Science in Writing Workshop: Enhancing Students' Science and Literacy Learning

Given the focus of recent standards-based reforms, K–12 students are expected to engage in reading and writing activities across disciplines to strengthen their literacy skills in all content areas. These students are simultaneously called upon to develop understandings of the practices of science and engineering through their K–12 science learning experiences. Therefore, this article aims to address both of these issues by promoting the use of science notebooks to engage students in authentic literacy activities and describing the value of applying the writers’ workshop framework to support such instruction. Particular attention is devoted to discussion of how the writers’ workshop environment can provide rich opportunities for students to develop and refine their understanding of the practices of science through authentic writing-focused learning experiences. © 2016 International Literacy Association