{"id":24802,"date":"2025-03-13T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nwea.org\/blog\/?p=24802"},"modified":"2025-03-12T07:35:44","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T14:35:44","slug":"what-school-leaders-can-do-to-support-the-integration-of-literacy-and-science","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nwea.org\/blog\/2025\/what-school-leaders-can-do-to-support-the-integration-of-literacy-and-science\/","title":{"rendered":"What school leaders can do to support the integration of literacy and science"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Even before the pandemic, schools struggled to balance instructional time across subjects, often prioritizing reading and math over science. But COVID-19 made things worse<\/a>, setting students back in all subjects\u2014including science<\/a>. While much attention has been paid to unfinished learning in reading and math, science learning loss has received far less focus. This is concerning, especially given the limited time schools already dedicate to science instruction compared to other core subjects.<\/p>\n

We examined the research<\/a> and found that the integration of literacy and science instruction is one of the most effective ways to maximize learning time while accelerating student progress. Rather than treating these subjects as separate silos, integrated instruction allows students to build literacy skills while deepening their understanding of science concepts. And given the ongoing gaps in achievement following the pandemic, this approach is more necessary than ever.<\/p>\n

A smarter way to recover lost learning<\/h2>\n

Many schools are still searching for ways to help students catch up. Traditional solutions like tutoring<\/a> and summer school<\/a> are helpful, but they often require additional funding and scheduling compromises. Integrated instruction, on the other hand, offers a practical way to make better use of the instructional time schools already have.<\/p>\n

By weaving literacy and science together, students don\u2019t just learn science; they also read, write, and talk about it in ways that strengthen their comprehension and vocabulary. Instead of seeing science as an isolated subject, students begin to view it as a part of the larger world, connected to the ways they communicate and think critically.<\/p>\n

Four key ingredients of effective integration of literacy and science<\/h2>\n

What makes integrated literacy and science instruction work? Our research brief on the integration of literacy and science<\/a> points to four essential components: authenticity, academic vocabulary, structured learning sequences, and meaningful student discourse. Let\u2019s explore what these elements look like in action and how schools can support teachers in bringing them to life.<\/p>\n

1. Authenticity: Making learning relevant<\/strong><\/p>\n

Students engage best when they see the real-world relevance of what they\u2019re learning. Science instruction should begin with a puzzling phenomenon, that is, something students observe in their everyday lives that sparks curiosity. From there, they can explore the science behind it through reading, writing, and discussion.<\/p>\n

How school leaders can help:<\/p>\n