Reading Comprehension in Science

Introduction The purpose of this study is to describe the affects of reading comprehension strategies on middle school students' ability to learn and understand science concepts

Literature Review Radcliffe R, Caverly D, Hand J, Franke D, (2008). Improving reading in a middle school science classroom. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy. Suggest students use PLAN – Predict, Locate, Add and Note to help with reading comprehension Oliveras B, Marquez C, Sanmarti N, (2013). The use of newspaper articles as a tool to develop critical thinking in science classes. International Journal of Science Education. Improve reading comprehension by having students read science articles in newspapers

Literature Review Fang, Z. & Wei, Y., (2010). Improving middle school science literacy through reading infusion. Journal of Educational Research. Reading while doing inquiry-based science helps the students learn science Johnson, J.C. & Marten-Hansen, L., (2005). Improving science reading comprehension. Science Scope. Have students work with pre-reading, during reading and post-reading strategies while reading the textbook to improve reading comprehension

Research Group 24 - 7th Graders 33 - 8th Graders 50% of these students are on free/reduced lunch program 25 students are female 32 student are male

Ethical Consideration All scores will be kept confidential. Students' anonymity will be kept when discussing the results reading comprehension research project

Data Collection Pre/Post Surveys with students MAPS – taken in October and in February NESA tests – taken in April Science class tests Journal kept by me Student interactive notebooks

Data Analysis Use descriptive statistics to analyze quantitative data – test scores Use triangulation to analyze quantitative and qualitative (surveys, journal, notebooks) data

Timeline Summer of 2014   - Spend time going through reading strategies, choosing the best for science. Developing a specific plan for implementation for the 1st day of school. August 13, 2014 - Go over my goal of reading comprehension with the students.   Send a letter home to parents. August 14, 2014 - Start with reading strategies for textbooks, using text structures as a start August 18, 2014 - Start with the weekly assignment of a  science article report.   Will use a form developed  with  the junior high English teacher..

Timeline September 8, 2014 - Introduce the PLAN textbook reading strategies October 2014 - Have all reading strategies in place before the fall MAPS testing is started November 2014 - Have students read a selected chapter from a nonfiction science book February 2015 - Spring MAPS testing - analyze reading and science scores April 2015 – NESA testing – analyze reading and science scores May 2015 - Meet with reading and English teachers to discuss the science reading

References Fang, Z. & Wei, Y., (2010). Improving middle school science literacy through reading infusion. Journal of Educational Research. 103, pp. 262-273 Johnson, J.C. & Marten-Hansen, L., (2005). Improving science reading comprehension. Science Scope. Retrieved online: http://www.nsta.org/publications/news/story.aspx?id=5 0301 Oliveras B, Marquez C, Sanmarti N, (2013). The use of newspaper articles as a tool to develop critical thinking in science classes. International Journal of Science Education. 35 (6), pp. 885-905

References Radcliffe R, Caverly D, Hand J, Franke D, (2008). Improving reading in a middle school science classroom. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy. 51 (5), pp. 398-408