[LIT] Science and Literature: Literacy objective

[Bill IVEY]

Hi!

Alongside the excellent suggestions for novels you already have received,
I would suggest you run, don't walk, to the National Middle School
Association bookstore and pick up a copy of Mark Springer's "Watershed."
This will give you ideas on a program which thoroughly integrates science,
literature, and social studies.  

Democratic classroom principles would allow you to have the kids choose
topics which will lead to a set of projects, experiments and activities -
you could then work to locate a novel whose theme supports that topic in
some way.

As for methods that really work to get kids reading, I believe strongly
(and I would say the preponderance of research supports) independent
reading programs (a.k.a. Drop Everything And Read, Sustained Silent
Reading, Readers Workshop, etc.) wherein the kids choose their own books.
For specific reading strategies, if you need to teach those as well,
"Mosaic of Thought" by Ellin Keene and Susan Zimmerman does a great job of
detailing best practice supported by research.

I hope this helps!

Take care,
Bill Ivey
Stoneleigh-Burnham School