Reading to Learn in Science

Comprehension of Science Text

Reading to Learn in Science provides a series of classroom strategies to help students and teachers address the challenges of comprehending science texts.

Science education goes far beyond hands-on activities and experiments. Reading is not only a crucial way for students to learn science content, it is also an important part of what professional scientists actually do. Many science teachers assume that students will receive enough general literacy instruction from ELA teachers to be prepared for science class, but in reality, science teachers need to make literacy a priority in their classrooms as well.

Literacy Strategies for Science Teachers

This website is all about improving your students’ learning of science content by improving their ability to interpret science texts. This resource focuses on two main questions:

What’s the pedagogical basis for emphasizing literacy development in science education?

What specific tips and tools can you put into play on Monday morning to help enhance your students’ disciplinary literacy?

Related Products:

WordGen Elementary

Interdisciplinary Academic Language for 4th and 5th Grades

WordGen Elementary is comprised of 12 two-week units per grade level. It expands students’ background knowledge and academic vocabulary, while emphasizing practices such as argumentation, analytic reasoning, reading for evidence, discussion, and writing.

Science Generation

Science Curriculum for Middle School

Inspired by the original Word Generation program, Science Generation focuses on science topics commonly taught to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. These 18 week-long units provide opportunities to read, write, discuss, and build arguments about basic questions in science. A digital dashboard of teacher resources recently added.

Social Studies Generation

Social Studies Curriculum for Middle School

Inspired by the original Word Generation program, Social Studies Generation (SoGen) goes in-depth on topics commonly taught to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. These curricular materials provide opportunities to read, write, discuss, and build arguments about basic questions in history, geography, and government.

Development of Reading to Learn in Science was led by Jonathan Osborne (Stanford University) through a SERP collaboration. Support for Reading to Learn in Science was provided by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education through grant number R305F100026. The information provided does not represent views of the funders.

The emphasis of the RTLS project is on disciplinary literacy at the 4th to 8th grade level.

Meet the RTLS Team