Science Notebooks as a Predictor of Achievement in Reading, Writing, Math, and Science, and of Higher-level Thinking in Science Classrooms

  • Science notebooks (SNBs) can be an important instructional tool to help students record, represent, reflect upon, and reinforce their understandings of science.
  • Scores from 300 SNBs from grades four and five students in two districts were compared with state standardized test scores in reading, writing, math, and science.
  • In both districts, SNB scores correlate most highly with writing, and least well with science.
  • The grade five SNB score predicts variation in grade five writing and math scores above and beyond that accounted for by the grade four writing and math score (i.e., grade four as a covariate).
  • This research was conducted by BSCS in partnership with Colorado College.
  • Presented at the 2009 National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST) Annual Conference, Garden Grove, CA.

This research studied SNB use with grades four and five science kits in two Colorado school districts. An allied professional development intervention focused on instructional practices, science content, and SNB implementation in science.

Click here to view presentation from the NARST Conference.

Click here to read full report.

Getty, S. R., Taylor, J. A., Mooney, L., & Kuerbis, P. (2009, April). Science Notebooks as a Predictor of Achievement in Reading, Writing, Math, and Science, and Higher-level Thinking in Science Classrooms. Paper presented at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST) Annual Conference, Garden Grove, CA.