"using language in science"

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"using language in science"
By Tabitha

I use science journals in each kits I teach. My students write vocabulary words, observations, and thougths and ideas.
I also use articles, books, and sometimes just a paragraph on the topic I am teaching. My students
than do a QUICK WRITE.
They read the article or paragraph given and choose ten different vocabulary words that they think are needed to help make the information make sense. I take a different word from each student and write it on the board. Then as a class we decide which ones make sense and vote on the word. The student who doesn't think the word is really important has to have a good

reason why. The class then decides to keep the word or erase it. This can be a little time consuming but it gets them thinking about what they read and the words that helped them comprehend the reading.

Once everyone has had a chance to give me a word and we have discussed them, I pull down the map and give them a spelling test. It doesn't count as a grade I just want to see who can spell the words correctly. Once this is done I pull the map up and have them check their papers. If they spelled it wrong they write the correct spelling over top the incorrect spelling. I then either have them write a story, letter, play, or retell what they learned from the piece using all the words we as a class decide upon. I grade the writing on a rubric that I made up and it gives them some other way to get the information being taught and they like to do this. I got the idea from a fellow teacher that I work with.