Science
Let's Learn
Some of the Experts
Joe Krajcik
Is the Lappan- Phillips Professor of Science Education and director of the Institute for Collaborative Re- search for Education, Assessment, and Teaching Environment for Science, Technology, Engineer- ing, and Mathematics (CREATE for STEM) at Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan.
Page Keeley
Keeley taught middle and high school science for 15 years. At that time she was an active teacher leader at the state and national level. She received the Presidential Award for excellence in Secondary Science Teaching in 1992 and the Milken National Educator Award in 1993. She has served as an adjunct instructor at the University of Maine, is a Cohort 1 Fellow in the National Academy for Science and Mathematics Education Leadership, served as a science literacy leader for the AAAS/Project 2061 Professional Development Program, and has served on several national advisory boards. She is a frequent speaker at national conferences and served as the 63rd President of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) for the 2008-09 term.
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Karen Ansberry
Is the Elementary Science Curriculum Leader and a former fifth- and sixth-grade science teacher at Mason City Schools, in Mason, Ohio. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Xavier University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Miami University.
Favorite Children's Books
Gail Gibbons
Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
is the award-winning author of more than seventy books for children, including WHAT LIVES IN A SHELL?, an NSTA/CBC "Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children," and winner of the American Association for the Advancement of Science's "Best Children's Book" award; WHAT IS THE WORLD MADE OF?, A Children's Book of the Month Club Main Selection; WHAT'S ALIVE?, also named an AAAS "Best Children's Book"; DINOSAUR TRACKS, "a great choice for even the most discriminating dinophiles" (School Library Journal); DINOSAURS BIG AND SMALL, winner of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio "Best Book Award"; DINOSAUR PARENTS, DINOSAUR YOUNG, an ALA "Notable Book"; and SECRETS OF THE GARDEN, "a wonderfully informative and enjoyable journey through one family's backyard garden, from spring planting to fall harvest. Covering a dazzling array of topics, the author still manages to hold onto a story line that will draw readers in and allow them to experience both the good and the bad right along with narrator Alice. Sure to become a standard go-to for elementary teachers and gardeners alike, this is bound to spark some backyard explorations." (Kirkus)
Kathleen was a children's book editor for more than ten years before becoming a full-time writer. When she's not reading, researching, writing, or editing, Kathleen loves to spend her free time exploring, doing fieldwork, and preparing fossils for her local natural history museums.
Joanna Cole
Teacher Interview
Ashley
LaPoynor ISD
4TH GRADE SCIENCE
1.
One way that really helps my ESL students comprehend my content area is reinforce direction and vocabulary constantly. Since my ESL’s tend to struggle with vocabulary, science can be very difficult for them as we have any complex vocabulary words to learn at this grade level. Also, I use a lot of hands-on experience so they are able to actually manipulate with the assignment instead of just reading about it which is something my ESL's struggle with.2.
Since a lot of the confusion for my struggling readers is the vocabulary, I am constantly reinforcing these words every day. These are words that they will see again in the future, so it is extremely important that they comprehend them. I also like to do small group reading. I have found that most of my students tend to participate more if they are in a small group setting when reading. They are more interested in the content and like being able to have some of their group members explain a confusing topic.3.
I usually refer to my old science teacher from high school. She is an excellent mentor and is always able to explain difficult concepts to me!4.
I am constantly looking back on my TEKS to stay somewhat up-to-date on what my students should know when they leave my class. I also do research online to try and find interesting ways to teach certain topics.5.
One way that I try to inspire my students to be interested in science is to repeatedly apply what we learn to the real world! I love to talk about jobs that are available that relate to what we are currently studying. The students really seem to like that, showing them that there are more jobs out there than just teachers, nurses, lawyers, etc.