The Role of STEM High Schools in Reducing Gaps in Science and Mathematics Coursetaking: Evidence from North Carolina

The Role of STEM High Schools in Reducing Gaps in Science and Mathematics Coursetaking: Evidence from North Carolina PDF

Author: Elizabeth Glennie

Publisher: RTI Press

Published: 2016-03-21

Total Pages: 20

ISBN-13:

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Some states have created science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) schools to encourage student interest and enhance student proficiency in STEM subjects. We examined a set of STEM schools serving disadvantaged students to see whether these students were more likely to take and pass advanced science and mathematics classes than their peers in traditional schools. Although some gaps in STEM coursetaking persist, economically disadvantaged and underrepresented minority students in STEM schools are more likely to take and pass these classes than their peers in non-STEM schools. Compared with non-STEM schools, the STEM schools have smaller gaps in advanced science and mathematics coursetaking and passing between disadvantaged and nondisadvantaged students.

Doing Good Science in Middle School, Expanded 2nd Edition

Doing Good Science in Middle School, Expanded 2nd Edition PDF

Author: Olaf Jorgenson

Publisher: NSTA Press

Published: 2014-04-01

Total Pages: 266

ISBN-13: 1938946634

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“We are among those who have come to enjoy the blossoming intellects, often comical behaviors, and insatiable curiosity of middle schoolers—and choose to work with them! With more than 130 years of combined experience in the profession, we’ve gathered a lot of ideas to share. We know from our interactions with educators around the country that precious few quality resources exist to assist science teachers ‘in the middle,’ and this was a central impetus for updating Doing Good Science in Middle School.” —From the preface This lively book contains the kind of guidance that could only come from veterans of the middle school science trenches. The authors know you’re crazy-busy, so they made the book easy to use, whether you want to read it cover to cover or pick out sections to help you with lesson planning and classroom management. They also know you face new challenges, so they thoroughly revised this second edition to meet the needs of today’s students. The book contains: • big-picture concepts, such as how to understand middle school learners and explore the nature of science with them; • a comprehensive overview of science and engineering practices, STEM, and inquiry-based middle school science instruction, aligned with A Framework for K–12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards; • 10 new and updated teacher-tested activities that integrate STEM with literacy skill-building; • information on best instructional practices and professional-development resources; and • connections to the Common Core State Standards in English language arts and mathematics. If you’re a new teacher, you’ll gain a solid foundation in how to teach science and engineering practices while better understanding your often-enigmatic middle-grade students. If you’re a veteran teacher, you’ll benefit from a fresh view of what your colleagues are doing in new times. Either way, Doing Good Science in Middle School is a rich opportunity to reaffirm that what you do is “good science.”

STEPS to STEM

STEPS to STEM PDF

Author: Aaron D. Isabelle

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2017-02-02

Total Pages: 262

ISBN-13: 9463007911

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"STEPS (Science Tasks Enhance Process Skills) to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) is an inquiry-based science curriculum supplement focused on developing upper elementary and middle students’ process skills and problem-solving abilities characteristic of how scientists think and act. Students learn key concepts in seven “big ideas” in science: Electricity & Magnetism; Air & Flight; Water & Weather; Plants & Animals; Earth & Space; Matter & Motion; and Light & Sound. Using simple, readily available materials, teachers facilitate learning experiences using the following structure: STEP 1: Investigate – Hypothesis – TestSTEP 2: Observe – Record – PredictSTEP 3: Gather – Make – Try Once students complete a set of STEP activities aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), they are ready to collaborate using a STEM Center. STEM Centers provide students with the opportunity for extended investigations focused on a single problem or “team challenge.” Students utilize science and engineering practices while collaboratively conducting research to gather information. Once a plan is made, the team attempts to solve the problem or complete the open-ended task. In addition, a Science Notebook or Sci-Book serves as an essential companion to STEPS to STEM; students maintain a written record of their completed activities which can serve as a form of authentic assessment. STEPS to STEM aims to help students find enjoyment in science and in the process of problem-solving – there are things to do, discoveries to be made, and problems to solve. Ideally, these experiences will lead to more explorations and questions about the world around them."

Passing the State Science Proficiency Tests

Passing the State Science Proficiency Tests PDF

Author: Craig A. Wilson

Publisher: University Press of America

Published: 2013-12-05

Total Pages: 359

ISBN-13: 0761862641

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Passing the State Science Proficiency Tests presents essential content for elementary and middle school teachers who want to improve their science content background, enhance their classroom instruction, or pass the state science proficiency tests. This book addresses different aspects of the physical, life, and earth sciences. Each chapter was written by a science education expert and includes review questions with an accompanying answer key. This book will enhance the effectiveness and competency of any pre-service or in-service elementary or middle school teacher.

The 1990 Science Report Card : NAEP's Assessment of Fourth, Eighth, and Twelfth Graders

The 1990 Science Report Card : NAEP's Assessment of Fourth, Eighth, and Twelfth Graders PDF

Author: Lee R. Jones

Publisher:

Published: 1992

Total Pages: 190

ISBN-13:

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This report from The Nation's Report Card provides further information about students' lack of preparation in science, their apparent disinclination to enroll in challenging science courses, and the comparatively low achievement of Back and Hispanic students, females, economically disadvantaged students, and non-college bound students. These Science Report Card results are based on a national survey of nearly 20,000 students in grades 4, 8, and 12, conducted during the winter and spring of 1990 by the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP). The results from the 1990 science assessment were analyzed using item response theory (IRT) methods, allowing NAEP to describe performance across the grades and subpopulations on a 0 to 500 scale. Along this continuum, four levels of proficiency were defined: Level 200: Understands Simple Scientific Principles; Level 250: Applies General Scientific Information; Level 300: Analyzes Scientific Procedures and Data; and Level 350: Integrates Specialized Scientific Information. Overall science proficiency by race/ethnicity, gender, region, type of community, type of school, parents' highest level of education, additional home factors, types of high school programs, and plans after high school was determined. Chapters include: (1) "Overall Science Proficiency for the Nation and Demographic Subpopulations"; (2) "Levels of Science Proficiency for the National and Demographic Subpopulations"; (3) "Science Proficiency by Content Areas for the Nation, Subpopulations, and in Relation to High School Course-Taking"; (4) "Attitudes toward Science Education and Students' Experiences in Science"; (5) "Toward Scientific Literacy for All: Instructional Goals and Practices"; and (6) "Who Is Teaching Science? A Profile of the Eighth-Grade Science Teaching Force." The profile survey on teachers included data on race/ethnicity, years of teaching experience, level and type of teaching certification, academic training, teachers' perceptions of their preparation to teach science topics, and teachers' professional activities in science. An overview of the procedures used in the 1990 science assessment, the NAEP scale anchoring process for the 1990 science assessment and additional example anchor items, and statistical data for all parts of the survey are appended. (KR)