ARLINGTON, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Writing skills are high on the list of real-world requirements for all students—including science students. Every scientific discipline needs professionals who can ably communicate in writing. Scientists must be able to describe their proposed studies for funding considerations, track their observations and results in their own notes, describe their experimental protocols for their peers to replicate, and synthesize their work to the wider world community. Yet setting aside time to develop these important skills in an already jam-packed science curriculum is often difficult. And even when teachers can carve out such moments, what do science writing lessons look like?
This valuable compendium of articles originally published in the award-winning journals Science and Children and Science Scope, highlights the importance of science writing and attempts to help elementary and middle school teachers of science tackle the topic with confidence and ease. Outlining both the process and the methods for teaching science writing, articles cover lab reports, science journals, field guides, interactive science notebooks, blogs, and even creative nonfiction and environmental poetry. Practical—and time-efficient—assessment ideas are also covered.
Volume editor Jodi Wheeler-Toppen, herself well-versed in the art of combining writing and science instruction, sums up the case for teaching science writing best: “There are many reasons to have our students write, but the one that is most powerful for me is simple: Writing helps students learn.”
About the Editor
Jodi Wheeler-Toppen received her PhD in science education from the University of GA. She is a science writer for children’s books and magazine articles and is also a former science teacher.
You can browse sample pages of this new book free at the NSTA Science Store website at nsta.org/store.
For additional information or to purchase Science the “Write” Way and other books from NSTA Press, visit the NSTA Science Store at nsta.org/store. To order by phone, call 800-277-5300 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET weekdays. The 291-page book is priced at $25.95 and discount-priced for NSTA members at $20.76.
The Arlington, Va.-based National Science Teachers Association is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA's current membership includes more than 55,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.
NSTA Press produces 20–25 new books each year. Focused on the PreK–college market and specifically aimed at teachers of science, NSTA Press titles offer a unique blend of accurate scientific content and sound teaching strategies.