'This book places students center stage in the discussion of how we know what students know. Using formative assessment to understand student learning is a theme grounded in good teaching and good assessment!' - Jo Topps, Regional Director K-12 Alliance/WestEd 'This book incorporates current research and not only provides an explanation of the necessity of formative assessment, but offers a system for planning lessons and a variety of tools to implement formative assessment in the classroom' - Susan Leeds, Science Department Chair and Gifted Studies Teacher Howard Middle School, Winter Park, FL Research has shown that when teachers use formative assessments effectively, they have a clearer understanding of what students know and are better able to design instruction that meets learners' needs. This practical guide shows teachers how to create and implement formative assessments in their middle and high school science classrooms. Grounded in extensive and solid research, this guide covers all science content areas - physics/physical science, life science/biology, earth and space science, and chemistry - as well as five types of formative assessments: big idea questions, concept maps, evidence-to-explanation, predict-observe-explain, and multiple choice. Teachers will find additional support in: - Richly detailed, concrete examples of the five types of assessments - In-depth guidelines for implementing the assessments - Brief case studies with transcript excerpts that demonstrate how teachers have used formative assessments - Easy-to-use templates to help analyze lessons in current units and identify places for inserting formative assessments With this easy-to-use, hands-on guide, any teacher can learn how to use formative assessment strategies to improve student achievement in science.
"This book isn't just for new teachers! Even after years as a science teacher, this book gave me suggestions to use right away in my classroom." -Regina Brinker, Science Teacher Christensen Middle School, Livermore, CA Create a science classroom that fosters a creative learning community and leads to success! From successfully setting up a classroom to achieving meaningful instruction, science teachers face a variety of challenges unique to their practice every day. This easy-to-read guide provides new and seasoned teachers with practical ideas, strategies, and insights to help address essential topics in effective science teaching, including emphasizing inquiry, building literacy, implementing technology, using a wide variety of science resources, and maintaining student safety. Aligned with current science standards, this guide helps teachers streamline their efforts, organize their work, and set the stage for outstanding instruction and enthusiastic student participation. Other features include: Practical examples, snapshots of moments in the history of science, and Web references A compilation of professional development activities Checklists to rate curricula and textbooks Guidance on networking with colleagues and establishing relationships with families By leveraging this book's rich resources, science teachers will discover how to turn their classrooms into thriving environments for learning.
"This book isn't just for new teachers! Even after years as a science teacher, this book gave me suggestions to use right away in my classroom." -Regina Brinker, Science Teacher Christensen Middle School, Livermore, CA Create a science classroom that fosters a creative learning community and leads to success! From successfully setting up a classroom to achieving meaningful instruction, science teachers face a variety of challenges unique to their practice every day. This easy-to-read guide provides new and seasoned teachers with practical ideas, strategies, and insights to help address essential topics in effective science teaching, including emphasizing inquiry, building literacy, implementing technology, using a wide variety of science resources, and maintaining student safety. Aligned with current science standards, this guide helps teachers streamline their efforts, organize their work, and set the stage for outstanding instruction and enthusiastic student participation. Other features include: Practical examples, snapshots of moments in the history of science, and Web references A compilation of professional development activities Checklists to rate curricula and textbooks Guidance on networking with colleagues and establishing relationships with families By leveraging this book's rich resources, science teachers will discover how to turn their classrooms into thriving environments for learning.
Essentials of Science Classroom Assessment is a supplementary text for a science methods course or a core textbook for courses in science assessment. Grounded in the constructivist inquiry approach to science teaching and learning, the text will bridges science assessment research and practice, and connects explicitly science assessment and learning. This book will help students in science methods courses to develop essential skills in conducting science assessment to support student learning. The chapters parallel a typical structure of a science methods course, making the integration of this text into a science methods course seamless. Due to its practical and concise nature, this book is also ideal for practicing science teachers to use as a professional development resource.
'The structure [of this book] encourages active participation via reflective activity boxes which further allows for the engagement and consolidation of ideas...Evidence based research is cited resulting in the author suggesting a number of practical activities to encourage progression and continuity in science' - ESCalate Why do pupils' learning and motivation slow down markedly as they move from primary to secondary school? Why is this situation worse in science than in any other curriculum subject? This book combines reports of and reflection on best practice in improving progression and continuity of teaching and learning in science - particularly at that transition stage between primary and secondary school. Presenting the views of teachers and pupils on progression, learning and application of science, the book suggests practical ways of improving teaching and learning in science. Each chapter includes examples of learning materials with notes on how these might be used or adapted by teachers in their own classroom settings. Science teaching in secondary schools is often based on assumptions that children know or can do very little, so the job in the secondary school becomes one of showing pupils how to start 'doing science properly', as if from scratch. The damage that this false view can do to pupils' learning, motivation and confidence is clear. This book will help teachers to assess children's prior knowledge effectively and build meaningful and enjoyable science lessons.
'The structure [of this book] encourages active participation via reflective activity boxes which further allows for the engagement and consolidation of ideas...Evidence based research is cited resulting in the author suggesting a number of practical activities to encourage progression and continuity in science' - ESCalate Why do pupils' learning and motivation slow down markedly as they move from primary to secondary school? Why is this situation worse in science than in any other curriculum subject? This book combines reports of and reflection on best practice in improving progression and continuity of teaching and learning in science - particularly at that transition stage between primary and secondary school. Presenting the views of teachers and pupils on progression, learning and application of science, the book suggests practical ways of improving teaching and learning in science. Each chapter includes examples of learning materials with notes on how these might be used or adapted by teachers in their own classroom settings. Science teaching in secondary schools is often based on assumptions that children know or can do very little, so the job in the secondary school becomes one of showing pupils how to start 'doing science properly', as if from scratch. The damage that this false view can do to pupils' learning, motivation and confidence is clear. This book will help teachers to assess children's prior knowledge effectively and build meaningful and enjoyable science lessons.
"The strategies align with what our preservice and veteran teachers need to teach in today's classrooms. From newspapers, magazines, and research reports to adolescent trade books, the authors offer numerous strategies for supplementing science classes with various reading materials." -Amy M. Rogers, Instructor of Education Lycoming College, Williamsport, PA Combine literacy and inquiry-based instruction to advance student achievement in science! Integrating reading and writing with inquiry in the science classroom can present a challenge for teachers who may not have a background in reading instruction and who may be concerned about how to strengthen students' literacy skills while effectively teaching science content. In this timely resource, Kathleen Chamberlain and Christine Corby Crane demonstrate how nurturing strong communication skills can have a significant impact on student performance, and provide research-based strategies for successfully integrating literacy skills with science instruction. Packed with information about reading and writing pedagogy, science standards, adolescent and young adult literature, and lesson design, this book: Addresses the relationship between reading and science education, including the use of textbooks and other materials Offers methods for teaching writing in the science classroom Highlights the role of technology in enhancing students' science knowledge Includes sample lesson plans, graphic organizers, and templates suitable for any secondary science classroom, with modifications for students with special needs The ultimate blend of theory and practice, Reading, Writing, and Inquiry in the Science Classroom, Grades 6-12 helps educators foster the skills to communicate science ideas and experiences and give students an academic advantage.
"The strategies align with what our preservice and veteran teachers need to teach in today's classrooms. From newspapers, magazines, and research reports to adolescent trade books, the authors offer numerous strategies for supplementing science classes with various reading materials." -Amy M. Rogers, Instructor of Education Lycoming College, Williamsport, PA Combine literacy and inquiry-based instruction to advance student achievement in science! Integrating reading and writing with inquiry in the science classroom can present a challenge for teachers who may not have a background in reading instruction and who may be concerned about how to strengthen students' literacy skills while effectively teaching science content. In this timely resource, Kathleen Chamberlain and Christine Corby Crane demonstrate how nurturing strong communication skills can have a significant impact on student performance, and provide research-based strategies for successfully integrating literacy skills with science instruction. Packed with information about reading and writing pedagogy, science standards, adolescent and young adult literature, and lesson design, this book: Addresses the relationship between reading and science education, including the use of textbooks and other materials Offers methods for teaching writing in the science classroom Highlights the role of technology in enhancing students' science knowledge Includes sample lesson plans, graphic organizers, and templates suitable for any secondary science classroom, with modifications for students with special needs The ultimate blend of theory and practice, Reading, Writing, and Inquiry in the Science Classroom, Grades 6-12 helps educators foster the skills to communicate science ideas and experiences and give students an academic advantage.
