Chapter 11, Science

I don't teach Science, but there are some useful things discussed in this chapter that could apply to me in ELA. One great strategy mentioned on page 250 is inquiry-based approach. I think this is a great strategy to use in the science setting as it allows the students to learn in a more hands-on style. The "5 E's" would be great for a science teacher to utilize as I bet it fits in nicely with their standards. I think it's wise (as discussed on page 251) that a science teacher be more of a facilitator and allow the students to be engaged and direct themselves in the process of testing and learning. The science teacher could definitely apply some of Bloom's Taxonomy in this aspect, which would be very beneficial. As discussed starting on page 252, I think it's wise for a science teacher to handle their vocab. carefully. We have one science teacher who simply makes them write the vocab. down and really never comes back to it! I'm sure they forget about it as soon as the pencil goes down! I think he should read page 253 for these good tips! There were several good thinking maps scattered in this chpater that I think would be great to implement with the science topics. The science teacher across the hall from me uses a lot of these, and I think they really help the kids learn the material.

One thing I need to work on is using more thinking maps as shown in this chapter. As I said, it would be a great, appealing way for material to stick. I also could improve my questioning tactics. I really love the examples suggested on page 267, esp. the "Roundtable" idea. Another area I need to work on is my approach to vocab. just as I mentioned earlier. I could pre-teach the words and scaffold more. As always, I need to continue to improve utlizing resources from many avenues, as mentioned on page 268. This is a must!

I will converse more with our science teachers. We will work together more on ways to serve the students in a way that we can both do. I could show them some strategies I use to teach new vocab. and I could ask them tho show/teach me. I will also ask their advice on how they scaffold.