Answer to Question #315611 in English for Gavin

Question

1. How does reading and writing in various disciplines (Science, Mathematics, History, Literature) converge "between" and "across" in terms structure, grammar, and the like? Provide examples.

Answer 1

1] A wide reading of literature and nonfiction to gather new ideas and insights about the natural and social world and solid instruction in the disciplines the sciences, the social sciences, mathematics, and the humanities.

The polar opposite position, which might best be labelled a utilitarian view of reading, writing, and language, contends that from the outset of kindergarten, educators should engage children in a systematic quest to make sense of their world through deep engagement with the big ideas that have puzzled humankind for centuries.

These are, of course, the very ideas that prompted humans to develop the disciplinary tools we use to understand and improve the natural and social world in which we live. Proponents of the utilitarian view argue that students will need to use, and hence refine, their reading and writing skills as they seek information to better understand and shape their worlds.

Once students feel the need to learn to read, it will be much easier to teach students the lower-level skills needed to transform print into meaning. A side benefit is that students will have learned an important lesson about the purpose of reading—that it is always about making meaning and critiquing information on the way to acquiring knowledge.