Writing in Science: How to Scaffold Instruction to Support Learning

This book articulates how to teach students in grades K-5 to explain what they learned in their scientific work and how to use science notebooks to teach and assess science writing. Fulwiler, a science curriculum consultant and former classroom teacher, developed the Expository Writing and Science Notebooks Program in Seattle Public Schools and explains its methods here. She provides an overview of the approach, and describes the teaching-learning sequence and the content, audience, and characteristics of science notebooks, science word banks, and graphic organizers. Subsequent chapters cover simple and complex scientific thinking and writing, the development of sentence fluency and independent writing skills, the assessment of student notebook entries, feedback, strategies for developing writing and questions for a science unit, and advice on implementation. Student examples are shown throughout. There is no index. Annotation c2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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.