Abstract of

Inspiring Young Scientists With Great Books

Danny Brassell

In an effort to increase her students' interest in science, a teacher in an underresourced school secured large donations of science-related books for her classroom of second-language learners. By balancing her science classroom library and read-alouds with a number of interesting nonfiction trade books and storybooks, the teacher tried to enhance her students' reading comprehension and vocabulary skills, as well as their passion for science.

Students announced what scientific subjects interested them, and the teacher tried to provide them with corresponding books and activities. The teacher found that this responsive teaching approach empowered her students to take a more active part in their learning, and students' interest in reading and—more specifically—science skyrocketed. Tips for how teachers can obtain free or substantially discounted books and use science information texts in their teaching are provided.

Abstract from Brassell, D. (2006, December). Inspiring Young Scientists With Great Books. The Reading Teacher, 60(4), 336–342. doi: 10.1598/RT.60.4.3