This book addresses a problem that affects the work of all educators: how traditional methods of assessment undermine the capacity of schools to serve students with diverse cultural and social backgrounds and identities. Anchored in a commonsense notion of validity, this book explains how current K-12 assessment practices are grounded in the…

This book explains the importance of teaching science to children and presents a theoretical framework on how to teach it. Science education is analyzed from two perspectives, teaching and learning. Contents include: (1) "Teaching Science 5-12: Why and How"; (2) "The Goals of Science Education"; (3) "Children Learning"; (4) "Children's Ideas"; (5)…

Literature-based guidelines for teaching science to students with disabilities include choosing appropriate curriculum materials; using effective instructional strategies (i.e., tutoring, cooperative learning, mnemonic strategies, self-monitoring); adapting specific science activities; and using effective assessment procedures. (DB)

The problems of individualizing instruction in elementary school science are discussed. A system for teachers to use to monitor their individualization efforts is also presented. (SA)

Fourth in a series, this loose-leaf guide reviews resources for evaluating, selecting, and using software for teaching mathematics and science skills. Both commercial publishers and public domain sources are listed as sources of educational software. Sources of information on software selection are divided into journals and newsletters, books and…

Designed to be used by preservice and in-service science teachers interested in assessing the outcomes of school science programs, this publication is aimed at helping teachers do a better job of developing tests and inventories specifically for their instructional programs and students. Material is presented in six chapters entitled: (1) Trends…

This document provides information about Science Unlimited (SU), the elementary school science effort of the Pennsylvania Department of Education. (The philosophy and characteristics of SU continue the earlier Pennsylvania science program effort entitled Investigative Science in Elementary Education.) The document includes: (1) a list of SU…

This publication is one in a series of 12 giving the recommendations that were made for a broad and balanced education program in science for young people. This guide aims to raise key issues about assessment; provides a measure of up-dating with regard to development; encourages science teachers and departments to reflect on their current…

To be used in conjunction with a document providing evaluation criteria for quality elementary school programs, this guide is designed to help members of a program review team conduct a program review. The first chapter describes the methodology and procedures of program review, the application of quality criteria to the school's curricular and…

This publication provides advice for schools exploring the possibility of introducing Triple Science GCSEs. It focuses on strategies for raising attainment generally but within the context of Triple Science. The document is split into six sections: The introduction, titled "Preparing to Implement Triple Science Courses," introduces some…

Presented in this document are the results of the five focus groups involved in Project Synthesis, a research study designed to synthesize and interpret the information found in the three National Science Foundation-funded status studies (the literature review, the national survey, and the case studies "The Status of Pre-College Science,…

The purpose of this manual is to encourage discussions among science teachers about desired student outcomes in science and assessments appropriate to these outcomes. Once teachers know clearly what they hope to accomplish with their students, choosing appropriate assessment measures follows. Assessment methods described center on observing…

This text presents basic principles of applying curriculum-based assessment (CBA) to the evaluation of and instruction of students with disabilities. Throughout the book, the mnemonic APPLY is used as an organizing method for teachers to develop and use CBA. APPLY stands for: (1) analyze the curriculum, (2) prepare items to match curriculum…

This document examines the education of secondary level English language learners within mainstream science classes. It provides teachers and teacher educators with an understanding of how mainstream science instruction can be designed and implemented to enhance academic achievement for these students. Research for this report included an…

This book provides a rationale for, discussion, and extensive examples of curriculum-based assessments (CBA) for students with disabilities in the regular classroom, in the context of the collaborative consultation model. The model stresses the need for input from people with diverse expertise to generate creative solutions to mutually defined…