Molly Marek

Bio

Molly is a science instructor and doctoral fellow at UNT. She specialized in literacy education as an undergraduate at UT Austin before earning an M.Ed. in Science Education from TCU. Her work includes curriculum writing and pre-service teacher development. Her research interests are science-specific disciplinary literacy and social-justice-oriented science education.

Supporting Science-Specific Disciplinary Literacy through Text-Based Inquiry

Day 1, Session 2 - July 25, 2:30-3:30pm

Despite linkages across subject areas, science and literacy learning are typically compartmentalized, providing young people few opportunities to engage in sense-making while using text, media, and verbal communications in ways that are similar to those of practicing scientists. "Inquiry" is often equated with hands-on scientific investigation only. This conception can neglect the text-based disciplinary literacies that are critical to the work of scientists. This session will explore how text-based science inquiry can engage children and youth in the literate practices of the scientific community. Examples of text-based inquiry in elementary and middle school classrooms will be shared.