Given the focus of recent standards-based reforms, K-12 students are expected to engage in reading and writing activities across disciplines to strengthen their literacy skills in all content areas. These students are simultaneously called upon to develop understandings of the practices of science and engineering through their K-12 science…

How many times do teachers assign writing in science class only to be exasperated by their students' lack of writing skills? They often have difficulty making claims and using evidence; instead of explaining their reasoning, they state, "Just because." But teaching writing isn't just for English/language arts (ELA) class. Over the past two years,…

Writing can be a rich source of information for science teachers who wish to take their students' present understandings into account as they plan and carry out instruction. The responses students give when asked to explain in writing what happened in an experiment can help the teacher address particular student's misunderstandings. Even writers…

This ERIC Digest discusses science notebooks and how they can be used as a tool for increasing achievement not only in science but across the curriculum. The use of science notebooks allows students to become actively involved in their own learning and affords them the opportunity to investigate content in which they are naturally interested and…

Describes the Polaroid Education Program. Discusses ways to incorporate instant photography and writing into a range of subject areas. (SR)

Points out the importance of teaching writing and the teacher's responsibility. Recommends providing feedback to student writings. Provides a sample student survey and responses to the feedback. (YDS)

Recommends skillful use of language arts to help students make sense of scientific and mathematical concepts. Suggests that connecting language arts with science and mathematics explicitly and intentionally strengthens teaching and learning in all three areas of the curriculum. (Author/NB)

Explores the history and theoretical paradigms associated with writing to learn in science. Asserts that the unique features of writing in traditional scientific genres such as experiment, explanation, and report promote reflection and the production of new knowledge, especially through the formation of meaningful inferences for data. Recasts the…

Provides insights on the causes of the poor writing skills of many students. Also included are suggestions for improving students' abilities to write. (ZWH)

This study investigates the influence of reflective journal writing paired with inquiry-based science instruction on preservice teachers' beliefs about science and science teaching. Students who enrolled in the integrated science course participated in journal writing and surveys. The course design was developed along educational change models…

Describes five formats of alternative assessment (journal writing, open-ended problems, portfolios, interviews, and performance assessments) for mathematics and science, how these methods can be implemented, and benefits of each type. Samples are included. (13 references) (Author/MKR)

Suggesting that writing can play an integral part in the learning process, this ERIC "FAST Bib" provides annotations of 31 ERIC documents and journal articles published between 1987 and 1992 concerning the Writing to Learn movement. The citations in the first section of the FAST Bib present an overview of the theories and criticisms of…

This paper synthesizes research on the value of writing in learning science at all grade levels. Breakthroughs and barriers to the effective use of writing to learn science are discussed. Differences between elementary and secondary teachers are considered with regard to background in language arts, understanding of the writing process, and the…

This curriculum guide supports and gives structure to engaging students in writing-to-learn activities in science classes by delineating writing outcomes and assessment. The guide is structured according to the beliefs that students need models, revision is the key to successful writing, writing is a tool for demonstrating learning, and writing is…

Author describes how 22 first-year high school students became politically active concerning coastal-zone management and wetlands protection. Students translated regulations of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection into plain English. Students wrote their opinions in a concise manner and appeared at a board meeting to influence its…