In this commentary, the authors bring insights from their work on science-literacy integration at the elementary level to bear on the ongoing conversation about disciplinary literacy at the middle and secondary levels. In particular, the authors discuss what they have learned about inquiry, disciplinary reading strategies, and the role of text in…

Two labs incorporating the Science Writing Heuristic are described that introduce scientific inquiry in a course for preservice students majoring in elementary education. One lab adapts a previously described discovery learning opportunity involving the change in composition and mass of pennies in 1982. The other involves the use of flotation…

This study asked four experienced teachers to respond to elementary students' science writing and explain their thinking, discussing factors they considered as they made the choices that ultimately supported or undermined children's attempts to write about science. Teachers responded first in writing, then orally expanded on written comments…

Discusses six reasons why assigning students to put math into words and sentences will benefit teachers and students, noting how such writing improves students' skills in math, critical thinking, and composition. (HTH)

Discusses the importance of using letter writing to promote whole-language learning. Suggests ideas and actions, and provides examples of children's literature that uses the letter format, to weave letters and letter writing into the whole-language curriculum. (BAC)

Presents elementary school science activities with a Halloween orientation. One activity teaches students to appreciate and understand bats. A second activity has students group and classify monsters by individual characteristics. Activities for integrating science across the curriculum include creating monster myths, conducting surveys of…

Presents suggestions to help elementary school teachers incorporate journal writing in math class, discussing a math journal's many uses (problem solving, process prompts, language experience, and class discussion) and explaining how to respond to what students write in their journals. A sidebar explains how to create a system for storing…

Presents a seven-step activity for researching and presenting information in the form of nonfiction big books, allowing children to read for information and write to inform. (MG)

In the last two decades, mathematics teachers have shown a great deal of interest in how students learn mathematics through journal writing. I have also used journals in mathematics classes for the last five years. Based on the analysis of more than 1800 journal entries written by approximately 200 students in the last five years, I conclude that…

Discusses the challenge and justification for three writing instruction methods: (1) a regularly scheduled block of time for writing; (2) self-selection of topics by students; and (3) writing across the curriculum. Emphasizes the importance of creating a classroom environment and processes that nurture in students the desire to write. (TJQ)

Discusses the use of haiku as a stimulus for creative movement experiences, describing how physical education majors at one South Carolina university use haiku in this manner. The haiku activity promotes development in all three domains of learning (cognitive, psychomotor, and affective), and it addresses the skills included in South Carolina's…

Offers seven practical suggestions, which can be adapted to any grade level, for extending one's classroom to the outdoors. (MG)

Using story-writing to teach math gives students a chance to play with mathematical processes in a low-pressure way. By encouraging students to apply math concepts within a narrative, teachers can see how well students understand the concepts. The article presents five story-making activities to enhance mathematics skills. (SM)

Article presents suggestions for motivating elementary students to learn by combining science and writing. The strategies include planning the right environment; teaching the scientific method; establishing a link to literature; and making time for students to observe, experiment, and write. (SM)

Researchers have reported that children's writing about mathematical concepts can give teachers valuable insight into students' mathematical understanding. There are, however, factors which place constraints on the adequacy of written products to reveal the quality and degree of children's conceptual understanding. This study examined the…