It’s Time for Science Podcast Episode 17: ELD and Science Instruction Podcast By cover art

It’s Time for Science Podcast Episode 17: ELD and Science Instruction

It’s Time for Science Podcast Episode 17: ELD and Science Instruction

Listen for free

View show details

About this listen

 This month on It's Time for Science, it's time to talk about ELD (English language development) and science instruction! Host Tom Racine talks with Diana B. Vélez and Veronica Gallardo. Diana B. Vélez is a curriculum developer and professional learning provider for the Full Option Science System Project (FOSS K–8) at the Lawrence Hall of Science. She specializes in English language development and the integration of literacy in science teaching and learning. Ms. Vélez assists in the development and implementation of FOSS instructional materials and creates pedagogical resources that support access and equity. She also leads professional learning experiences for educators, administrators, families, and community members using FOSS instructional materials to develop scientific literacy, teacher capacity, and systemic change in schools and districts across the country and internationally. Before coming to the Lawrence Hall of Science, Ms. Vélez was the instructional leader for a science-centered elementary school in Oakland, California and was a founding-member and teacher in a Spanish dual-immersion program. Veronica Gallardo is a bilingual reading specialist and science consultant. In the last fifteen years, she has held multiple professional and volunteer roles; a kindergarten, first grade, and middle school teacher, a site administrator for two elementary schools, and volunteers her time in support of community literacy initiatives. She holds a Master of Science, Literacy and Reading, a Certificate in Education Finance, and the following CA credentials: multiple subject, reading specialist, and administrative. She can be reached at www.readingliteracyspecialists.com Tom talks with Ms. Vélez and Ms. Gallardo about the importance of connecting ELD and science instruction; the correlation of oral vocabulary and the ability to read words; and the research and experience supporting active science as one of the best places to develop language skills. They go into depth discussing the relationship between the FOSS Project and Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD): FOSS has existing resources for ELD and ELA instruction and worked with SBUSD to help create lessons and units that aligned with the FOSS curriculum. They talk about looking deeper at why are kids talking?; are they explaining, analyzing, arguing?; how kids learn best while learning in context; the importance of oral learning for all students; and how impactful it is for teachers to see what their students are capable of when given the chance. Ms. Gallardo and Ms. Vélez provide some examples from working with students, and how invigorating it is to see the connections students are able to make. They close the discussion talking about equity in the classroom connected to speaking/reading/listening/writing all in tandem with doing science; how there is variability in the rate of development for all students; focussing on having a shared experience where all students can engage; and the importance of focussing on the the needs of particular students so that you can know what those students need to fully participate and be able to access the curriculum. Producer David Lippman also has a few words about Amy Tan's amazing book, The Backyard Bird Chronicles, published by Knopf. It’s Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at itstimeforscience@schoolspecialty.com. We’d love to hear from you!

Look for School Specialty and FOSS on Twitter and Facebook. It’s Time for Science is produced by School Specialty and the Full Option Science System (FOSS) at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro805_stickypopup
No reviews yet