Writing in Science in Action: Strategies, Tools, and Classroom Video

"Kids love hands-on science. Yet too few grow up to be scientists. Kids need to be reading, writing and thinking about science as well as doing it. Writing in Science in Action propels us full throttle into both hands-on and "minds on" science. Rupp Fulwiler show us how to help kids wrap their minds around science, do science and have a blast in the process. If we really want to prepare kids for an increasingly unpredictable future, we need teachers to read this book and share the practices with the budding young scientists in their rooms." -Stephanie Harvey, author of The Comprehension Toolkit

Writing in Science in Action, the highly anticipated follow-up resource to Betsy Rupp Fulwiler's landmark book Writing in Science (Heinemann 2007), offers all new field-tested materials, including 10 video episodes that show teachers as they implement her approach in real classrooms with real children. The Writing in Science in Action DVD brings the content to life by providing clear and explicit models of students talking and writing, and teachers providing the scaffolding, modeling, and conferring needed to support those students.You'll see teachers working in diverse settings with a range of learners, including ELLs, students with special needs, and reluctant writers. You'll also see groups of teachers assessing student notebooks and planning instruction based on their assessments.

Focusing on science topics that are accessible and familiar, Fulwiler uses carefully interconnected video episodes, student work, and detailed classroom vignettes to take the reader into the complexity of individual classrooms and the practices of skilled teachers. Seeing her approach in action is a powerful teaching tool, and the DVD, used in combination with the practical text, takes Writing in Science to a whole new level. Seeing really is believing.

Writing in Science in Action provides clear guidance and structures for classroom practice, with:

* specific strategies that can be immediately used in any classroom * step by step instruction on how to use each strategy * ideas for planning, modeling, scaffolding, and assessment * samples of over 100 student notebook entries with commentaries * techniques for working with ELLs, emergent writers, and struggling students.

Betsy Rupp Fulwiler is a veteran science curriculum consultant and developer of the nationally known Expository Writing and Science Notebooks Program in Seattle Public Schools. A former classroom teacher, reading specialist, and editor, she specializes in creating ways to teach students how to think and write scientifically.

Karen Worth is nationally known for her work in the science-literacy connection and science for young students. She is the lead author for Science & Literacy, Heinemann's groundbreaking professional development program. She is a Senior Research Scientist at Education Development Center, Inc. She also teaches in the School of Education and Child Life at Wheelock College. Karen has been a consultant for many organizations, including public television, on science for pre-K through elementary school. She was also a member of the development team for the National Science Education Standards.