Sharing Books, Talking Science


Book Description

Science is everywhere, in everything we do, see, and read. Books-all books-offer possibilities for talk about science in the illustrations and text once you know how to look for them. Children's literature is a natural avenue to explore the seven crosscutting concepts described in the Next Generation Science Standards*, and with guidance from Valerie Bang-Jensen and Mark Lubkowitz, you will learn to develop the mindset necessary to think like a scientist, and then help your students think, talk, and read like scientists. Sharing Books Talking Science is an engaging and user-friendly guide that provides practical, real world understandings of complex scientific concepts using children's literature. By demonstrating how to work in a very familiar and comfortable teaching context-read aloud-to address what may be less familiar and comfortable content-scientific concepts-Valerie and Mark empower teachers to use just about any book in their classroom to help deepen students' understanding of the world. Valerie and Mark supply you with everything you need to know to get to the heart of each concept, including a primer, questions and strategies to spot a concept, and ways to prompt students to see and talk about it. Each chapter offers a list of suggested titles (many of which you probably already have) to help you get started right away, as well as "topic spotlight" sections that help you connect the concepts to familiar topics such as eating, seasons, bridges, size, and water. With Sharing Books Talking Science, you will have the tools and confidence to explore scientific concepts with your students. Learn how to "talk science" with any book so that you can infuse your curriculum with scientific thinking...even when you aren't teaching science. *Next Generation Science Standards is a registered trademark of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of this product, and do not endorse it.




The Mechanics of Wonder


Book Description

This is a sustained argument about the idea of science fiction by a renowned critic. Overturning many received opinions, it is both controversial and stimulating Much of the controversy arises from Westfahl's resurrection of Hugo Gernsback - for decades a largely derided figure - as the true creator of science fiction. Following an initial demolition of earlier critics, Westfahl argues for Gernsback's importance. His argument is fully documented, showing a much greater familiarity with early American science fiction, particularly magazine fiction, than previous academic critics or historians. After his initial chapters on Gernsback, he examines the way in which the Gernsback tradition was adopted and modified by later magazine editors and early critics. This involves a re-evaluation of the importance of John W. Campbell to the history of science fiction as well as a very interesting critique of Robert Heinlein's Beyond the Horizon, one the seminal texts of American science fiction. In conclusion, Westfahl uses the theories of Gernsback and Campbell to develop a descriptive definition of science fiction and he explores the ramifications of that definition. The Mechanics of Wonder will arouse debate and force the questioning of presuppositions. No other book so closely examines the origins and development of the idea of science fiction, and it will stand among a small number of crucial texts with which every science fiction scholar or prospective science fiction scholar will have to read.







Talk


Book Description

We spend much of our days talking. Yet we know little about the conversational engine that drives our everyday lives. We are pushed and pulled around by language far more than we realize, yet are seduced by stereotypes and myths about communication. This book will change the way you think about talk. It will explain the big pay-offs to understanding conversation scientifically. Elizabeth Stokoe, a social psychologist, has spent over twenty years collecting and analysing real conversations across settings as varied as first dates, crisis negotiation, sales encounters and medical communication. This book describes some of the findings of her own research, and that of other conversation analysts around the world. Through numerous examples from real interactions between friends, partners, colleagues, police officers, mediators, doctors and many others, you will learn that some of what you think you know about talk is wrong. But you will also uncover fresh insights about how to have better conversations - using the evidence from fifty years of research about the science of talk.




Developing Science Literacy in the 21st Century


Book Description

The development of science literacy has the potential to have an enormous impact on real world outcomes. Specifically, developing science literacy may persuade individuals to act. We hope that this book will influence scientists, science journalists, sociologists, anthropologists, communication specialists, political leaders, media outlets, educational institutions, and individual science content consumers. The chapters in this book describe a definition of science literacy that draws on the emotional, cognitive, and social. The authors strive to help prepare individuals to read, write, and speak science in a continuously evolving information landscape. In order to meet these objectives, the chapters examine both qualitative and quantitative research. It is within these frameworks that we can begin to address science literacy in the 21st century.




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


Book 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.




Informal STEM Learning at Home and in Community Spaces


Book Description

Children in Western countries spend only about 20% of their waking time in school (Meltzoff et al., 2009). Leveraging the 80% of time that they spend outside of school can provide children with opportunities to engage in meaningful, authentic STEM learning experiences with family members, other caregivers, and children. STEM learning and readiness go beyond acquiring content knowledge to include interest, engagement, and motivation for STEM learning as well as the formation of a STEM identity. To date, there has been a dearth of research focusing on children’s informal STEM experiences when compared to formal, school-based STEM learning experiences. This Research Topic focuses attention on the authentic, everyday experiences of children and how these experiences provide opportunities for STEM learning, engagement, and identity. In addition, these papers will explore how these everyday experiences can be leveraged and augmented to promote STEM learning and engagement through culturally-relevant design and implementation.




Reading, Writing, and Inquiry in the Science Classroom, Grades 6-12


Book Description

This resource covers reading and writing practices, science standards, and sample lessons to help educators successfully integrate literacy and science instruction in any classroom.




The Science of Reading


Book Description

Provides an overview of state-of-the-art research on the science of reading, revised and updated throughout The Science of Reading presents the most recent advances in the study of reading and related skills. Bringing together contributions from a multidisciplinary team of experts, this comprehensive volume reviews theoretical approaches, stage models of reading, cross-linguistic studies of reading, reading instruction, the neurobiology of reading, and more. Divided into six parts, the book explores word recognition processes in skilled reading, learning to read and spell, reading comprehension and its development, reading and writing in different languages, developmental and acquired reading disorders, and the social, biological, and environmental factors of literacy. The second edition of The Science of Reading is extensively revised to reflect contemporary theoretical insights and methodological advances. Two entirely new chapters on co-occurrence and complexity are accompanied by reviews of recent findings and discussion of future trends and research directions. Updated chapters cover the development of reading and language in preschools, the social correlates of reading, experimental research on sentence processing, learning to read in alphabetic orthographies, comorbidities that occur frequently with dyslexia, and other central topics. Demonstrates how different knowledge sources underpin reading processes using a wide range of methodologies Presents critical appraisals of theoretical and computational models of word recognition and evidence-based research on reading intervention Reviews evidence on skilled visual word recognition, the role of phonology, methods for identifying dyslexia, and the molecular genetics of reading and language Highlights the importance of language as a foundation for literacy and as a risk factor for developmental dyslexia and other reading disorders Discusses learning to read in different types of writing systems, with a language impairment, and in variations of the home literacy environment Describes the role of contemporary analytical tools such as dominance analysis and quantile regression in modelling the development of reading and comprehension Part of the acclaimed Wiley Blackwell Handbooks of Developmental Psychology series, the second edition of The Science of Reading: A Handbook remains an invaluable resource for advanced students, researchers, and specialist educators looking for an up-to-date overview of the field.