Questions, Claims, and Evidence

I am so pleased that this book is going to be out in the professional conversation, especially in a time when science teaching and the understandings about our world that come about because of it get pushed aside. Katie Wood Ray Author of About the Authors Questions, Claims, and Evidence presents a new approach to science teaching that engages students fully by linking literacy and inquiry. With it youll replace the lab reports of traditional science teaching with the writing of scientists searching for answers. And in the process, you and your students may well discover that you enjoy and learn from science time more than ever. Step by step Questions, Claims, and Evidence immerses students in scientific inquiry and writing. It transforms experiments from following directions and making notes into chances to pose and answer questions that interest students. Its approach helps you:

• increase students interest in science by showing students how to ask good questions and design their own experiments to answer them
• improve their analysis skills by giving them tools to make and support scientific claims
• boost their science writing by offering meaningful opportunities to argue for, reflect on, and summarize their findings.

• broadening your professional knowledge with the latest research and theory
• providing self-evaluation tools for monitoring your performance
• answering frequently asked questions about the Questions, Claims, and Evidence approach.

Lori Norton-Meier is the coauthor of the Heinemann titles Negotiating Science and Questions, Claims, and Evidence. She has been intrigued by children's stories since her time as a kindergarten teacher. She is currently an assistant professor at Iowa State University in Literacy Education. Her areas of interest include early childhood literacy, science literacy, family literacy, and media literacy.

Brian Hand is the coauthor of the Heinemann titles Negotiating Science and Questions, Claims, and Evidence. He is a science educator at the University of Iowa who is involved in research on student learning and how we use language in science classrooms to help the learning process. Brian was a school teacher for eleven years before moving into the university system, where he has published in a wide range of journals.

Lynn Hockenberry is the coauthor of the Heinemann title Questions, Claims, and Evidence (2008). A twenty-four teaching veteran, she implemented the Science Writing Heuristic approach in Questions, Claims, and Evidence and knows the power that linking science with literacy has to engage students. Now a reading consultant with Loess Hills AEA 13, she provides literacy professional development to K - 12 teachers.

Kim Wise is the coauthor of the Heinemann title Questions, Claims, and Evidence (2008). A former elementary and middle school teacher, she has been involved in science education for fifteen years. Currently a science consultant for Loess Hills AEA 13 in Southwest Iowa, Kim provides professional development in the areas of science curriculum, instruction, and assessment.