Chapter 17

Courtney's Statements

Science is not free from cultural influence; science textbooks are not free from racism and the history and development of science should not be solely attributed to European culture. 

> It is important to keep in mind that science is racist too and to be aware that this may have an adverse affect with my students of different backgrounds. 

For science this means making sure that lessons, activities, and assignments that accompany the curriculum incorporate all students' needs and backgrounds. 

> Science is difficult and it is important that lessons are modified so that everyone's needs are met.

Rather than calling on a student on the spot, provide them with a question card in advance with the instructions to write the answer on the card. 

> Sometimes when a student is put on the spot they are unable to recall information because of anxiety. If they are given the question in advance however there is a greater likelihood of the student being able to recall information. 

Alex's Statements:

“There are great benefits for all students when they have opportunities to talk about processes and discoveries, engage all of their senses, and question and interact with each other, the materials, and the instructors.”

When students have the opportunity to be active in their learning then they will learn more and grow more as a student and a person. If schools began to stray away from worksheets and more towards hands on activities then students would not only learn the standards and objectives, but they would also learn useful life skills such as cooperative teamwork.

“Another effective way of engaging students in the concepts of science to incorporate music and art.”

Today in schools, music and art are less appreciated. They are viewed as lesser curricular areas. In most music, gym, and art classes those specialty teachers are having to teach curricular areas such as math, reading, and English while students are suppose to be learning about the arts. This statement suggests that science should include music and art to teach it effectively. This is an interesting idea that I have never heard before. It gives appreciation to back to the arts which is constantly being taken away.

“Once the students have worked intimately with equipment and formed questions to ask about various phenomena, the vocabulary will be more meaningful to them and thus more readily learned.”

I really liked this thought because a lot of times we are told to memorize vocabulary before actually using it. It is easier to learn new words when you see their functions and what they contribute to different situations. Especially when it comes to science. Labs are a great way to teach vocabulary. In order for the student to learn the vocabulary they will have to figure it out by using hands on methods. 

Tori's Statements:

• "The current state of affairs regarding U.S. students and science competency is a call for high-quality science education."
• This quote shows that science is not to be put on the back burner. Because Common Core does not have specific "Science" standards that are a big chunk of Common Core like Math and Reading, I wondered if it has changed the way it is taught in schools. 
• "The strategies for engagement are presented in four categories: literature, music, and art..."
• I liked the section on engagement in chapter 17. I thought it was interesting the tie-in of other components of learning that would appeal to students that may not like science. Any kind of creativity in any subject is very good for all students because it appeals to everyone some way.
• "Opportunities to share observations, compare findings, and brainstorm inquiry questions are extremely important for students who learn through interaction."
• This quote stuck out to me because I was one of those students that learned a lot through the eyes of others. I always loved working in groups at school and I know there are students like that still too. I think that I will try to make lots of opportunities to use group work in my classes to insure these opportunities are taken advantage of.

Tyler's Statements

• "One of the best to facilitate input in information for students is to make text more accessible for various learning needs"
• Every student has different learning need so it is important for the text to reflect that. Textbooks need to have plenty of pictures and examples to appeal to the visual learners, questions and labs at the end to put what they have learned to the test, and the text itself has to be written well for the students that learn best by reading.
• "Mnemonics are useful for reminding the many different sets of information in science units, especially when paired with a meaningful visual image."
• Mnemonics are great because once the brain makes a connection it is a lot easier to withhold the information. An example of this would be how some children learn to tell how many days there are in the month by using their knuckles.
• "Each lesson needs to have visual images, auditory discourse, movement, and hands on material. Then the students will have an opportunity to demonstrate knowledge and skills."
• It is the teachers responsibility to get the lesson to each student in the most efficient way possible. If one student gets more out of the lesson then another then it was not efficient enough. Once teachers account for many various learning styles the success of the class will go up.