ERIC Number: EJ986061
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 29
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0305-7267
EISSN: N/A
Science Education for Students with Special Needs
Villanueva, Mary Grace; Taylor, Jonte; Therrien, William; Hand, Brian
Studies in Science Education, v48 n2 p187-215 2012
Students with special needs tend to show significantly lower achievement in science than their peers. Reasons for this include severe difficulties with academic skills (i.e. reading, math and writing), behaviour problems and limited prior understanding of core concepts background knowledge. Despite this bleak picture, much is known on how to significantly improve science achievement for students with special needs. A recent comprehensive meta-analysis indicates that inquiry instruction which infuses appropriate scaffolds and supports, can significantly improve science achievement for students with special needs. This article will delineate the types of supports and scaffolds that students with special needs require to be successful in inquiry instruction. It will also provide concrete examples of how these supports have been successfully applied in an inclusive third through fifth grade science approach (i.e. the science writing heuristic). (Contains 1 note and 4 tables.)
Descriptors: Science Achievement, Special Needs Students, Inclusion, Mainstreaming, Science Process Skills, Science Instruction, Student Needs, Special Education, Educational Research, Intervention, Elementary School Science, Social Justice, Teaching Methods, Inquiry
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 3; Grade 4; Grade 5
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A