At any point during the school year, a teacher may find out the gap between what students know and need to learn is not large at all. In fact, formative assessment data may show a handful of students already have mastered the content for a specific unit of study. While some learners will achieve grade-level standards at the pace outline by a…

Students with disabilities spend the majority of their day in the general education classroom (U.S. Department of Education 2017). However, these students consistently underperform in science. This highlights the importance of using effective differentiated instruction. According to Mastropieri and colleagues (2006), differentiated instruction…

Although the "Next Generation Science Standards" and "Common Core State Standards" do not extend to prekindergarten, early learning experiences are vital to preparing young children entering kindergarten with the background knowledge, technical vocabulary, resourcefulness, and dispositions for inquiry that are the foundations…

One of the most powerful strategies to support next generation science instruction is the use of instructional models. The Biological Sciences Curriculum Study 5E (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate) instructional model is arguably the most widely used version of a learning cycle in today's classrooms. The use of the 5Es as an…

For many teachers, engineering can be intimidating; teachers receive little training in engineering, particularly those teaching early elementary students. In addition, the necessity of differentiating for students with special needs can make engineering more challenging to teach. This article describes a professional development program…

Having taught K-12 students and preservice teachers for almost 20 years, the author knows the problems that arise when students are asked to generate an investigation of their own design. Therefore, she developed some lessons that significantly increased the diversity and quality of the investigations students generated. This article describes…

Briefly describes an instructional program based on the individual needs of students that was designed for grades K-8. (EB)

The classification of inquiry skills into three subdivisions of data collection, data organization, and data use is proposed as a means of allowing teachers to be more aware of the reason for teaching skills. The author questions whether recently developed science programs encourage children in decision making. (EB)

This column reviews commercially produced science curricula and highlights "Individualized Science" by Imperial International Learning Corporation. A description of the program is given as well as specific aspects of the organization of units and materials used. (BR)

Discusses the use of the "Science Journal" by elementary school children as a means of developing effective writing skills and in helping to individualize the science classroom. (JR)

An instructional technique is described which is considered helpful for freeing a teacher to meet the needs of students who require personal attention at a given time. (EB)

Rationale for and examples of science learning centers are provided. "Life Beneath the Sea,""Humans in Space,""World of Insects" and "Experimentation" centers are described. Instructions for constructing centers from readily available materials are included. (JN)

Discusses the A-T approach in conjunction with a structured science program, such as COPES, which provides opportunities for independent study and student self-pacing and is a means for increasing student comprehension. This approach can also help absentee students catch up as well as students who enter mid-year. (BR)

This article describes the use of individualized science lessons for primary grade children at a residential children's center school. The lessons were designed in activity style for one or two children working along and apart from the main class. Verbal encouragement and praise were abundant. Tangible reinforcement was a must. (EB)