Katelyn's journey of teaching Science to digital learners

Oh Say can you seed trade book trailer  Creating a trade book trailer was extremely interesting and very informative. By creating my own trade book trailer to use as a mini-lesson for my unit plan I learned how beneficial they could be to both a child's literacy and science education. The research paper  Beyond the talking groundhogs:  Trends in science trade books  written by Kristen T. Rearden and Amy D. Broemmel  states "That  children assigned to a classroom using a literature-based program integrated into literacy and science  instruction scored significantly better on all literacy measures and on two of three science measures than either the literature only group or the control group." Using a trade book is an amazing way to integrate two subjects into each other a trade book trailer can be used as an interdictory lesson to a much more challenging scientific concept. I kept this idea in mind when I was choosing a book for...

We reached the finish line  Thought this semester I learned many different things and strategies that will help me in my future teaching career. I learned how to ways on how to best teach a direct and an inquiry lesson. This class also helped me grow both professionally and personally. I grew professionally because instead of just observing how a teacher teaches in a classroom and writing what they do down I was the teacher. I got to teach my students two vastly different lesson plans on the same topic. But at the same time being "the teacher" equals many different responsibilities. As the teacher, you need to come up with ways to adapt your lesson so all of your students benefit from it. These students can range from children who may find the lesson easier than most to children who find a lesson extremely challenging and need extensive amounts of help. You also need to make sure that there are enough copies of the day's activities for your students and extra for the s...

Earth science or the atmosphere project  I Really loved the earth science lessons we did this week. I always had a hard time with earth science in high school and middle school. But the atmosphere project I was assigned to do made me realize how fun earth science could be. At the start of the week we had to read chapters 10,11 and 12 of the textbook Teaching children science: A discovery approach written by Donald DeRosa in order to familiarize ourselves with the content. The second thing required of us was that we had to do the engaging part of the lesson. This part included filling out a questionnaire on topics that we thought we could teach extremely well to children, fairly well but having to study for an hour in order to teach it, having to study for more than one hour to teach it or not being able to teach it at all. When going over the questionnaire I had the most trouble with questions involving the atmosphere. One the questionnaire was finished we then were put into gr...

Chapter 3  After reading chapter three of the textbook  Teaching children science: A discovery approach written by Donald DeRosa I was extremely surprised at how important "discovery" could be to a science classroom.  The textbook states that " discovery is used as a way to engage students in the scientific process instead of them having to learn science second hand. By having students actively participate in the lesson they are able to gain a deeper understanding of what they are learning. The textbook also states that "Discovery suggest that we need to respect and value the learners their role in developing understanding" If we learned for our students we would not be doing our jobs as teachers. As teachers we should allow our students to make trial and error, we should allow them to make mistakes and get messy, we should also allow them to make their own discoveries because if a child discovers something without a teachers help he will be amazed at wha...

The edTPA and task When reading the edTPA handbook, I was extremely overwhelmed and very confused. Since I am only a sophomore, I never heard of the edTPA. At first, it was information overload. After reading the handbook a few more times, however, I was able to understand the text and its usefulness. 

 Fieldwork guidelines When reading the fieldwork guidelines, it all seemed familiar to what I had been instructed to do when teaching at Bishop Dunn, a Catholic school with high standards. As teachers, there is a certain level of professionalism we have follow, which includes looking like a professional. Looking like a professional includes covering tattoos and wearing business attire, such as button-up shirts and dress pants. I believe that when you dress the part you gain more respect from colleagues and students. I felt the first day of field work was extremely informative. Using the “get to know you” activity enabled me to more easily get know my students. The results of the pre-test were what I expected. The students knew some, but not a lot, of information about plant classification

 The difference between a unit plan and a lesson plan. The terms “lesson plan” and “unit plan” are often used interchangeably by teachers, but they are actually quite different. A lesson plan contains only one lesson, while a unit plan can contain up to five different lesson plans on one topic. Also coming up with a unit plan can be more challenging than coming up with one lesson plan. For a unit plan, you need to make sure each lesson follows the one that came before it.

 Creating the pre-test for field work I believe that creating an online quiz or test for my class can be a great way for me to integrate technology in my classroom. This is one of the reasons why I was so excited to create a pre-test using Google forms. It was challenging at first, but, once I got the hang of it, I found it to be easier to do than I first thought. I liked how you could choose questions that could be multiple choice, true or false, short answer or essay format. 

Blog #5: Digital tools for designing authentic assessment I was really surprised to discover all the materials a teacher can use to design authentic assessments. I was also surprised at how easy it can be to create a pre-test for Ms. Hoag’s.  fourth grade classroom. Chapter six in the textbook  Teaching children science: A discovery approach  defines authentic assessment as “a form of assessment where students are asked to preform real-life task using a prompt of rubric.” There are many ways a teacher can use authentic assessment, from using web quest which is an inquiry based lesson format, to having students write a letter.

 Unit plan lesson and design When creating a unit plan, there are multiple steps a teacher needs to take in order to be successful. The article “ Lesson plans and unit plans: The basis of instruction ” states that these steps are “Introduction, Foundation, Brain activation, Body of new information, Clarification, Practice and review, Independent practice and closure.” By using these steps, a teacher can create a successful lesson plan and help her students reach their full potential .  Chapter 5 of the textbook Teaching children science: A discovery approach  states that “a diagnostic approach is used to determine what the students already know, a summative approach is used to determine what the students have learned, and a formative assessment is used to assist learning or how are the students developing science practices.” When reading the article “Approaches to instruction,” I was surprised that there were so many different strategies a teacher can use in her cl...

 Start Here  book resources  I really liked all three book resources, but, overall, I would have to say that my favorite resources would be the “Start Here” resource book and the “Science Education” resource book.   I felt the books were a good way to explain what would happen at the start of the semester and what we should be prepared for in the coming months. I also liked how it was formatted. Yes, you had to search to find items you wanted to read, but everything was there if you needed it. Having these resources available got me really excited about this class. I felt they prepared me to face any challenge. I liked how, at the start, the resources contained the rubrics for future assignments. I liked how the “Science Education” resource contained multiple techniques we can use to teach. I also liked that in the teaching technology tab it explained how we can use technology in the classroom.

Classrooms online  Due to the weather on Thursday classes were canceled and replaced with online sessions. This was my first online educational experience. And it was very intresting I was surprised that we could all communicate threw a microphone. I was also surprised at how easy it was for group 5 to present their violent weather project. One of my favorite things about the online session was the webcam. When a teacher uses the webcam it makes it seem like we are actually in the classroom instead of sitting in our rooms. The textbook Teaching children science: A discovery approach written by Donald DeRosa  states "Other tools allow children to extend their abilities to make connections among a host of variables and imagine what properties emerge when they react with a unique time and place." Online resources such as an online classroom can have many benefits to a child's educational career. 

Earthquakes Plates sliding, Waves crashing, Land shaking Constant moving, Buildings breaking, People falling Earth quaking My reflection  There are many ways I can teach the unit of severe weather in my classroom. The textbook book   teaching children science: A discovery approach   states "Know that the NGSS represent one of the many guidelines available in order to determine what science to teach." The acronym NGSS stands for "Next Generation Science Standards. with this resource in mind, I realize that the best way to teach severe weather would be to use the second standard  in disciplinary core ideas. the Second standard in the NGSS standard explains "what natural disasters are and how natural disasters can result from can come from natural processes." When doing this lesson with my class I can explain what natural disasters are and how they could go from bad to worse. As a child in...

Katelyn McCormick Science-In-The-News Article Review Title of the article:  “ A rainforest plant shows its true color (blue) when in survival mode ” What is the science issue involved?  The science issue discussed in the article is the fact that plants we commonly see as green were not always green. Before plants evolved into the beautiful green color we see today, many were purple or blue because they had to absorb a different type of light. And some of those plants retain that purple or blue color. The article states “Begonia pavonina, or the ‘Peacock begonia,’ dwells in the dim rainforest of south-east Asia.” Due to the small amount of light it receives from the sun, the Peacock begonia can’t absorb enough sunlight to effectivity go through photosynthesis. Because the plant is unable to go through proper photosynthesis, the flower appears blue. Why did you choose this article? I chose this article because the topic seemed interesting. As I read through the arti...

Katelyn McCormick  Bre aking Science Stereotypes :    Research Article Review The article  Breaking Science Stereotypes,  written by Alec Bodzin and Mike Gehringer, begins by explaining a study they conducted on students’ perceptions of scientists. When asked to draw a picture of what a scientist looks like, most depicted an old man in a lab coat with glasses.  Even if that is the common perception of scientists, teachers want their students to see that a scientist can come in multiple shapes and sizes and that they have different roles in their profession.   The authors felt it was important to conduct their study because they wanted to see if a visit from a real-life scientist could change the misperceptions students have of scientists. To conduct the study, teachers were asked to have their students draw pictures of what they believed scientists look like. Then, during a two-day period that followed, the teachers had two ...

Blog 14:  Constructing knowledge and discovering meaning: How children learn science               After reading chapter two of the textbook   Teaching children science: A discovery approach ,  I realize that every single child may learn differently. The term “constructivism” is defined as “a theory of human learning that is rooted in cognitive psychology and to a lesser extent behavioral psychology.” With this definition in mind, teachers can have a better understanding of what topics they should teach and how they can teach those topics effectively. There are three principles of constructivism that teachers use in classroom. The first one being “native” constructivism, where a child will construct beliefs about what is real. The second principle is assimilation, where a child creates more space in their brain to process new information. The third principle, accommodation, is where a child will adapt or change their beliefs ...

Blog 13: Inquiry: the path; the discover; the destination After reading chapter one of the textbook   Teaching children science: A discovery approach ,  I now understand how important science is in a classroom. I also realize that there can be different approaches, such as using technology, to teach science. The textbook defines science as “a natural human desire to explore the world that is directly reachable as well as worlds that are hard to reach.” Sciences range from biology and astronomy to earth science. When I think of the term “science,” the first thing that comes to mind are topics that challenge our concepts of reality and of what is possible. As a future teacher, I understand that I will need to find ways to challenge my students. I will try and do that to the best of my ability.

My fieldwork experience!: Fieldwork this semester was interesting but very overwhelming. I have gained many ideas from teaching plant classification to Ms. Hoag's fourth-grade class. One idea is that we need to keep lessons entertaining and interesting in order to maintain control in the classroom.  This experience allowed me to see what student teaching will really be like and it also gave me insight on how fourth graders learn. This experience also gave me insight into the best way to teach science and how to keep my students excited about it at the same time. the textbook T eaching children science: A scientific approach written by Donald DeRosa  states "Discovery happens when a child uncovers new information, makes new connections and glens new insight that deepens his or her understanding." With this idea in mind, I will make activities fun but also informative activities that will help my students ...

P lant reproduction  I really liked how group three taught their lesson on plant reproduction. I felt that every single member of the group was very prepared when teaching their part of the lesson. They also seemed very calm and collected in front of Ms. Hoag's classroom.  I liked the attention grabber they used: a version of “Simon Says.” The game made the kids enthusiastic about the lesson. It also made the kids behave. When the teachers used “Simon Says,” the students had to stop what they were doing and give their full attention to their teachers when they were told: “Simon says….” During Ms. Brown’s part of the lesson, she used a lot of repetition, which allowed her students to process what they were learning. Group three's guided practice also was very easy to follow. I felt that the guided practice summed up the whole lesson and allowed the kids to truly understand what they were learning. I also felt that the students really enj...

Plant organs   I was really surprised at how well group two did, even though it was their first time teaching. All the members of the group seemed extremely calm and collected when teaching. I liked how much they used the teacher vs. student game to motivate their students to pay attention to the lesson. I liked how they used thumbs up and thumbs down to check for understanding. I also liked how they got the students’ attention by getting them to cheer with the line, “When we say, ‘ready to rock,’ you say, ‘ready to roll.’” I felt that by telling the kids that they would get a prize at the end of the lesson if they behaved really motivated the students. Group two’s exit ticket was also extremely creative. It allowed the teachers to assess what their students learned from the lesson by using a traffic light. I like how the teachers used green for “I understand this,” yellow for “I am confused,” and red fo...

Botany as a science  When the first group started teaching, I was pleasantly surprised at how well they did and how confident they were. If I was in the first group, I would have been a nervous wreck. I felt that they handled the lesson and the class really well. I also felt that they truly understood the topic they were teaching and were enthusiastic about it, which in turn got the kids excited about it. I believe that the highlight of the lesson was the ending rap video. The rap video was extremely entertaining and wasn't overly long. The kids also really liked the video. The kids repeatedly asked for the video to be played again. But I do wish the first group used better time management. They didn’t watch the clock, lost track of time, and weren't able to do the independent activity to drive home the points they were trying to make. After watching group 1 teaching I now know what strategies to use in order to help improve m...

September,7,2018 How to optimize student learning!! I believe that the video “How to optimize student learning” was extremely informative. I liked how it was short and to the point.  It explained the best way to optimize technology in the classroom. I liked how the video explained how to not overload students with information and instead suggested putting text into a PowerPoint. It advised using visual illustrations as well as audio. I loved the cartoonish illustrations, which made the video even more entertaining. I also liked the voice over the video used. The person speaking was really easy to understand and made his explanations simple. I believe that this is an amazing video to show to college students wanting to be teachers. The video gives viewers an idea of what to expect when thinking about their future career choices and it generated excitement about what's to come.

September,06,2018 Flipgrid presentation The Flipgrid videos were really fun to watch. It was nice learning about other students’ talents and passions. The presentations that they shared were extremely creative. I liked how some presentations included the history of science. I loved how my classmates shared t heir experiences with science, whether that experience was positive or negative. I liked how everyone was so passionate about teaching.   I liked how most people had a talent, such as juggling, or shared something interesting about themselves, like going on a cruise. I felt that some Flipgrid videos were very funny. But at the same time, I noticed that a lot of people seemed nervous talking in front of a camera. However, overall, I think my classmates will be great teachers.

September,4,2018  The Climate Reality Project Today’s class was extremely interesting. Dr. Smirnova’s husband had come to talk to us about the Climate Reality Project and how important it is for teachers to be able to talk to students about climate change. The Climate Reality Project, which can be found at climaterealityproject.org, is a non-profit organization involved in climate change education and advocacy. Dr. Smirnova's husband explained that as teachers we need to explain science in a factual way. He also talked about the current controversy around climate change. The controversy is that because climate change is a major threat to oil companies, the oil companies have signed on with advertising companies to create campaigns that deny that the climate is changing and to argue against the scientists who study this issue. Dr. Smirnova's husband also explained how climate change is considered a scientific reality and how we, as teachers, have to be able to explain tha...

Scientific Me  Katelyn McCormick Mount Saint Mary College  Author Note This Paper is for Dr. Smirnova’s Class ED 2520 Abstract As found on the website oxforddictionaries.com, science is defined as “the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.” But that definition of science is broad and can mean multiple things to people.  For some people, science could be the study of stars, the study of plants or the study of micro-organisms. It could be the study of climate change, it could be the study of our surrounding oceans or it could be how humans affect oceanic life. But from my experiences, both in and out of school, I would define science as the study of the world and the people in that world. Keywords :  Science, School, multiple things  Introduction.  Both in and outside of school, my experie...