In reviewing Chapters Five & Six again, they have been full of helpful strategies on how to engage students, how to create work spaces for the children, and how to increase listening skills. SO much information!
One thing I took away from Chapter 6, is the idea of utilizing Science Notebooks, in which the children write about their scientific experiences starting at the beginning of the year through till the end. I know with my children, it's been a great way to not only know how their thoughts and concepts change from the beginning of the year till the end but to be able to monitor if they've experienced changes and whether or not they have advanced in their thinking. It would also provide a personal view as to how the students are receiving the information I am teaching. Thoughts in whether they are enjoying the subject material and where they may be having difficulties they may not want to address in class.
In becoming a teacher, I want to integrate different techniques of learning so that I can provide my students with a creative environment. I remember utilizing Eric Carle books with my children to teach science. Using the literature-based integration can not only teach science but integrate ELA, math, and sometimes history without children even realizing it. Using project-based integration invites children not only to participate in teamwork, but it allows those who may not join to take on new roles in hands-on projects. I love being hands-on!
And then, there's the assessment process, what raises children's anxiety levels quicker than reminding them that there is an upcoming test or assignment due? I know I get test anxiety!
Assessments play a crucial role in the educational system and reform. Assessments can be conducted in several different ways: summative, interim, and formative. Formative for example is used on a daily basis, it is linked directly to the learning experience and assesses what knowledge the student has mastered as a result. Formative assessment can also be done in different ways through teacher observation, through discussions with the students, or by having students write a letter discussing what they learned, for example. This information can be used to adjust and change lesson plans as needed. Interim assessments, identify gaps in student learning, the data is usually used at a classroom level to evaluate lessons and curriculum bring taught. Are the students grasping the unit plans for example, are they getting the overall concepts of what are being taught mid-semester. And the last being summative assessments, such as the end of year testing. While testing the students and the alignment with content standards, it evaluates teachers and holds them accountable.
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