Value Added

ALSP adds value to the work both of teachers and students. It structures the reading of science text for students and helps teachers connect reading activities to science content.

ALSP makes science text more considerate to readers.
Considerate text refers to connected text that is structurally helpful to the reader, in terms of content, and is helpful to the teacher in connecting reading to science content. For example, considerate text might make use of structures like section headings, bolded words, or questions within the extended text in order to guide the reader through the reading.

Tools in ALSP encourage and create structures for reading-to-learn.
Teachers use already annotated text to scaffold student readings of science content. As students annotate texts on the computer, they become more active readers.

Students engage in a variety text- and thought-organizing tasks when using the electronic double-entry journal, such as coupling main and supporting ideas or supporting their arguments with evidence from the reading.

Summary Street helps students summarize by giving feedback on content, spelling, redundancies, and irrelevancies. The program allows students to get instant and private feedback on their work. It provides teachers with the opportunity for one-on-one interaction with students.

ALSP supports a literacy-focused classroom culture through professional development.
Professional development sessions throughout the year help teachers use evidence of reading comprehension to shape and modify science instruction. They also help teachers master formative assessment feedback strategies that make students classroom expectations clearer for both students and teachers.