Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Science and Mathematics Education Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

PDF

Elementary Education and Teaching

Selected Works

Articles 1 - 9 of 9

Full-Text Articles in Science and Mathematics Education

A Residency Model: Shifting From Traditional To On-Site Education, Ryan Andrew Nivens May 2017

A Residency Model: Shifting From Traditional To On-Site Education, Ryan Andrew Nivens

Ryan Andrew Nivens

I report how methods course assignments shifted from simulation to actual participation in remediation, assessment, and co-teaching in a K- 6 methods course in a state where policies dictate a residency model in place of traditional courses followed by student teaching

Go to article

Using Inquiry-Based Teaching And Kids Inquiry Conferences To Strengthen Elementary Science Instruction And To Encourage More Students To Pursue Science Careers, Paula A. Magee, Ryan Flessner Jun 2015

Using Inquiry-Based Teaching And Kids Inquiry Conferences To Strengthen Elementary Science Instruction And To Encourage More Students To Pursue Science Careers, Paula A. Magee, Ryan Flessner

Ryan Flessner

For the past 20 years, there has been a push to improve the teaching and learning of science in elementary schools. One strong reason for this was the release of the National Science Education Standards (NRC 1996). The Standards articulated not only what K-12 students should know (science content standards), but also how science teachers needed to teach (teaching standards) and be continuously supported (professional development standards). The Standards also considered ways to support inquiry-based and meaningful science learning for K-12 students (program and system standards). According to the NRC, one ot:·the four reasons underpinning all of this is because …

Go to article

Five Strategies To Support All Teachers: Suggestions To Get Off The Slippery Slope Of "Cookbook" Science Teaching, Paula A. Magee, Ryan Flessner Jun 2015

Five Strategies To Support All Teachers: Suggestions To Get Off The Slippery Slope Of "Cookbook" Science Teaching, Paula A. Magee, Ryan Flessner

Ryan Flessner

Many teachers shudder at the thought of implementing an inquiry curriculum. Perhaps they envision a rowdy classroom with little learning. Maybe they wonder, "How will this connect to all the standards?" Fortunately, these legitimate concerns can be addressed, and all students can engage in thoughtfully constructed inquiry science experiences. In this article, we outline five strategies that we have used with elementary school teachers as they moved from a "cookbook" approach in science to an approach that is inquiry-based. Having presented these five strategies in a linear format, we know that on the surface this may seem close to the …

Go to article

Working Toward A Third Space In The Teaching Of Elementary Mathematics, Ryan Flessner Jun 2015

Working Toward A Third Space In The Teaching Of Elementary Mathematics, Ryan Flessner

Ryan Flessner

Building on work in the area of third space theory, this study documents one teacher’s efforts to create third spaces in an elementary mathematics classroom. In an attempt to link the worlds of theory and practice, I examine how the work of other theorists and researchers – inside and outside the field of education – can create new lenses for classroom practitioners. In addition, the article provides evidence that third spaces may be more difficult to realize than others have described. Rather than forcing a third space to emerge, what this study finds more important is creating an environment that …

Go to article

Using Multi-Decision Scenarios To Facilitate Teacher Knowledge For Mathematical Questioning, Karl Kosko Dec 2013

Using Multi-Decision Scenarios To Facilitate Teacher Knowledge For Mathematical Questioning, Karl Kosko

Karl W Kosko

A novel method for both examining and improving preservice teachers’ knowledge for facilitating mathematical discussion is presented. The online platform LessonSketch.org was used to create comic-based representations of mathematics teaching that included multiple variations depending on user (preservice teacher) question choice. Each scenario includes three decision points in which question types are available as options for the user, allowing for 39 potential storylines generated from user choice. Preliminary data from preservice teachers is presented, along with an example scenario, to support discussion for implementation in teacher education, with the example provided focusing particularly on elementary mathematics.

Go to article

Theory Guided Professional Development In Early Childhood Science Education, Soo-Young Hong, Julia Torquati, Victoria J. Molfese Nov 2013

Theory Guided Professional Development In Early Childhood Science Education, Soo-Young Hong, Julia Torquati, Victoria J. Molfese

Soo-Young Hong

The importance of early and developmentally appropriate science education is increasingly recognized. Consequently, creation of common guidelines and standards in early childhood science education has begun (National Research Council (NRC), 2012), and researchers, practitioners, and policy makers have shown great interest in aligning professional development with the new guidelines and standard. There are some important issues that need to be addressed in order to successfully implement guidelines and make progress toward accomplishing standards. Early childhood teachers have expressed a lack of confidence in teaching science and nature (Torquati, Cutler, Gilkerson, & Sarver, in press) and have limited science and pedagogical …

Go to article

The Mini Golf Project, Kathleen Strub-Richards Dec 2004

The Mini Golf Project, Kathleen Strub-Richards

Kathleen A Strub-Richards

The Mini Golf Project was a collaboration between the preschoolers and the teachers at a Reggio Inspired preschool in Massachusetts. In this long term project, 3-5 year olds, and their teachers, co-constructed a viable miniature golf course.

Go to article

Museum Educators' Workshop Study: Attracting And Retaining Teachers In Museum-Sponsored Professional Development Programs, Steven R. Rogg Mar 2002

Museum Educators' Workshop Study: Attracting And Retaining Teachers In Museum-Sponsored Professional Development Programs, Steven R. Rogg

Steven R Rogg

In preparation for the Museum Educator’s Workshop, the Planning Team saw that a necessary first step would be to honor the perspectives of Chicago Public School (CPS) teachers and principals. Changes in Illinois Teacher Recertification requirements, changes within the CPS itself, and nation-wide developments in the teaching profession suggested that a fresh look at Chicago’s professional development landscape would be necessary. Indeed, many relevant questions about the role(s) of museums in teacher professional development were raised during initial Planning Team discussions. Here are just a few examples: Which organizations are the foremost providers of professional development for CPS teachers and …

Go to article

Maps Study Final Report For The Program “Museums And Public Schools” On Behalf Of Museums In The Park And Chicago Public Schools, Steven R. Rogg Aug 2000

Maps Study Final Report For The Program “Museums And Public Schools” On Behalf Of Museums In The Park And Chicago Public Schools, Steven R. Rogg

Steven R Rogg

Evaluation of the first year implementation of the Museums and Public schools (MAPS) initiative is reported. The MAPS initiative is described in its original proposal in the following way: “Guided by the Chicago and Illinois academic standards, (MAPS) …will, over time, make museum resources a creative and integral part of classroom learning and teaching. In so doing, this partnership will enhance teacher knowledge and skills, enrich student educational experiences and advance the educational attainment of all children in Chicago’s public schools. In short, this collaboration is an investment in Chicago’s future.”

Go to article