Literacy Matters Vol 24 Winter 2024

teachengineering.com to ignite science learning with a STEM twist. According to Tippett and Milford (2021), a population with a foundation in STEM will be better prepared to face the challenges of a science and technology-driven society.

Use fiction and nonfiction texts to discuss and reinforce science vocabulary. Classroom and pre-service teachers are encouraged to utilize resources from the South Carolina State Department, Next Generation Science Standards, and

References Akerson, V. L., Avsar Erumit, B., & Elcan Kaynak, N. (2019). Teaching nature of science through children’s literature: An early childhood preservice teacher study. International Journal of Science Education , 41 (18), 2765-2787.

Kim, S. L., & Kim, D. (2021). English learners’ science-literacy practice through explicit writing instruction in invention-based learning. International Journal of Educational Research Open , 2 , 100029.

Christ, T., &Wang, X. C. (2011). Closing the vocabulary gap: A review of research on early childhood vocabulary practices. Reading Psychology , 32 (5), 426-458.

Nair, S., Samarth, P., & Nair, S. (2020). What is engineering and what is design? https://www.teachengineering.org/lessons/view/umo_challenges_lesson01

Literacy Matters General Articles

Cinar, S., Pirasa, N., & Sadoglu, G. P. (2016). Views of science and mathematics pre service teachers regarding STEM. Universal Journal of Educational Research , 4 (6), 1479-1487.

NGSS. (2023). The Need for Standards. https://www.nextgenscience.org/need standards .

Shaw, N. (1986). Sheep in a jeep . Houghton Mifflin. New York, NY.

Friedrich, L., Brown, W., & Howlett, H. (2020). Bringing a literacy focus into the science classroom: How complex tasks can help. American Educator, 43 (4).

South Carolina Council on Competitiveness. (2020). SC Competes . https:// sccompetes.org/sctech/

Graham, S., Kiuhara, S. A., & MacKay, M. (2020). The effects of writing on learning in science, social studies, and mathematics: A meta-analysis. Review of Educational Research, 90 (2), 179–226. Hansen, J. E., & Broekhuizen, M. L. (2021). Quality of the language-learning environment and vocabulary development in early childhood. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research , 65 (2), 302-317.

South Carolina Department of Education. (2021). College and Career Ready Science Standards 2021 . https://ed.sc.gov/instruction/standards/science/standards/south carolina-college-and-career-ready-science-standards-2021-approved/. Tippett, C. D., & Milford, T. M. (2017). Findings from a pre-kindergarten classroom: Making the case for STEM in early childhood education. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 15 , 67–86.

S Dr. KimberlyTisi is the Department Chair for Early Childhood and Elementary Programs and Assistant Professor of Education at Anderson University. Prior to joining the faculty at Anderson University, Dr. Tisi was a K5-2nd grade teacher in the private and public sector. Her passion and research interests include preparing pre-service Early Childhood educators for the field, literacy instruction, integrating content areas for effective classroom instruction, building community partnerships for teacher candidates, constructivist instructional practices, and creating equitable learning spaces. Dr. Tisi can be contacted at ktisi@andersonuniversity.edu.

| 38 | Literacy Matters | Volume 24 • Winter 2024

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