The effects of shared common experiences on learning in the English language learners' science classroom

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to make the science content being taught to the general science students more accessible by placing an emphasis on creating and using shared common experiences. Knowing that the range of experiences among these students was varied and limited in many ways, I felt it necessary to create a shared common experience for these students that we could then use as a foundation for our understanding in each unit of learning throughout the year. Emphasis was also placed on other common life experiences students had in an attempt to better connect their lives to science, which was one of the major goals of the study.