Access the webinar.
Watch the webinar for the first 3 minutes 15 seconds and refer to your workbook page 2
Comment on the following:
After reviewing page 2 in your workbook, reflect on the following questions:
- Are you measuring what matters in your current classroom?
-Give an example of one informal and one formal way of assessing learning in Science that you currently use?
- Are you currently asking your students to show what they know in a variety of ways and in a variety of moments within your Science curriculum?
I think I am currently measuring what matters in science according to the curriculum. The first ten weeks our curriculum's main focus is the scientific method. I have conducted a variety of hands on experiments where the students have to follow the steps. I use these as a means of assessing their understanding. This year we are using MiiQuest as a platform for TechSteps which is a way to integrate technology into the classroom. The students are working in groups to conduct an experiment and create a report using Excel. We also have a newly designed STEM lab in our building. The district has purchased a variety of kits for each grade level that incorporate the science and engineering element of STEM.
ReplyDeleteDo you know what the STEM kits for first grade include? I would love to know what fun activities the primary students in your building are doing!
DeleteThats great to hear!! STEM is SO important in the elementary and middle school years right now!
DeleteNot sure about 1st grade Wendy, but will check it out and let you know!
DeleteGrade 1: STEM Design Challenge: Students used recycled materials to build a house for the Three Little Pigs that can’t be blown down by the wolf.
DeleteWhat a fun idea! Mixing ELA and Science in a fun way, and you could even add in another piece of literature, such as The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. Thanks for checking!
DeleteIn my classroom I measure the growth of students using graphic organizers, diagrams, charts, and through reading and discussions related to the topic. We add poems to our poetry notebook that include illustrations, work with a partner to think/pair/share, and read and discuss science topics in shared reading/shared writing activities. In addition, we perform whole group experiments appropriate for first grade, explore the world around us, and complete a nonfiction unit of study in writing towards the end of the year.
ReplyDeleteI feel I am measuring what matters because my assessments are based on the science curriculum for each of my courses.
ReplyDeleteA typical formal assessment would be a test cosisting of multiple choice, short answer and extended response questions.
For informal assessment I do a lot of large group question and answer sessions. I most often use them at the beginning of class for review or the end to check for understanding.
I use a variety of formal assessments (labs,tests,quizzes and projects). During lab activities I will often go to each group and ask a series of questions. This allows me to gauge how the students are understanding the concepts and it allow me to hear from students who are not as willing to answer in front of the whole class.
I believe during certain parts of the school year we are measuring what matters for Science. Our students rotate Science and Social Studies every six weeks, so time is definitely a challenge. For the first six weeks, we taught the students the scientific method and had them partake in a hands-on experiment using these steps. Most of the year our assessments involve chapter tests, vocabulary quizzes, and short answer questions for Science. For the most part, our assessments are limited because of time, so we can't always use a variety of ways to assess. However, I think we could be more creative and use more summative assessments. A type of formal assessment we use are chapter tests with multiple choice with short answer questions. A type of informal assessment we use are exit tickets and questions during the lesson.
ReplyDeleteEveryday when the students enter the classroom the previous days information is gone over. Some days much faster than others. Therefore, prior knowledge is always used and then built upon.
ReplyDeleteAssessment takes many different forms in Science class. There are often minor notes, slides, presentations, short clips, etc. to explain the topic of the day. Then the kids are paired into groups where the rest of the lesson is hands on. I love science for this reason. The kids practice daily what is being taught. They get to use the triple beam balance, graduated cylinder, blocks, cubes, etc.
It is amazing to me that even though the kids are exposed and able to use the "hands on approach" daily, many of them often times do not grasp the concept until it's covered again for the second or third and fourth time! It makes me wonder about other classes where the hands on approach is not used as much. How then are the kids "getting it"?
Well i can speak for the math classroom and hope that through the conceptual way of teaching and modeling they are getting this... but the real question would be how many teachers are teaching in that manner and not sticking to straight lecturing!
DeleteI believe that elementary teachers only measure part of what matters. For the most part the assessments focus on getting the correct answers and/or outcomes. I don't believe we currently focus on how to improve students knowledge to get the correct answers and/or outcomes. Most of this occurs because science takes a back seat to ELA and Math. This needs to change because science is a great subject to develop critical thinkers and for students to see how important processes are to success.
ReplyDeleteOne informal assessment occurs during group work when a teacher circulates and observes students working and how their knowledge affects the dynamic of the group. Is one student doing everything? Are others offering different ideas or suggestions? If someone's ideas don't pan out, can another student figure out why?
Formal assessments are the written tests or quizzes.
Again, time constraints limit many teachers on how creative they can get when assessing students. I think if more time was alooted to science, teachers could use lab exercises, student demonstrations, or group experiments more often than written tests.
Science is unique in that their are numerous ways to ask the students questions that assess their comprehension or knowledge. Thru entrance and exit tickets, to questions throughout a lesson, and use of videos on smartboard the students are assessed.
ReplyDeleteNumerous hands on labs also are useful for assessment.