TX
Supplements
"This book is timely, informative, and accessible to the practitioner. As an administrator, I would love to use this resource with our staff as a way to generate dialogue around the NGSS and the implementation of science as the content for language arts integration."
"The book’s major strengths are taking multiple teaching strategies that are proven to be beneficial for ELL students and putting them together in an easy to understand format, allowing the teacher a view of what a lesson should look like as well as numerous ready-made lessons to follow . . . The book was absolutely wonderful with how it pulled together great strategies. Elementary science teachers would be able to use this right away to start creating their own lessons."
“This book will be a great resource . . . I would purchase it to help me create professional development for elementary science teachers.”
"Growing Language Through Science: Strategies that Work provides an instructional framework that supports all learners in connecting science content embedded in classroom talk, children’s literature, gaming activities, and real world experiences. Teachers will find new literacies, core content standards, assessment rubrics, and great ideas for partnering with parents that immerse students in inquiry learning events that will strengthen their ability to think critically and solve problems. This book offers elementary educators an interactive approach that invites students to participate in grand conversations that address the challenge of teaching content dense print materials through engaging tools that work in classrooms and at home! "
"This book addresses the need for teachers to consider language development alongside science learning. Readers will find many opportunities to reflect on their own teaching and discover new links between research and practice. Teachers will find this a timely resource when implementing the Next Generation Science Standards."
Sample Materials & Chapters
Figure 1.4 - Academic Language, ELA & Science
Figure 2.9 - Checklist for Constructing Science Anchor Charts