The Best of Both

The premise for this article is that using science notebooks in the elementary classroom helps students not only build English for English Language Learners (ELL) while they are also learnin... See More

The premise for this article is that using science notebooks in the elementary classroom helps students not only build English for English Language Learners (ELL) while they are also learning science. This author adds another caveat by using parent teacher’s night and other parent/teacher interactions to show the family how the notebooks are used and families are encouraged to also make entries. The family member contribution can encourage academic interest and enthusiasm for the children. Sentence frames are also helpful and examples are provided.

Science Notebooks for Student and Families

Elementary students use a science notebook to engage their families in science learning as well as the students. Using diagrams with a few words is one technique. The author suggests a gre... See More

Elementary students use a science notebook to engage their families in science learning as well as the students. Using diagrams with a few words is one technique. The author suggests a great resource for simple science activities in Spanish available from Lawrence Hall of Science. One technique she suggests is the use of what she calls’ science frames’. The photos in this article support what is being said and would be a very useful technique for elementary students.