Dr. R. McGinnis
Journal Writing Questions
1. Week One
What attitude do you have toward
(a) Science
dislike ---------------------------- like
(b) Teaching Science
Much fear ------------------------- No fear
2. Week Two
What connections do you believe exist between mathematics and science? What do you need to know to integrate the two disciplines in effective lessons?
3. Week Three
After spending a day in your assigned public elementary school, what have you noticed about the diversity of the student population in your classroom? How do you anticipate how that will influence your science teaching in that environment?
3. Week Three
During your first week in your school placement, you are to conduct a Science Teaching Survey of the elementary school in which you are placed.
Directions: Survey your elementary classroom and school to determine the extent materials and opportunities which exist for you to teach science in that environment. This survey should include your observations and informal interviews with personnel at the school. Prepare a concise journal entry that identifies:
(a) the factors you perceive as supportive of teaching science
(b) the factors you perceive as constraints of teaching science
(c) your reflection on the experience of conducting a science survey which includes ideas you now have of what is needed to promote the teaching of science in elementary schools.
Please bring your journals to class on [ ] so that we can discuss the entries you have made.
4. Week Four
React to your journal writing partner's journal comments in your journal. What points did your partner make that particularly catch your attention?
5. Week Five
Alternative conceptions are a very insightful way to better understand issues in elementary science teaching. Reflect on your understanding of science topics and describe an instance in which you came to "see" that your understanding was not viable. What lesson did you learn from that on how to assist others deal with their own alternative conceptions in science?
6. Week Six:
In class, teacher candidates in EDCI 372 compared and contrasted the supports and obstacles observed in teaching elementary school science. What have you learned about elementary school science teaching by writing my Science Teaching Survey and by participating in a group discussion in which several schools were compared and contrasted?
7. Week Seven:
Please respond to your thoughts on these matters concerning the integrated mathematics and science lesson("An Earful Investigation")
* What do you believe is your advantage as a teacher of anticipating responses of the learners to problem scenarios?
* What are your thoughts on the mode of delivery of content (structure of the ear) found in the lesson as compared to other possible modes of delivery (including lecture, reading from a textbook)?
* What teaching skills do you think this lesson requires you to develop in order to teach it well?
* Reflect back on what you learned in this lesson. Consider this from (a) your perspective as a learner participating in the lesson and (b) your perspective as a person in a teacher education program.
8. Week Eight
The challenge in science teaching is to make science as inclusive as possible to better teach all students. What are your thoughts on including a section in every science lesson plan, a "Diversity Component" that calls on you to plan ahead to make the science lesson's topic inclusive? What example(s) can you think of in which effective considerations for diverse students was modeled in science learning experiences in this science methods class?
9. Week Nine
In considering the teaching of elementary science, what uses of technology do you believe will enhance your performance? How does your vision of technology compare with the use of technology you observe in your school placement?
10. Week Ten:
Science is certainly more engaging for the learner when it is "hands-on, minds-on" How can you also make assessment of students more compatible with that type of teaching/learning style in science?
11. Week Eleven
Exchange your journal with your journal writing partner and write a response in your partner's journal after reading all the entries.
12. Week Twelve
After a full week in my school, what observations/ comments do you have on the amount of science a typical elementary student in your school participates in over a full week of instruction as compared to the other subjects.
13. Week Thirteen
Exit comments on your experience in this class. Return to week one's question and reflect on if there has been any change in your attitude toward science on the two continuum:
(a) Science
dislike ---------------------------- like
(b) Teaching Science
Much fear ------------------------- No fear