Series 3, Webinar 5. February 25, 2015

Presenters:Kathy DiRanna, K-12 Alliance Statewide Director, WestEd; Maria Simani, Executive Director, California Science Project

In this webinar, we present essential features of the science practices outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards that offer opportunities for students to develop disciplinary literacy. We explore how reading, writing, listening, and speaking are used in the science discipline to develop knowledge of scientific ideas as well as the ways in which scientists develop that knowledge. Particular emphasis is given to the NGSS practices of "Constructing Explanations" and "Engaging in Argument Form Evidence" and how the Common Core State Standards ELA/Literacy in Science support or contrast these practices.

Examples are drawn from middle and high school students' writings of scientific explanations and how argumentation strengthened those explanations. Furthermore, we show scientific literature that provides opportunities to compare writing requirements and address classroom strategies.