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Science Knowledge through Inquiry Learning and Literacy
Professional Development for
4-6th Grade Teachers 2005-2006
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With a
grant from the Missouri Department of Higher Education, a series of workshops
through 2005-2006 will involve teachers in small groups experimenting and adapting
lessons based on science from the Missouri
Grade Level Expections, that are
summarized in this this
Powerpoint Presentation that will enhance students' abilities to think,
read, and write.
Teach science confidently and further the reading/writing
abilities of your students through a series of investigative science activities
that you will enjoy. The SKILL Team, led by Professors Hal Harris (Chemistry and Education), Charles Granger
(Biology and Education), and Wendy Saul,
(Education) believes that the kids learn both science and reading/writing
skills best when taught with intriguing, integrated activities. Dr. Becky Litherland is also an
important member of our team. Click on the link preceding to contact her
by e-mail.
With a grant from the Missouri Department of Higher
Education, a series of workshops through 2005-2006 will involve teachers in
small groups experimenting and adapting lessons based on science from the new
Missouri Grade Level Expectations that will enhance students' abilities to
think, read, and write. IMPORTANT.
Participants need to "consent" to the use of data from this project
for assessment and research by DHE. This is a requirement of our
grant. Please go to http://www.pdeval.missouri.edu and
find the Cycle 3 link. Respond to Surveys button in the left-hand list of options.
Activities began with introduction/orientation on May 14,
and continue with day-long workshops through June and July, then pick up again
with four Saturday workshops during the academic year. Each teacher will
choose ten or more workshops of interest from a total of 15. They have
been scheduled mostly on Saturdays in order to accommodate teachers who are
involved in summer school. Dates are June 2-3-4, 10, 11, 18, 25, July 9, 16,
23, 30. School year workshops will be on September 17, November 5, January 14,
and March 4.
If you are a participant, you can check out the participant
schedule here. IMPORTANT: Your
commitment to attend a particular workshop can be changed with a week's notice
via e-mail to hharris@umsl.edu.
Participants can also discuss topics of interest, and respond to assigned
questions via our new Listserver. The way listservers work is like an automatic
e-mail distribution. Address a message
to be shared with all of us to the e-mail address: SKILL@lists.umsl.edu.
Thinking ahead: The best "professional
development" has no impact unless it results in changes to what happens in
classrooms. We want SKILL to result in better science and literacy
teaching in classrooms, and we need to document how the project is
used in classes. Every time that you use an activity or a pedgogical
method that came directly from or was derived from SKILL, we need to have you
document that fact. There is a form available at http://arc2000-svr1.col.missouri.edu/Imp_log_cycle3.tp3;
you log on using the same password that is used for the "Consent
form" and "Surveys" above. Here
are some explicit instructions for completing the pre- and post-testing forms.
One
of the benefits of participation in SKILL is privilege of ordering approved
text materials for your use in class. Some have already ordered and
received books (up to $80) worth can be requested. The process is to
select materials from the SearchIt Science Web site, http://searchit.heinemann.com.
[You will need the username/password that was provided in the workshops.] Get
approximate prices from Amazon or Barnes & Noble or elsewhere. E-mail
a list of your selections to Professor Harris (hharris@umsl.edu). He
will be placing another orders periodically, so you selections can be submitted
at any time.
Some
excellent Web sites
that deal with topics in the workshops are recommended.
This file last modified 3/30/06