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The principal investigators for Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading™ are P. David Pearson and Jacqueline Barber.
Dr. Pearson is Dean of the Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Berkeley and a faculty member in the Language and Literacy program. Current research focuses on reading instruction and reading assessment policies and practices at all levels—local, state, and national. Prior to coming to Berkeley in 2001, he was the John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor of Education in the College of Education at Michigan State, and Co-Director of the Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement (CIERA). Earlier, he was Dean of the College of Education, Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Reading, and Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Illinois. He has served the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English in many leadership capacities. Dr. Pearson has also served on the boards of many educational research journals, developed state tests, and has extensive expertise in literacy assessment. He has written and co-edited numerous books and articles about research and practice. He was also co-investigator for the National Academy of Education’s initiative on new visions of assessment in literacy and mathematics, 1995-1996.
Jacqueline Barber is Co-Principal Investigator of the Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading program. She serves as Associate Director of Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS), and also directs the LHS Center for Curriculum Innovation and the Great Explorations in Math and Science (GEMS) Program. She has spent the past 25 years involved in K–12 science and mathematics education, primarily in curriculum and professional development. Current research interests include parent involvement and parent education. She has led a wide variety of programs including those that have led to award-winning products and sustained implementation activity. Ms. Barber has a background in scientific research.
Background on other team members is available here.
The Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading Approach
Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading is designed to strengthen and capitalize on the natural convergences between science and literacy. The curiosity-driven “why” that powers science inquiry is also a driving force in the quest for language literacy; the desire and need to “find out” makes reading an essential act of inquiry. Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading units were designed to help students use strategies common to both the science and literacy domains as they engage in these key activities:
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