Joel C' Harris Academy School of Scientific Inquiry Science Department

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Joel C. Harris AcademySchool of Scientific
InquiryScience Department
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Joel C. Harris AcademySchool of Scientific
InquiryScience Department
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Science TAKS Results
Strengths
Challenges
Science Initiatives
Formative Assessment
Goals 2008-2009
http//www.flickr.com/photos/carolinecohenour/2491
05936/
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Joel C. Harris Academy Science TAKS
Results 2008
60.7
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State Standards 2008
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TAKS Passing Scores
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Joel C. Harris Academy Science TAKS
Results 2008
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Special Populations 2008 TAKS Results
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Strengths

• Objective 1

Nature of Science

• The student conducts field and laboratory
  investigations using safe, environmentally
  appropriate,and ethical practices. (6.1,7.1,8.1)

• The student uses scientific inquiry methods
  during field and
• laboratory investigations.
• (6.2,7.2,8.2)

• The student uses critical thinking and scientific
  problem solving
• to make informed decisions.
• (6.3,7.3,8.3)

• The student knows how to use a variety of tools
  and methods
• to conduct science inquiry.
• (6.4,7.4,8.4)

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
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Joel C. Harris Academy
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Department Strengths8th Grade Science 2008
Profile Sheet TAKS Performance
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• Science Concepts

Understanding of living systems and the
environment
Understanding of the structures and properties of
matter
Understanding of earth and space systems
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
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Joel C. Harris Academy
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Department Challenges8th Grade Science 2008
Profile Sheet TAKS Performance
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Science Initiatives

• Preparation meets success

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Science Initiatives

• Identify students who failed the 5th grade
  Science TAKS
• Identify students who failed the 7th grade
  Reading TAKS
• Identify and address the 6th and 7th grade
  objectives that are tested on the 8th grade
  Science TAKS

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Science Initiatives

• Analyze questions from the 2006 Science TAKS test
  (last test to be released) that address our weak
  objectives
• Formulate questions that address these objectives
  to use as warm up activities across all grade
  levels

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Science Initiatives

• Determine what activities should be implemented
  in the 6th and 7th grade to address weak
  objectives

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Science Initiatives

• Sixth and Seventh grade teachers will conduct a
  series of tutorial sessions/lab activities after
  school to address 6th and 7th grade TEKS that are
  tested on the Science TAKS.
• Eighth grade teachers will conduct a series of
  tutorial sessions/lab activities after school to
  address 8th grade TEKS that are tested on the
  Science TAKS.

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Science Initiatives

• Conduct a series of Hands On Saturday Sessions
  to address 6th, 7th and 8th grade TEKS

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Science Initiatives

• Academic Mentoring Class
• Addresses process skills
• Plan and implement investigative
• procedures including asking
• questions, formulating testable
• hypotheses and selecting and using
• equipment/technology
• Address specific identified objectives weekly

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Science Initiatives

• Academic Mentoring
• Organize, analyze, evaluate, make inferences and
  predict trends from direct and indirect evidence
• Address 6th and 7th grade TEKS incorporating a
  variety of activities

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Science Initiative(English Language Learners)

• Implement an academic mentoring class to address
  the needs of the ELL students.
• Incorporate a variety of assessment strategies
  into the lessons to determine student success.
• Incorporate specific techniques that encourage
  students to elaborate on their activity responses
  and express their thoughts fully.

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Science Initiative(English Language Learners)

• Incorporate a number of grouping configurations
  into activities that will support the lessons
  objectives.
• Incorporate wait time into the lessons to allow
  opportunities for continued student
  participation.
• Identify techniques to scaffold instruction for
  verbal and procedural understanding.

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Science Initiative(English Language Learners)

• Use graphic organizers to provide conceptual
  clarity for information that is difficult to
  grasp.
• Use a variety of supplementary materials that
  support the content
• Hands on manipulatives
• Realia
• Pictures
• Visuals
• Multimedia
• Demonstrations

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Science Initiatives

• Administer District Formative Mini Assessments,
  analyze results and determine how to address
  students who have difficulty in mastering and or
  understanding specific objectives (ex. one on one
  tutoring)
• Allow time for students to analyze and self
  assess their test results

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Science Initiatives

• Continue to implement Margaret Kilgo Training to
  address campus weaknesses
• Seek assistance from all academic core and
  elective content classes in implementing specific
  science strategies
• Distribute, post and review Verbs in Science
  TEKS chart to all classrooms on campus

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Formative Assessment

• District Formative Mini Assessments
• Understanding By Design (UbD) Products
• Teacher Exams
• Benchmark Exams
• Science Fair Projects

UbD Product Snazzy Shoes Scientific Method
UbD Product Physics Field Day Force and Motion
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2008-2009 Goals by Grade Level
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2008-2009 Goals

• Incorporate the Reading Process within the
  Science classes
• Assign students who failed the 7th grade Reading
  TAKS into the academic mentoring class
• Monitor 8th grade students who failed the 5th
  grade Science TAKS by reviewing their formative
  assessment and including them in the academic
  mentoring class if necessary.
• Seventh grade teachers analyze their students 5th
  grade TAKS results.
• Sixth grade teachers analyze their students 5th
  grade TAKS results.

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2008-2009 Goals

• Incorporate technology in classroom and
  scientific laboratory investigations
• Provide non linguistic representations through
  scientific activities
• Assist students in becoming independent and
  critical thinkers
• Relate science to everyday life
• Collaborate daily with the academic mentoring
  teacher

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Working Toward Our Goal
Passing81.91
First District Formative Mini Assessment/ 8th
Grade
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Our Future
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Our Future
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2009 Campus Accountability Ratings(Science)

• Acceptable 50
• Recognized 75
• Exemplary 90

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80
Excellence is in the details. --Gregory L.
Sullivan
http//www.quotelady.com/subjects/excellence.html
Photographs taken by Rosanne Volpert Clipart by
Microsoft