Sarah

3. Know the concepts listed as the Study Guide on the Home Wiki Page AND be able to identify or explain them as they pertain to your Unit Plan on Tuesday.
=July 16:=

1. When creating/writing your science unit, what did you find to be the most challenging part for you?
I think one of the most challenging part was trying to make the lessons flow smoothly day after day and anticipating time constraints.

2. Does your sample lesson and unit in general play on your own learning strengths?
My sample lesson does play on my own learning strengths because I am a very visual learner and I also enjoy using the arts in almost every subject. However, I understand that every student is different so it will be important to teach towards the students strengths not just my own.

3. What is one thing you learned or observed from this class that you will definitely implement in your classroom as a future teacher?
I have realized the role of the teacher as a guide. I understand the notion of scientific inquiry as a way of learning and hope to encourage students to take ownership in the learning process.

4. What was the most useful Community Science Resource you came across, while doing research for this class and your lesson plans?
The Missouri Botanical garden was a strong resource for my unit due to the emphasis on plants. There are also many opportunities for educational field trips.

5. How will you help students become independent learners?
I will strive to create a positive classroom atmosphere. I want students to gain a sense of responsibility for their education by giving them choices and providing engaging classroom investigations/ activities.

6. Does your unit plan incorporate your philosophy of teaching? Give an example of how your unit plan incorporates your philosophy of teaching.
My unit plan incorporates my philosophy of teaching in a number of way. For example, I believe using the arts to teach can be very beneficial for some students so I included quite a few artistic elements. Also, I try to give students choices that allow them to be creative.

7. Did you come across any good online science resources while working on your unit plan that you would like to share?
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/#.Ue6COKnFbFI NASA's website has some pretty cool resources for teachers.

8. Did you come up with any creative science activities or experiments that you would like to share aside from anything you presented?
I found quite a few fun elementary science activity/experiment ideas on Pinterest.

=July 9:=

Hmm.
==== Yes. Sustainability is about taking care of our planet. With 7 billion people on earth, it is important to integrate sustainability into our everyday lives. The earth only has so many resources available. In recent years, countries like china and india are using up an increasing amount of resources. Children need to be educated early on about sustainable living. We need to use the earths resources wisely not wastefully. ==== ==2. Check out the NSTA website: [] Here is the link to student/preservice teacher application: []. I will sign your application, if you wish to join. The local NSTA affiliate is called STOM (Science Teachers of Missouri). More information can be found at [|http://www.stom.org].== = =

==3. We heard a lot about one particular publisher of textbook, and we all have had them in classes from an early age. What do you think? What role do textbooks have in the (science) classroom? Has / will / can /should technology replace textbooks?==

Hmm.
I think textbooks are useful to a certain extent. With so many resources available today for students and teachers, it would make little sense to rely solely on one textbook. Textbooks can be a guide throughout the school year... providing lab activities, assessment questions, explanations etc. But it is important for teachers to use a number of resources/ strategies so the students retain what they learn instead of just memorizing facts and vocabulary.

Hmm.
I struggled with science throughout my schooling, so the thought of teaching science to kids is a bit intimidating. This class has lessoned the intimidation factor. I see that it is possible make science fun and interesting for students.There are many resources available to help teachers create an engaging classroom environment. Differentiated instruction allows teachers to accommodate student needs and build on their strengths.

Hmm.
I have developed a stronger opinion towards STEM because I have a better understanding of it. I realize statistically that our country is falling significantly behind others when it comes to the scientific fields. It's important to get students excited about this field at an early age instead of intimidating them with it. It is reassuring to see recent developments, such as the new STEM building at MICDS, emphasizing this new approach to science education.

= **July 2:** = === 1. When should Differentiated Instruction be used? Should all students have the same opportunity? === I believe differentiated instruction should be used in almost every lesson/activity. A teacher should always keep in mind student strengths and weaknesses when developing daily plans. Whether it involves adjusting assessment procedure or the way material is presented etc... Every student should have an equal opportunity to succeed regardless of their ability.

=== 2. What is the difference: ‘What gets rewarded gets done’ vs. ‘What is rewarding gets done.’ Which is truer for you? ===

=
'What gets rewarded gets done' is about the inclination to do something because of the outcome. While, 'what is rewarding gets done' is more about enjoying the process. This relates to education in many ways.. students are more likely to understand material that is interesting and enjoyable for to learn. ===== 'What gets rewarded gets done' describes how my life is at thispoint in time because I do not have much free time outside of school and work. However, I believe most in 'what is rewarding gets done' because I think people get more out of the things they enjoy, instead of just running through the motions. This is one of the main reasons I started working on my teacher's certification. One of my favorite quotes is "Find something you love to do and you'll never have to work a day in your life".

=== 3. How are the skills you used in solving LEGO Challenges considered Science/ STEM? Isn't is just playing with LEGOs? ===

Hmm
The leggo challenge is considered Science/ STEM because it involves a number of different skill sets involved in the field. For example, Engineering involves the planning and execution of designs in a variety of settings. This relates to the lego challenge because we had to create our own model following a set of rules. This activity can be fun and challenging for students.

=== 4. Name two science standards at your target grade level that are not part of your unit. Describe how you would meet them with an engineering (design-build-test-redesign) lesson. ===

Hmm

 * ~ K-2-ETS1-2. || Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem ||

These standards might call for a demonstration/experiment on the change in the motion of an object. For example, Push vs. Pull systems. === 5. What advantage would there be to giving students choice about how to demonstrate what they have learned? Any disadvantages? ===
 * ~ K-2-ETS1-.1 || Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool. ||

==== Giving students a choice increases the likelihood that they will complete meaningful work, which will in turn benefit their depth of knowledge of a particular topic. One disadvantage is that the teacher will need to make sure the same objectives will be covered within each of the choices. ====

=== 6. The Solar Oven unit isn't really about Solar Ovens. What is its goal/purpose? ===

The solar oven unit is a great hands on activity to increase student interest in engineering. By applying what they have learned in class, students will also gain a sense of ownership in their work and understand it's relevance in today's world.

=== 7. If you were to share one key thing from the Preparing Creative and Critical Thinker article, what would it be? ===

"Beware of presenting too much newness at once. When you are working with new content, start with familiar tools. When you are introducing new tools, start with familiar content. Don't try to teach all the tools at once."

This is a good reminder to focus on the importance of one task at at time. Sometimes less is more.

=== 8. Which of the tools from the Creative Problem Solver's Toolbox would you use (or not use) in your classroom and why? ===

I would consider using most of these tools in my classroom. Brainstorming is beneficial because it allows students to come up with creative possibilities. While a strategy like Morphological Matrix will enable the students to mix and match these possibilities.

=**June 25: Journal 3:**=

What is something you learned from the Pond Life book?
The Pond Life book is a good review of all the interconnecting factors involved in a living environment. Specifically, I learned that it can take hundreds of years for the "Succession" of life in a pond to be completed.

Explain Differentiated Instruction in your own words.
I believe differentiated instruction is just a term to describe good teaching. Every student is different, differentiated instruction involves accommodating individual student needs and giving them an opportunity to succeed. I think it's important to find out each students' strengths and then build on them. This requires an ample amount of planning on the teachers end but students are sure to benefit from it.

What is the purpose of using a system like Responsive Classroom in a classroom/school?
The Responsive Classroom is a system intended to support a highly engaged classroom atmosphere. The main points include: 1. Importance of social interaction as a way of learning. 2. The teacher as a guide. 3. Students take ownership in their learning. 4. Getting to know each student. 5. Parental Involvement 6. Teachers and Administrators as role models.

I like the idea of using virtual field trips. This enables students to see sights that are out of reach. Students can work in pairs making observations and log answers in a science journal or notebook.
 * Name a technology that would be useful in your unit and explain how it would enhance learning / assessment. **

What did you find out about Science Notebooks?
Science notebooks are a great way for students to make observations, state questions, make predictions, record procedures and results etc. They are also a good resource for teachers to assess and provide feedback to students. Encouraging students to use a science notebook as a type of journal can help them really think through what they are learning, and put the pieces together step by step.

=**June 18: Journal 2:**=

Is Health a Science Topic? Elaborate:
I think health is definitely a science topic. Health involves a number of factors such as biology, nutrition, fitness etc. Science is what helps us understand how the human body operates.

What advantage is there to pretesting students? Are there any disadvantages? Why is this useful in the science classroom?
Pre-testing students allows the teacher see what existing knowledge students have, as well as the strength and weakness areas of individual students. This type of background knowledge can help the teacher plan more effective lesson plans. Pre-testing can also be used as a way to measure student progress throughout the school year. Some students may be poor test takers so it is important to use a variety of assessments.

What are your thoughts on the the Classroom Performance System? Useful? Too complicated for a teacher to use? What good is the data it gathers?
I think the Classroom Performance System is a great way to spark class conversation and encourage students to really think about what they are learning. Implementing technology into the classroom can be intimidating for some teachers but if done correctly it can really enhance the learning process. The data CPS gathers is useful because the results are anonymous to students but the teacher is able to look up student answers to see where they stand.

What philosophy of education or pedagogical approach(es) do you identify with and why?
I identify with quite a few of the educational philosophies we discussed in class. I particularly liked John Dewey's approach to learning through experience or "learning by doing". I believe learning is a process that can take place a number of different ways. Text books are beneficial but i think students should be given the chance to be actively involved in their own education.

What unit topic will you seek to develop?
2nd grade Life Science

Feel free to add any questions you have to the Parking Lot page.
=June 4: Journal 1:= ===What was the best idea/concept/procedure you took away tonight?=== Inquiry. The concept of giving students the opportunity to take responsibility for their education and seek information from a variety of different resources.

===This is how I would expand this idea…=== I hope to give students a variety of choices that appeal to their own interests. I would also encourage students to ask many questions

===What question do you wish you asked in class (This could be about a topic, the class or the classroom)?=== I might have asked how much freedom we should expect to have as future teachers when it comes to implementing creative lesson plans/ activities. I have heard some schools will give teachers pre-made lesson plans at the beginning of the school year that they are expected to follow.

===What did you find interesting about the methods and ideas shared in the video Changing Education Paradigms? What did you find upsetting or unsettling about the methods and ideas shared in the video?=== This video was a bit of an eye-opener. It is upsetting to see how our country is falling behind others. It was also upsetting to how we treat kids who struggle academically with medications that turn them into zombies instead of taking the time to differentiate instruction.