The Action Reflection Process: Supporting All Students in Inquiry-based Science

Strategies to Support Students

Over the course of three years, we collected a list of effective strategies used by teachers in their classrooms and librarians to support student learning.

Strategies Used by Teachers

Student in front of acquarium looking at pictures

By purchasing, borrowing, or making it themselves, teachers bring into the classroom a variety of science-related materials to deepen and enrich learning experiences. These materials are used as part of lessons and activities. Students are also given opportunities to explore these materials on their own to extend learning outside of formal activities. Examples of science-related material and tools include:

Teachers integrate literacy practices into instruction. To support science learning, they:

Teachers use science journals to help students document and build understanding. In this process, teachers:

Teachers design and structure learning activities to ensure student success. For example, they:

Teachers give students an opportunity to use computers and other technology tools to support writing, scientific communication, graphing, and making and labeling drawings. Examples of technology tools include:

Teachers link instruction and assessment, in order to see if goals are being met. For example, they:

Librarians play an important role, supporting and extending classroom practice. For example, they:



			Over the course of three years, we collected a list of effective strategies used by teachers in their classrooms and librarians to support student learning. Strategies Used by Teachers By purchasing, borrowing, or making it themselves, teachers bring into the classroom a variety of science-related materials to deepen and enrich learning experiences. These materials are used as part of lessons and activities. Students are also given opportunities to explore these materials on their own to extend learning outside of formal activities. Examples of science-related material and tools include: microscopes hand lenses rulers thermometers models (e.g., anatomically correct bug beanies) skeletons artifacts of field trips, including photos bookmarks of science-related websites cameras (e.g., Polaroid, digital) tape recorders videos cds Teachers integrate literacy practices into instruction. To support science learning, they: post signs or charts illustrating science concepts prominently display books (especially with scientific diagrams and labels), including large print, pertaining to the science units post lists of key words from science units encourage students to use specific vocabulary assign supplementary readings encourage students to include library resources in their assignments Teachers use science journals to help students document and build understanding. In this process, teachers: encourage students to use vocabulary appropriate to the science unit in their writing or illustrations encourage students to include scientific diagrams and/or drawings with labels create opportunities for students to write observations, such as lists, phrases, or complete sentences encourage students to record hypotheses, what happened, and interpretations give feedback to students through written comments allow students with writing problems to dictate entries to a teacher or aide Teachers design and structure learning activities to ensure student success. For example, they: have students engage in multiple observations of a phenomenon have students communicate their observations in more than one mode (writing, drawing, demos) provide worksheets that include guidelines and graphics (e.g., circle, microscope, or other shape) to indicate where diagrams are to be located ask aides to read directions or other textual materials to students with reading problems allow students extra time, if needed, to complete assignments show videotapes to provide visual representation of content use overheads to make ideas explicit Teachers give students an opportunity to use computers and other technology tools to support writing, scientific communication, graphing, and making and labeling drawings. Examples of technology tools include: word processors drawing programs portable keyboards (AlphaSmart) Intellikeys Teachers link instruction and assessment, in order to see if goals are being met. For example, they: make visible a rubric for an activity, or indicate that one was used during the activity display student work (writings, illustrations, etc.) Strategies Used by Librarians Librarians play an important role, supporting and extending classroom practice. For example, they: display books appropriate to the science unit being studied to build student awareness bookmark Web sites appropriate to the science unit on the library's Web browser make available electronic research sources (e.g. Grolier's Encyclopedia CD-ROM) compile reading lists that supplement the science units

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