1. Reading Comprehension in Science

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

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

9. 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, Go over my goal of reading comprehension with the students.   Send a letter home to parents.
August 14, Start with reading strategies for textbooks, using text structures as a start
August 18, Start with the weekly assignment of a  science article report.   Will use a form developed  with  the junior high English teacher..

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

11. References
Fang, Z. & Wei, Y., (2010). Improving middle school science literacy through reading infusion. Journal of Educational Research. 103, pp
Johnson, J.C. & Marten-Hansen, L., (2005). Improving science reading comprehension. Science Scope. Retrieved online:
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

12. 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