READING AS A TOOL FOR SCIENCE


familiarity with the science vocabulary advances and his ability
to read with comprehension increases, his rate of reading will
usually take care of itself.
 A reading period of ten or fifteen minutes can be used effec-
 tively as a part of the General Science program for the first
 semester or for both semesters if results prove advisable.
 During the first two weeks of school some type of diagnostic
test should be used to determine the strength and weakness of
every student in each of the six areas of science. It is well also
to gather all facts possible from other standardized tests con-
cerning the reading ability of each member of the class. The
science teacher should confer with the English and language
teachers to find out whether or not any eye defects have inter-
fered with the student's progress in reading.
 It is possible to obtain excellent books that contain individual
"reading exercises" in the field of science by which the instruc-
tor may determine the comprehension and speed of each stu-
dent. If a different group of about eight to twelve students
take these "exercises" each day, the other members of the class
may be reading science material during the same period.
 Remedial reading may be selected on the basis of the area of
science in which the student is weakest, but on his grade-level
of comprehension. For example, one student may be doing
remedial reading about "The Heavenly Bodies" on a 5.6 reading
comprehension at the same time that another student may be
reading about "Living Things" on a comprehension level of 7.8.
Individual record sheets or cards should be prepared so that
regular conferences may be held with students and suggestions
for improvement discussed with each student.
 If a folder is kept for each student, this folder may contain
the record sheets just mentioned, a summary of his weak con-
tent areas, and a suggested list of books that he has selected dur-
ing his conference with the science teacher. It should also con-
tain a complete list of all books that he reads during the year.
 The evaluation of the reading period may be in terms of the
increased interest of the student in science reading, of his many
reports and other contributions to his class, and also in terms of