Title: Joel C' Harris Academy School of Scientific Inquiry Science Department
1Joel C. Harris AcademySchool of Scientific
InquiryScience Department
2Joel C. Harris AcademySchool of Scientific
InquiryScience Department
3Science TAKS Results
Strengths
Challenges
Science Initiatives
Formative Assessment
Goals 2008-2009
http//www.flickr.com/photos/carolinecohenour/2491
05936/
4 Joel C. Harris Academy Science TAKS
Results 2008
60.7
5 State Standards 2008
6TAKS Passing Scores
7 Joel C. Harris Academy Science TAKS
Results 2008
8Special Populations 2008 TAKS Results
9Strengths
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)
10 Joel C. Harris Academy
11Department Strengths8th Grade Science 2008
Profile Sheet TAKS Performance
12Understanding 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)
13Joel C. Harris Academy
14Department Challenges8th Grade Science 2008
Profile Sheet TAKS Performance
15 Science Initiatives
- Preparation meets success
16 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
17 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
18 Science Initiatives
- Determine what activities should be implemented
in the 6th and 7th grade to address weak
objectives
19 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.
20 Science Initiatives
- Conduct a series of Hands On Saturday Sessions
to address 6th, 7th and 8th grade TEKS
21 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
22 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
23Science 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.
24Science 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.
25Science 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
26 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
27 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
28Formative 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
292008-2009 Goals by Grade Level
302008-2009 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.
312008-2009 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
32Working Toward Our Goal
Passing81.91
First District Formative Mini Assessment/ 8th
Grade
33Our Future
34Our Future
352009 Campus Accountability Ratings(Science)
- Acceptable 50
- Recognized 75
- Exemplary 90
3680
Excellence is in the details. --Gregory L.
Sullivan
http//www.quotelady.com/subjects/excellence.html
Photographs taken by Rosanne Volpert Clipart by
Microsoft