The influence of improved literacy on understanding in high school biology Using specific strategies to improve literacy and science comprehension

摘要

One of the current trends in education is towards the increase of literacy in all disciplines, science in particular. The purpose of this study was to investigate if the incorporation of literacy strategies, both reading and writing, would promote understanding in science students. A group of ninth grade students in a biology class were studied over the course of 2 months. During the course of the study an array of different literacy strategies were implemented in the classroom. Many students who initially struggled with reading and writing became more comfortable and were able to comprehend and express this comprehension more clearly. The positive correlation between understanding and literacy supports the implementation of literacy in science.