Instructional Practices
I’m a science teacher. I’m a social studies instructor. I teach English.
As educators, we tend to think in terms of disciplines—but these distinctions only go so far. Skills overlap across disciplines, and cognitive processes are pretty much the same across subjects.
My area of interest and specialty is English language arts. Here’s how theNext Generation Science Standards (NGSS)*foster an interdisciplinary kind of learning.
Science and Literacy in the Classroom
Citing evidence to support a claim is central to science, but it’s also central to English language arts. If you look at the wording in the standards—for example, in the Common Core or Florida B.E.S.T. ELA standards—you’re going to see ahuge overlap with NGSS.
Core ELA standards are woven into the NGSS. If you think about NGSS as a tapestry, it would be made of five threads: science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, crosscutting concepts, English language arts, and mathematics. The NGSS is designed to have all the different skills, knowledge, and disciplines work together.
Most teachers are doing this already without realizing it. In English class, students are being asked to read texts closely and cite evidence in response to a question, or to support conclusions regarding an essay or a nonfiction article. Similarly, in science, students are asked to cite evidence to support a scientific claim. In both disciplines, students are asked to write. In science, they’re writing in their evidence notebooks. In English, they may be writing in response to literature. Students in both areas are asked to make presentations and do research.
The NGSS endeavors to embrace thedeep integration of language skillsin science learning. The goal of NGSS is to help students behave and think like scientists and engineers.
What Do Scientists and Engineers Do?
Scientists and engineers read scientific journals. They evaluate the data, the hypotheses, and the conclusion in the articles within these journals. They do research, often collaboratively, so they’re engaged in communication with their colleagues. They’re creating graphs, charts, and other graphical devices to communicate their findings. And of course, they’re writing—because who’s writing the scientific articles but other scientists?
The NGSS attempts to replicate what scientists in the real world do and to lead students to participate in those very same activities. What are those activities? Much of the time, they’re language-based, so your students will be immersed in literacy in the science classroom.
Embracing Language Arts in NGSS-Based Curricula
InHMH Into Science我们接受完整的门店,再保险sult, language arts skills are a part and parcel of the instructional design and the science lessons themselves. Lessons include prompts for the teacher to engage students in summarizing, asking questions, responding to questions, working in pairs, and collaborating in small groups. This is very much part of the language arts element in the NGSS.
In addition to that, specific features in the student-facing and teacher-facing materials focus, in part, on language. Of course, the guidance is different for first and second graders than it is for fifth and sixth graders, so it’s all calibrated according to a student’s age and knowledge base. But the point is that at any point in the program, students have access to this online handbook.
NGSS in the Classroom and Beyond
The NGSS has already correlated language arts skills to performance expectations. The role of the teacher is to guide students to use language arts skills to enhance their science learning. With the NGSS, we embrace an interdisciplinary approach to science learning, which enables students to gain ownership of science concepts that stay with them for life.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of HMH.
***
Read "Aligning English Language Arts and Science" by Reading and ELD Specialist andHMH Into Scienceauthor Marjorie Frank.Download the articlebelow.
*Next Generation Science Standards and logo are registered trademarks of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of, and do not endorse, this product.
This blog, originally published in 2018, has been updated for 2022.
Related Reading
-
6 Levels of English Language Proficiency for ELL Students
Jennifer Corujo
ShapedEditor -
Why Is Classroom Management Important?
Teresa Meredith
Teacher -
Don’t Lead with Science Vocabulary—Start with Conceptual Meaning
Dr. Karen Ostlund
Assistant Professor of Instruction, Emerita, UTeach, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
CORE CURRICULUM
HMH Social Studies, 6-12
SEE ALL SOCIAL STUDIES
AP & ELECTIVES
AP Human Geography
Personal Finance
SEE ALL SOCIAL STUDIES
AP & ELECTIVES
SUPPLEMENTAL
Connected Teaching and Learning
HMH’s Connected Teaching and Learning integrates assessment, core instruction, supplemental practice, intervention, and professional learning all on one platform.
Professional Development
Providing professional development for teachers, HMH’s professional learning courses, coaching, and leadership advisory supports educators every step of the way.
Keeping It Current For Grades 6–12
Each month we bring you videos, articles, and current events designed to build cultural awareness, media literacy, and a deeper understanding of significant historical figures and events.
For Teachers
Coaching Membership
Teacher's Corner
Live Online Courses
SEE ALL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
For Leaders
The Center for Model Schools (formerly ICLE)
Intervention Curriculum
HMH's K-12 intervention programs are built on 20+ years of proven results. We can help teachers develop an intervention curriculum that meets students' needs.
Science of Reading eBook
In this exclusive Science of Reading eBook you’ll find research-backed information that will walk you through the experience new readers face as they build their reading brain.
Model Schools Conference
Join us for the 32nd annual Model School Conferences presented by The Center for Model Schools. We showcase the success of districts, schools, and educators.
AP & Electives
Assessment
Early Learning
English Language Development
Homeschool
Intervention
Literacy
Mathematics
Professional Development
Science
School Improvement
Social and Emotional Learning
Social Studies
特殊教育
Summer School
SEE ALL SOLUTIONS
Intervention Curriculum
HMH's K-12 intervention programs are built on 20+ years of proven results. We can help teachers develop an intervention curriculum that meets students' needs.
BROWSE RESOURCES
Classroom Activities
Customer Success Stories
Digital Samples
Events & Webinars
Grants & Funding
International
Research Library
Shaped - HMH Blog
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Contact Sales
Customer Service & Technical Support Portal
Platform Login
Free Teaching Resources: Fun Classroom Activities and Lesson Plan Ideas
Here you'll find free learning activities, lessons, downloadables, and videos for students in Grades K–12 to keep learning and growing at grade level.
2023–2024 Monthly Calendar Themes for School
Check out these monthly calendar themes for school, complete with teaching resources for holidays and other days of significance for all grade levels.
Learn about us
About
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Environmental, Social, and Governance
News Announcements
Our Legacy
Social Responsibility
Supplier Diversity
Join Us
Careers
Educator Input Panel
Suppliers and Vendors
Divisions
Heinemann
The Center for Model Schools (formerly ICLE)
NWEA