Tools and Traits for Highly Effective Science Teaching, K-8


Book Description

A must-have for every elementary science teacher striving to be highly effective and for every support person addressing the needs of science teachers. - Linda Froschauer NSTA President 2006 - 2007 This important book helps us understand the details of effective science instruction in the elementary grades. Our job is to learn from this work and use it as we prepare future teachers and support current teachers as they collaborate to become effective elementary science teachers. - George D. Nelson Director, Science Mathematics and Technology Education, Western Washington University At last, we have a comprehensive resource that can help teachers, administrators, and anyone who deeply cares about the science learning of our children... help elementary teachers become both "highly qualified" and "highly effective" teachers of science. - Page Keeley Senior Science Program Director, Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance What does top-notch, learning-centered teaching look like in science? To move from competence to excellence, what should teachers know and be able to do? Tools & Traits for Highly Effective Science Teaching, K - 8 answers those questions and shows you how to make powerful practices part of your science instruction. Even if you have little formal training or background knowledge in science, Tools & Traits for Highly Effective Science Teaching, K - 8 pulls together cognitive and educational research to present an indispensable framework for science in the elementary and middle grades. You'll discover teaching that increases students' engagement and makes them enthusiastic participants in their own science learning. Tools & Traits for Highly Effective Science Teaching, K - 8 answers vital and frequently asked questions: How do you structure inquiry-oriented lessons? What assessment probes and seamless formative assessments work best? What is integration and what is it not? How can literacy be powerfully linked to science learning? How do you manage activity-based learning? How do you provide science for students with various abilities. language proficiencies, and special needs? Its practical, proven, and research-based advice helps you understand what strong science teaching looks like and gives you the repertoire of skills you need to implement it in your classroom. The National Science Education Standards say that "everyone deserves to share in the excitement and personal fulfillment that can come from understanding and learning about the natural world." Whether you are reassessing your own teaching or examining it in light of state and federal science-education mandates, Tools & Traits for Highly Effective Science Teaching, K - 8 will make a difference in your teaching and in your students' lives.




STEM Lesson Essentials, Grades 3-8


Book Description

Want to know how to implement authentic STEM teaching and learning into your classroom? STEM Lesson Essentials provides all the tools and strategies you'll need to design integrated, interdisciplinary STEM lessons and units that are relevant and exciting to your students. With clear definitions of both STEM and STEM literacy, the authors argue that STEM in itself is not a curriculum, but rather a way of organizing and delivering instruction by weaving the four disciplines together in intentional ways. Rather than adding two new subjects to the curriculum, the engineering and technology practices can instead be blended into existing math and science lessons in ways that engage students and help them master 21st century skills.




Ten Traits of Highly Effective Schools


Book Description

The redoubtable Grandma--this book is a sequel to Grandma Drove the Snowplow--is at it again. After all her hard work collecting the towns garbage and plowing the roads, Grandma deserves a day off--and what better day than Labor Day. All she has to do is sit back and enjoy a nice boat ride with her littlest grandson Billy while her sons catch the lobsters for the town Lobster Bake. But what happens when the waves get choppy, the fog rolls in, and all the boats are in difficulty? Can Grandma take the helm and get the lobsters back to shore in time? More great fun as our intrepid heroine is again placed at the center of small town life and in the middle of a local celebration.




A Framework for K-12 Science Education


Book Description

Science, engineering, and technology permeate nearly every facet of modern life and hold the key to solving many of humanity's most pressing current and future challenges. The United States' position in the global economy is declining, in part because U.S. workers lack fundamental knowledge in these fields. To address the critical issues of U.S. competitiveness and to better prepare the workforce, A Framework for K-12 Science Education proposes a new approach to K-12 science education that will capture students' interest and provide them with the necessary foundational knowledge in the field. A Framework for K-12 Science Education outlines a broad set of expectations for students in science and engineering in grades K-12. These expectations will inform the development of new standards for K-12 science education and, subsequently, revisions to curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development for educators. This book identifies three dimensions that convey the core ideas and practices around which science and engineering education in these grades should be built. These three dimensions are: crosscutting concepts that unify the study of science through their common application across science and engineering; scientific and engineering practices; and disciplinary core ideas in the physical sciences, life sciences, and earth and space sciences and for engineering, technology, and the applications of science. The overarching goal is for all high school graduates to have sufficient knowledge of science and engineering to engage in public discussions on science-related issues, be careful consumers of scientific and technical information, and enter the careers of their choice. A Framework for K-12 Science Education is the first step in a process that can inform state-level decisions and achieve a research-grounded basis for improving science instruction and learning across the country. The book will guide standards developers, teachers, curriculum designers, assessment developers, state and district science administrators, and educators who teach science in informal environments.




STEM Lesson Guideposts


Book Description

"STEM Lesson Guideposts presents a clear and actionable approach for teachers and leaders to follow in developing meaningful STEM lessons and units. This companion to the best-selling STEM Lesson Essentials is a practical guide for helping you on your journey of creating integrated, interdisciplinary STEM units."--




STEM by Design


Book Description

How do you create effective STEM classrooms that energize students, help them grow into creative thinkers and collaborators, and prepare them for their futures? This practical book from expert Anne Jolly has all the answers and tools you need to get started or enhance your current program. Based on the author’s popular MiddleWeb blog of the same name, STEM by Design reveals the secrets to successful lessons in which students use science, math, and technology to solve real-world engineering design problems. You’ll learn how to: Select and adapt quality existing STEM lessons that present authentic problems, allow for creative approaches, and engage students in meaningful teamwork; Create your own student-centered STEM lessons based on the Engineering Design Process; Assess students’ understanding of basic STEM concepts, their problem-solving abilities, and their level of engagement with the material; Teach STEM in after-school programs to further build on concepts covered in class; Empower girls to aspire to careers in STEM and break down the barriers of gender bias; Tap into STEM's project-based learning style to attract and engage all students. Throughout this user-friendly book, you’ll find design tools such as checklists, activities, and assessments to aid you in developing or adapting STEM lessons. These tools, as well as additional teacher resources, are also available as free downloads from the book’s website, http://www.stem-by-design.com.




Ten Traits of Highly Effective Teachers


Book Description

This user-friendly resource for administrators and teachers explores the ten characteristics that lead to success in the classroom, increased school morale, satisfied parents and eager, high-achieving students.




Universal Design for Learning in the Classroom


Book Description

"The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework has grown from its origins in special education to being widely used to support all students, making the fully rewritten second edition of this indispensable guide more relevant than ever. Filled with practical, vivid examples and tips, the book demonstrates the power of UDL when applied to particular content areas. Specific teaching ideas are presented for literacy, STEM, project-based learning, career and technical education, and the arts. The editors and contributors describe practical ways to create thriving learning environments that use UDL to meet diverse learners' needs. Key words/Subject areas: UDL, guidelines, special education, diversity, inclusive, content areas, digital technologies, technology, instructional strategies, curriculum design, antiracist, teaching methods, equity, teachers, students with disabilities, cognitive neuroscience, personalized learning Audience: General and special educators, literacy specialists, school psychologists, and administrators working with children ages 5-17 (grades K-12); teacher educators and graduate students. May serve as a text in graduate-level courses"--




How Learning Works


Book Description

Praise for How Learning Works "How Learning Works is the perfect title for this excellent book. Drawing upon new research in psychology, education, and cognitive science, the authors have demystified a complex topic into clear explanations of seven powerful learning principles. Full of great ideas and practical suggestions, all based on solid research evidence, this book is essential reading for instructors at all levels who wish to improve their students' learning." —Barbara Gross Davis, assistant vice chancellor for educational development, University of California, Berkeley, and author, Tools for Teaching "This book is a must-read for every instructor, new or experienced. Although I have been teaching for almost thirty years, as I read this book I found myself resonating with many of its ideas, and I discovered new ways of thinking about teaching." —Eugenia T. Paulus, professor of chemistry, North Hennepin Community College, and 2008 U.S. Community Colleges Professor of the Year from The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education "Thank you Carnegie Mellon for making accessible what has previously been inaccessible to those of us who are not learning scientists. Your focus on the essence of learning combined with concrete examples of the daily challenges of teaching and clear tactical strategies for faculty to consider is a welcome work. I will recommend this book to all my colleagues." —Catherine M. Casserly, senior partner, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching "As you read about each of the seven basic learning principles in this book, you will find advice that is grounded in learning theory, based on research evidence, relevant to college teaching, and easy to understand. The authors have extensive knowledge and experience in applying the science of learning to college teaching, and they graciously share it with you in this organized and readable book." —From the Foreword by Richard E. Mayer, professor of psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara; coauthor, e-Learning and the Science of Instruction; and author, Multimedia Learning




About Teaching Mathematics


Book Description

A compendium of more than 240 classroom-tested lessons, this essential resource helps teachers build student understanding and skills and understand how children best learn math. In this third edition, Marilyn Burns has completely revised the first section to reflect what she has learned over the years from her classroom experience with students and her professional development experience with teachers. This section has also been expanded to address these important topics: teaching math vocabulary, incorporating writing into math instruction, linking assessment and instruction, and using children¿s literature to teach key math concepts. In an entirely new section, Marilyn addresses a wide range of questions she has received over the years from elementary and middle school teachers regarding classroom management and instructional issues.