Get Schooled

By SET

May 25, 2006 02:03 PM | Link to this

4th grade results are a red herring. So what the numbers look good.

4th grade is not where people diverge in intellectual capacity. Try 6th grade to 9th grade. Around the time of puberty.

That’s where the coursework moves out of concrete terms into the abstract. That’s when the slow students stop progressing, get frustrated, and eventually get enraged if they don’t withdraw from the coursework.

9th Grade is where The Gap becomes obvious for the first time.

Why is someone expecting us to get excited about “normal” progress in 4th graders?

By MMM

May 25, 2006 02:19 PM | Link to this

SET—it’s because our state superintendent is up for reelection. Gotta find something!

By Robert

May 25, 2006 02:24 PM | Link to this

I teach high school science. Over the past 4 years there has been a DECLINE in the quality of science student that enters my classroom on day 1 of the course. These students are in high school and don’t know what an electron is! I feel like I must start from scratch before I can ever get to the high school content.

Please note that I am blaming no one. This is just my reality.

By luvs2teach

May 25, 2006 03:11 PM | Link to this

These are disturbing trends I see as an 8th grade science teacher:

From the students - the idea that science needs to be “fun” - not as opposed to drudgery; I think that, too - but “Bill Nye the Science Guy” or “The Magic Schoolbus” type of fun - all fluff, no substance, no critical thought or proper analysis. Since it isn’t one of the two tests (math and reading) that count towards promotion, it’s not taken as seriously.

From the powers that be: since science doesn’t count on the CRCT for school AYP (not yet, anyway), it gets a short shrift. There is never any talk of remedial science or science summer school. We have “reading across the curriculum” “school wide writing” and “daily math” in science class - I’m not opposed to those things and I do see their value, but when I only have 50 short minutes to do “real science” it’s hard to be enthusiastic.

I love my subject, and I take it seriously, but I know everyday I’m not teaching it the best possible way - I’m very limited with time and materials, and that makes me sad. I know that, despite my best efforts, I am not sending the best trained kids onto high school, and that makes me sad as well.

I wish we had another big push like the space program was in the 60s - maybe getting a man (or woman!!) to Mars would ignite interest in science and math again.

By V for Vendetta

May 25, 2006 03:58 PM | Link to this

Wow, some scored are up? Big deal. I’m sure with enough effort and a little brain storming I could think of something positive to say in the midst of a catastrophic meteor shower. The point is, we are still pointing and jumping up and down and patting ourselves on the back for what is essentially meaningless statistics. Ok, maybe “we” arent patting ourselves on the back, but certain people are.

The sooner we stop looking at things in this manner (hmmm, how can we make the bar even lower to jump over?), the sooner education in Georgia improves. We might even (gasp!) cease to be thought of as extras from “The Dukes of Hazzard” by the rest of the country. Well, unless we try to change the flag again, or put stickers in text books. Sigh.

I’m not a self-loathing native Georgian, I’m not a self-loathing teacher, but the point is we spend too much time trying to find ways to brag about ourselves, and not enough time IDENTIFYING THE REAL PROBLEMS!

We are like that guy at the party who wants so desperately to be liked, that he will abase himself in front of everyone just to get a favorable glance now and then.

“Oh wow, he just swallowed a whole jar of pickels”

“Impressive”

Yeah, for about five minutes… .

By Karen Armsby

May 26, 2006 09:17 AM | Link to this

Robert, luvs, and V, I agree with all of you! The science curriculum in elementary and middle school is not up to the standards needed for high school work. And to be successful in high school science the student must also have good reading, math, and critical thinking skills. My undergrad degree was in biology and I am a lifelong naturalist and so my kids were immersed in science and nature from day one. They graduated in ‘00, ‘02, and ‘03, and I found their elementary science curriculum sorely lacking, and the teachers hated it too! So the third grade teachers one year resorted to creating their own curriculum that was informative and interactive and the kids actualy loved science! Middle school science wasn’t great either, but their high school science teachers were all excellent. It appeared to me that there was a huge disconnect between what was taught in the lower grades and the preparation needed for high school science classes. Is it possible to have high school, middle school and elementary teachers meet and plan an integrated and sensible science curriculum for K-12?

By luvs2teach

May 26, 2006 09:52 AM | Link to this

Hey, Karen! Happy last day of school!

The current buzzword for what you describe is “vertical teaming” - it’s a great idea in theory, but we never seem to have the time actually make it happen!

Part of the disconnect comes, I think from the fact that they divide science up into these little boxes - for example, in middle school, 6th is (currently - the change is in process) Earth Science, 7th is Life Science, and 8th will be (07-08) Physical Science. It’s hard to have continuity when you are essentially teaching different subjects all called “science.”

By Robert

May 26, 2006 09:55 AM | Link to this

Karen, I have been asking for my high school to meet with the feeder middle school science teacher for years. But, the only responses I ever get are excuses (they are too busy, etc.).

I have had both students and also middle school science teachers tell me that they focus more on “social skills” than on science content. How disappointing.

I fear that the only way this will change is by having a CRCT section on science, or maybe having a “graduation test” for middle school that will include a science section.

By Jeff

May 26, 2006 09:59 AM | Link to this

To all teachers:

I echo luvs’ comment:

HAPPY LASY DAY!!!!* We survived another year!!

Now, as soon as the kids clear the rooms, it is DEF time for a margatita or two and X-3!!

By Karen Armsby

May 26, 2006 10:20 AM | Link to this

Robert and luvs, I am not a teacher, but if I were Queen of the teachers I would convene a summer science conference of teachers and we would have an integrated K-12 science curriculum in 2 months! You could try it out in one school cluster, then go system, county, and statewide. There are so many science resources available, and the preparation needed for high school science work is pretty clearcut. If you kept school adminstrators out of the process, I bet it would work!

Thank you to all of you teachers for putting up with all of our kids for all of these years! Have a wonderful summer!

By luvs2teach

May 26, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this

Robert - ugh, social skills…and don’t forget all the cross-curricular stuff I mentioned in my earlier post!

I HATE the middle school concept - I think it babies them and prepares them inadequately for the rigors and expectations of high school - I say this as both a teacher AND parent. My personal kids had such a rough time of it their freshman years - because of middle school. I say this, and I now teach in the same school! I make it my mission to use their experiences to set as high a standard as I am allowed for my class.

I think the middle school concept is more appropriate for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade - by 7th, it should be more of a junior high.

We actually tried to set up something with the high school teachers this year, and they were the ones that bailed! Since it is the hich school my son attends, I’m going to make an effort early in the year next year to get something going.

By LitMajor

May 26, 2006 10:38 AM | Link to this

Just throwing this out here…my 5th grade son has done maybe four things in Science all year and two of those were intergrated with Social Studies. He had to research beetles and do a powerpoint presentation. They did no hands on activities or anything close. If it’s not tested on the CRCT, they don’t get to try it. I know he will not be prepared for any type of Science in middle school if we don’t study on our own this summer (which is what we’ll do).

I’m so happy that this will be his last year in my county’s school system.

By MMM

May 26, 2006 10:41 AM | Link to this

Patti, Can we have a middle school vs. Jr. High blog sometime?

There are science CRCT’s—they just “don’t count” so they get ignored.

By LitMajor

May 26, 2006 11:20 AM | Link to this

MMM…My post didn’t come out like I meant it to. Believe me, I scrutinize those results so I know what’s on that goofy test. Science and Social Studies don’t count so they barely do any work in those areas.

Okay, this will be my last time to bash the school but I called to see when the results would be sent home and I was told that my son passed since I hadn’t been contacted. That wasn’t my question though was it? I know he passed. I just wanted the results..lol!

By luvs2teach

May 26, 2006 11:27 AM | Link to this

Lit Major - make sure your child can measure in metric - teach him how to use a metric ruler, and thermometer. If you can get your hand on a graduated cyclinder or balance scale, that would be good to!

I can’t tell you how much time I waste at the beginning of the year teaching those basic skills to students who are expected to already know them.

There are some websites that will give you practice at that as well.

The other big thing to work on is graphing.

By Karen Armsby

May 26, 2006 11:48 AM | Link to this

I think we need to open our kids eyes to applied science applications. We purchased the Extreme Engineering series that Discovery produced. They are interesting for adults and kids alike. You get science, geopraphy, physics, math, commerce and history all presented in one hour shows. Get some for your kids, or other subject titles, watch them with your kids, then go to the library and look up more info, or travel to a bridge, dam, tall building or boatyard, forest, whatever, and do your own bit of discovery this summer. It will open your eyes and your children’s minds.

By LitMajor

May 26, 2006 12:51 PM | Link to this

Thanks luvs2teach! This really helps. I think I can find this stuff in Schoolbox. I know that sending him to school prepared is half of the battle.

By luvs2teach

May 26, 2006 03:11 PM | Link to this

Karen - there is a school in Florida that I’ve posted about before, and that’s the idea behind how they design their units.

Think about it - writing research and lab reports is Language Arts - measuring, recording, and graphing data is Math. Areas of Science and Social Studies overlap (think history of flight, or physical geography). It would be so cool to be able to design and teach units like that!

By Karen Armsby

May 26, 2006 04:16 PM | Link to this

luvs2teach, Let’s do it! We can design the units, and maybe eventually get it published and sold to schools. We need a science revolution in our schools! We can draw material from a thousand sources, governemt and private business, research and development and marketing, such as Discovery, National Geo, Sierra Club, Chattahoochee River Keepers, National Wildlife Federaion, EPA, NOAA, Audubon, NASA, CDC etc. You and I and our other science loving teachers and parents can do it! Patti you can help, too! I will volunteer to outline and organize materials y’all think should be included. I have a biolgy/fisheries/naturalist type of background. What do you think?

By Karen Armsby

May 26, 2006 04:24 PM | Link to this

luvs, You are so right! Lately I have learned a lot of science combined with history reading ‘The Great Influenza’ by John Barry and ‘A Crack in the Edge of the World’ (the great San Francisco earthquake) by Simon Winchester. If only kids knew the practical applications of science and math and history, and the many professions that they could work in IF ONLY they had early introductions to meaningful math and science, and saw the value in learning these subjects.

By justme

May 30, 2006 02:06 PM | Link to this

Karen, I teach physics in high school. One problem with your approach is that sometimes students (or no one) can really see the application until they at least know the basics.

A few years ago I had a student that read about the string theory. The physics in high school is classical physics, meaning that we cover Newton, electricity, etc. This student became a major behavior problem because he simply wanted to be taught the string theory without knowing the basics.

Please know that I do connect my lessons with real life applications, but simply putting on a “dog and pony” show of science is a waste of time.