Developing Secondary Pre-Service Science Teachers’ Instructional Planning Abilities for Language- and Literacy-Integrated Science Instruction in Linguistically Diverse Classrooms

Abstract

As science classrooms become more linguistically diverse, it is becoming increasingly important that pre-service teachers (PSTs) are trained with the skills and knowledge they need to support science learning for all students, especially English Learners. The purpose of this study was to determine how 11 secondary science PSTs’ instructional planning for language- and literacy-integrated science instruction changed over the course of their participation in two language- and literacy-integrated science methods courses. Data sources included open-ended survey questions, interviews, and participant-created lesson plans, instructional materials, and reflections. Inductive and deductive qualitative analyses were employed to identify themes across participants and data sources. Results suggest that, following participation in the methods courses, more PSTs integrated language- and literacy-integrated science practices into their instructional materials than prior to the intervention. Further, important changes in the nature of integration were observed. Results add to the emerging literature on preparing secondary science PSTs to teach in linguistically diverse classrooms and have implications for science teacher education and student learning.