Dr. Seuss goes to high school

1. Dr. Seuss goes to high school • An interdisciplinary approach for integrating science and literature. www.richmond.k12.mi.us

2. I believe that science shouldn’t be taught as an isolated subject, but should include; • Reading • Writing (including research) • History • Math MS Print Shop

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

4. Animal Behavior bbc.co.uk worldinfo.info - Provides a positive reading role model - Furnishes new information - Demonstrates the pleasure of reading

5. - 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

6. Many students with learning and behavior problems have listening comprehension that is several years more advanced than their reading comprehension.Bos and Vaughn, 2003 uhigh.ilstu.edu Reproduction wordinfo.info

7. One way students develop the concept of fluent reading is through listening and watching others read aloud. (Reutzel and Hollingsworth, 1993) drscavanaugh.org

8. Improves thinking skills; • Summarizing • Predicting • Visualizing • Making inferences • Determining important parts redpandaproject.org (Bernardo, 2004) worldinfo.info

9. Encourages purposeful use of language and writing extensions uhigh.ilstu.edu Symbiotic Relationships Compliments and enriches curriculum symbiosis_necsi.org

10. Reasons I do it: • Improves thinking skills • Increases science content vocabulary • Encourages the enjoyment of reading • Covers state standards and benchmarks • CSHS School Improvement Plan • Improves reading comprehension in content areas • Increases vocabulary

11. Never Cry Wolf; Farley Mowat • A groundbreaking essay about Mowat’s study of wolves for the Canadian government. It portrays the social complexity of these 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

12. Ecology of a Cracker Childhood; Jannise Ray • Ms. Ray was key in saving the almost vanished longleaf pine ecosystem that once covered 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

13. Reading Aloud: Interactive Strategies • Stop and Jot • Sketch to Stretch • Journal britishcouncil.org Adapted from Bernardo, 2004

14. More strategies • Reading aloud • Reading independently • Reading strategy worksheets cs.umbc.edu • Narrating (Re-telling) • SAT (Stop and think). What do you think is going to happen next?

15. A few more ideas… • 1. Pick a book and read it out loud to the class. Various students can also read. If dictionaries are available have four or five vocabulary terms from the book on the board for students to define is a good bell ringer. • 2. Have students choose a book from the library they are to read outside of class. Make sure students select books on their reading level. You want this to be a good experience for them. Oral presentations, PowerPoints, AR tests, posters, brochures and written reports are some ways this can be assessed. • 3. Do not overlook picture books! They can be very useful as lesson starters.

16. 4. If a classroom set of books is available call on different students to read aloud. Having a reward system always makes learning more fun. Index cards in a different color for each class makes record keeping easy for monthly rewards, such as free late-homework passes. Teacher mini-grants are an excellent source of funding for classroom sets. Grant reviewers like the words “science”, “literature”, “interdisciplinary”, and “relevant” all in the same paragraph. • 5. For the physical sciences, one of our teachers (Dr. Mike McCoy) has his students pick a science fiction book. They are then to report on the misconceptions in the book.

17. Reading Strategy Worksheets • Link to blank forms

18. Evolution and specie diversity Most teachers would agree that this sounds like a good idea but … How to fit it in an already overloaded schedule? Where can I find books to fit a topic? waza.org unc.org

19. Scheduling About 20 min. at a time. if reading aloud. Students read outside of class and take an AR test on it or make a report. Also: Good for a Sub to do Good for when the power goes

20. Sources for finding appropriate books Click on the web address for a direct link. California State Dept. of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/sc/ll/ap/searchlist.asp. National Science Foundation: (Sorry, but I couldn’t get this one to link directly). http://appserv02.uncw.edu/booksearch/BookSearchResultsAll.asp Outstanding Science Trade Books published by NSTA in conjunction with the Children’s Book Council http://www.nsta.org/publications/ostb/ University of Florida and Florida State: http://www.magnet.fsu.edu/education/community/scienceinliterature/scienceinliterature.html

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

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

23. The literacy crisis we face is not can our children read, but do they choose to read.(Bernardo, 2004) • We have become an aliterate society. www.donor-conception-network.org

24. Bibliography • Bernardo, P. (2004). Teaching readers to think. ASCD 2004 Annual Conference. New Orleans. • Bos, C. & Vaughn, S. (2002). Strategies for teaching students with learning and behavior problems. Downloaded July 12th from the University of Phoenix website: • California Dept. of Education. (2006). Literature for science and math. Retrieved 21 July 2007 from http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/sc/ll/litscimathstands.asp • National Committee on Science Education Standards and Assessment, National Research Council. (1996). National science standards. [Electronic version]. Retrieved 21 July 2007 from the National Academies Press website:http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses/overvi ew.html#content • Trelease, J. (1989). The new read-aloud handbook. New York: Penguin Books.

25. Lynda Delo Captain Shreve High School Shreveport, LA E-mail: ljdelo@caddo.k12.la.us