Integrating reading and writing instruction with scientific inquiry can enhance student learning, yet the nature of the connections between each of these learning domains remain underexplored. In this systematic review, we analysed 16 interventions in elementary education in order to develop a categorization of the functions of reading and writing within scientific inquiry. Inductive analysis resulted in three main categories of functionalities: reading and writing as support for understanding, doing, and concluding in scientific inquiry. Specific functions belonging to each category are identified and illustrated with learning activities as described in the interventions. These functions highlight a range of possibilities, informing researchers and practitioners about aligning reading and writing with scientific inquiry. The review also included a deductive analysis of instructional reading and writing support in these interventions. Findings revealed that support was minimally described, primarily consisting of explanations (including direct instructions and examples) and providing graphic organizers (e.g., worksheets with prompts). Support for reading activities focused mainly on general and disciplinary-specific strategies for reading comprehension. Writing support emphasized disciplinary-specific strategies such as writing according to an argumentation structure, preparing scientific explanations, and documenting data. The results of this study advance our understanding of the rationale for integrating reading, writing, and scientific inquiry and can inform future integrated interventions. It also underscores the missed opportunities and gaps in current interventions regarding the interactions between reading, writing and scientific inquiry in elementary education.

Integrated language, science and technology (ILS&T) instruction is a complex task for primary school teachers that requires professional development. Task-centered educational approaches such as the four-component instructional design (4C/ID) model are well suited for the development of complex professional skills. This article describes the application of the Ten Steps approach to the 4C/ID model in the domain of teacher education. The findings describe a blueprint for a 4C/ID-based teacher professional development program aimed at equipping in-service primary school teachers with the competences for ILS&T instruction, which can support instructional designers, teacher educators and researchers in making informed instructional design decisions.

This systematic literature review presents a review of the effects of integrated language arts, science and technology (ILS&T) instruction, with an inquiry- or design-based pedagogy, in elementary schools on student achievement. To this end, an overview of the characteristics of the 19 included studies and their interventions is first presented. Second, the effects of interventions in relation to the study characteristics and outcome variables were examined, by comparing the mean effect sizes. The findings demonstrate positive effects of ILS&T instruction for all reported student learning outcome variables. Third, the relation between characteristics of the intervention and effect sizes was analysed. Interventions with higher levels of integration, a short duration, and teacher professional development activities produce higher effect sizes. These findings are relevant for the design of ILS&T interventions. The analysis was challenged by a lack of detailed information in study and intervention descriptions, which prompts a call for scholars to provide more comprehensive information in their intervention studies.

Integrated language arts and science & technology (ILS&T) instruction can make learning more meaningful and improve student learning outcomes for both subjects. Although the literature has stressed that such integrated instruction presents pedagogical challenges for elementary school teachers, little is yet known about the specific characteristics of the required pedagogical repertoire. To gain a better understanding of the teacher knowledge and skills required for ILS&T instruction, a cognitive task analysis was conducted. This analysis resulted in a hierarchy consisting of the various required constituent teacher skills for ILS&T instruction. The cognitive task analysis also revealed what knowledge teachers rely on and identified the factors influencing the complexity of ILS&T instruction. The findings presented here contribute to our knowledge about what ILS&T instruction requires from teachers and can serve as a basis for the development of substantiated, 4C/ID-based teacher professional development trajectories. Furthermore, it provides valuable insight into the pros and cons of a relatively new, systematic way of analyzing teacher expertise.