|
Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading is a research-based, field-tested curriculum that integrates inquiry science with content-rich literacy instruction. Published and distributed by Delta Education, the program is funded in part by the National Science  Foundation, and is being developed as a collaboration of a curriculum development team at the University of California Berkeley's Lawrence Hall of Science and Berkeley's Graduate School of Education. Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading addresses the urgent need for materials that help students develop the inquiry skills needed to make sense of the physical world while building fundamental literacy skills. See the "About Us" link in the header at the top of this page for more on who we are, our approach, and the philosophy and research behind these programs.
The Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading integrated science and  literacy units, described more fully on the curriculum page, are the flagship of the program. These integrated units feature opportunities for students to learn about science through doing, talking, reading, and writing about science. The Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading approach capitalizes on the natural convergences between science and literacy to create a more effective, integrated approach to learning. We are engaged in ongoing research into the effectiveness of the Seeds/Roots units; as studies are completed and made public summaries are posted at the "Papers and Presentations" link above.
The Literacy Investigations series is a set of literacy-only units designed around accessible, thematically related science books. With Literacy Investigations, you can help students develop the ability to read and learn from a wide range of content-rich text  genres. The use of thematically related science books situates literacy instruction in an organized knowledge domain that provides a natural context and purpose for authentic reading and writing.
Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading student books deliver science content in imaginative and engaging ways. But that’s not all. The books were written to support science inquiry in the Seeds/Roots units and play a variety of roles in supporting student learning. The books play a key role in the learning cycle and support, rather than eclipse, firsthand discovery. They are closely integrated with each unit’s science inquiry and literacy development activities, as well as the learning goals for each unit. Outstanding graphics and interesting content enhance and deepen learning. These books exemplify the science-literacy synergy at the heart of the Seeds/Roots program. For teachers using the books without the Seeds/Roots curriculum, a series of strategy guides demonstrate how the books can be utilized in teaching a number of specific reading strategies to students.
|
