This user-friendly resource defines formative assessment and provides strategies for embedding formative assessment into the K-8 science curriculum. Based on the IDEA approach: Introduce, Discuss, Elaborate, and Apply this research-based book guides readers through discussions, 'thought and reflection' activities, analyses of assessment techniques, and applications to classroom practice. Formative Assessment Strategies for Enhanced Learning in Science, K-8 demonstrates how teachers can use various models of formative assessments to instruct, monitor student progress, and evaluate learning, helping to broaden teachers' understanding of assessment and how assessment tools can be used to guide successful standards-based teaching and learning in science. To support teachers' application of formative assessments in the classroom, the author covers: "a framework for planning and implementing high quality instruction and formative assessments "planning guides with examples and suggestions for differentiating instruction "rubrics as a means of discovering student strengths and weaknesses "additional specific tools for collecting student data to inform instructional decisions
Science learning has not always kept pace with demands for improvement in reading and math test scores, but adaptable thinking and learning in science are essential competencies for learners who will need to keep up with accelerating demands in high school, college, and the workplace for technological knowledge and skills. Using the accessible and proven instructional strategies introduced in Differentiated Instructional Strategies: One Size Doesn't Fit All (Corwin, 2002), authors Gayle Gregory and Elizabeth Hammerman provide an expanded approach to creating science classrooms where learners thrive and succeed. Topics include: - Encouraging inquiry, trust, and relaxed alertness for learners - Creating hands-on performance tasks and rubrics applicable to real life settings - Using data to assess learner knowledge and achievement gaps against grade-level standards -Continuous assessment before, during, and after learning - Methods for engaging emerging learners, developing learners, and fluent learners at all stages of development - Ready-to-use strategies for inquiry-based learning, inexpensive hands-on learning, problem-based learning, cooperative learning, focus and sponge activities, graphic organizers, choice boards, and more - Management and pacing strategies for the differentiated science classroom. A generous collection of templates, planners, checklists, rubrics, and graphic organizers will be included in the text. Standards-based sample lessons will be offered for grades K-8.
A blueprint for science lessons that develop students' higher-level thinking skills! This second edition of Catch Them Thinking in Science offers easy-to-use strategies to help students gather, process, analyze, and apply information throughout the science curriculum. The author presents units of study that align with national science standards and offers strategies for cooperative learning groups to increase student comprehension in science. Providing a research-based rationale for each activity and strategy, this revised edition includes: Updated researchA new section on designing your own science activitiesAn expanded discussion of assessment methodsAn assortment of handy reproducibles to use with your lesson plans
A blueprint for science lessons that develop students' higher-level thinking skills! This second edition of Catch Them Thinking in Science offers easy-to-use strategies to help students gather, process, analyze, and apply information throughout the science curriculum. The author presents units of study that align with national science standards and offers strategies for cooperative learning groups to increase student comprehension in science. Providing a research-based rationale for each activity and strategy, this revised edition includes: Updated researchA new section on designing your own science activitiesAn expanded discussion of assessment methodsAn assortment of handy reproducibles to use with your lesson plans
Unlock the wonder in each of your students through inquiry-based science! Are you both fascinated and baffled by inquiry-based science? Do you want to tap the strength of inquiry-based science to help your students build deeper understandings? Do you want to use inquiry-based science to foster high-quality instruction across the educational board? This guide provides clear and simple explanations for engaging students in meaningful and hands-on, minds-on ways of understanding science. Eight Essentials of Inquiry-Based Science, K-8 breaks each essential into sample lessons that include sample data, discussion questions, and tools such as graphic organizers and analogies. Hammerman draws on more than 20 years experience in the fields of science instruction and professional development to address basic and complex principles related to inquiry, including: How to discuss data, information, models, graphics, and experiences How to interact with one another to strengthen knowledge and skills How to extend learning through guided or open-inquiry investigations and research How to apply new learning and the best research-based practices for improving student achievement When you harness the immense power of inquiry-based learning, you can fully discover the inquisitive nature of each of your students!
`This book does provide a useful, concise discussion of the legislative background to science in schools from the nineteenth century to the present day' - Colette Murphy, British Journal of Educational Studies `This book makes a fascinating and compelling read, particularly for anyone who has a professional involvement or interest in the ......
'This is a fascinating and very useful book....I cannot recommend it highly enough. It will inspire you' - School Science Review By focusing on active ways to help 5 to 14 year olds improve their thinking and learning skills in science, this book provides teachers with inspiration and ideas for ways to teach creative, enjoyable and interesting science lessons. Linked to up-to-date research in brain-based learning, the author gives practical advice on topics including: o ways to motivate pupils o developing pupils' skills of detection o the importance of using movement to promote learning o improving pupils' language skills and understanding of scientific vocabulary o suggestions for different ways learners can record in science o effective strategies for assessing learning in science o ideas to promote creativity o the importance of using ICT to support and promote learning. This book is an inspirational read for teachers, student teachers and teaching assistants, and anyone interested in science and how children learn. Helen Ward is Senior Lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University, Programme Director for the Modular PGCE at Christ Church and also an independent education consultant and active member of the Association for Science Education (ASE).
'This is a fascinating and very useful book....I cannot recommend it highly enough. It will inspire you' - School Science Review By focusing on active ways to help 5 to 14 year olds improve their thinking and learning skills in science, this book provides teachers with inspiration and ideas for ways to teach creative, enjoyable and interesting science lessons. Linked to up-to-date research in brain-based learning, the author gives practical advice on topics including: o ways to motivate pupils o developing pupils' skills of detection o the importance of using movement to promote learning o improving pupils' language skills and understanding of scientific vocabulary o suggestions for different ways learners can record in science o effective strategies for assessing learning in science o ideas to promote creativity o the importance of using ICT to support and promote learning. This book is an inspirational read for teachers, student teachers and teaching assistants, and anyone interested in science and how children learn. Helen Ward is Senior Lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University, Programme Director for the Modular PGCE at Christ Church and also an independent education consultant and active member of the Association for Science Education (ASE).
Defining new visions for science, mathematics, and language arts education, the authors provide a clearly articulated set of performance assessments, allowing teachers to assess students' knowledge and abilities through investigation, problem solving, inventiveness, and inquiry. Featuring activities that promote higher-order thinking skills and help develop more complex cognitive functions, this resource offers more than 20 ready-to-use assessments linked to national standards with tools that include: o Learning logs o Portfolios o Peer interview strategies o Teacher-student sample interviews o Problems to solve both individually and as a group.
