The ability to interpret and comprehend text material is a basic and essential skill. To insure a successful experience for students, reading specialists have produced various techniques and strategies. Many of their approaches are congruous with activities used in the science classroom. There are three main purposes for reading.
Students learn to read to be informed, to perform a task, and for literary experience.
A piece of literature developed around a science topic can be used to engage and motivate students to explore the topic. The reading strategies help students focus their thinking and construct meaning. Many of these strategies are a natural part of the science lesson. The science content area provides students with the opportunity to use reading skills in an authentic environment. The authentic application of these skills is a critical experience for students as they learn to read.