In the schools I profile that are successful with boys, a common element of instruction is ensuring that math and science classes emphasize literacy skills. With that in mind I offer up this release from the International Reading Association:
IRA Reading Radio Program Spotlights Presidential Award-Winning Teacher It's never too early to help young students learn to link literacy skills to content areas such as science. This month's installment of the International Reading Association's Reading Radio program features Jo Anne Deshon, an elementary teacher from Newark, Delaware, addressing "The Critical Link Between Literacy 2.0 and Excellence in Science." In January, President Barack Obama honored Deshon and 86 other elementary teachers with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. In this segment of Reading Radio, Deshon presents ideas to help teachers use reading, writing, e-mail, and technology to effectively engage children. She notes the value of using nonfiction books to help children learn facts and misconceptions about various science topics, and she advocates reading aloud with students both at school and at home. A collaboration between IRA and the BAM Radio Network, each monthly installment of IRA Reading Radio features IRA Executive Director William B. Harvey interviewing an expert on a key topic in reading education. The free program is available both on the IRA website at http://www.reading.org and the BAM website at http://www.bamradionetwork.com. To access Reading Radio from the IRA website, simply click on the IRA Radio logo on the homepage. On the Reading Radio page, you can listen to the interview with Jo Anne Deshon and also access previous interviews with Peter Johnston on the topic of "Learning and Assessment in the Digital Age" and IRA President Kathryn Au on "Culturally Responsive Instruction." The next segment of Reading Radio will feature an interview with IRA President-elect Patricia A. Edwards. That program will focus on ways that preschool teachers, parents, and child care providers can help prepare young children for reading. Subsequent programs will address a wide range of topics pertaining to reading education.