Hello, I was just currently hired to teach 9th grade Physical Science and I am searching for the best textbook to use. Can you suggest the best textbooks you have came across and why they are effective? I teach in Illinois and will really like a curriculum that incorporates technology as well. Thanks in advance for your input.
Jurema, Have you looked at the textbooks that have been adopted/recommended by your school district/ county/school? What are they? What latitude do you have in selecting textbooks and/or designing the curriculum for this physical science course? ~patty
Hello Patty, I will begin searching to see what textbooks my district is using in their classrooms. However, I do have a lot of latitude in selecting the textbook I believe is best. Also, I was asked to design an effective 9th grade physical science curriculum that helps students master the ACT college readiness standards. So that is why I am asking the advice from curreent 9th grade physical science teachers.
Jurema, It sounds like you have wonderful flexibility designing your 9th grade course. Many teachers are constrained by needing to follow a particular pacing guide associated with a textbook; often creative teachers use the textbook has a resource and a reader and design open inquiry for their students; this includes MBL activities, STEM and engineering projects; and spending as much class time as is feasible with these hands-on inquiries. Many also use creative assessments; rather than any prescribed evaluations offered by textbooks. So many textbooks now have active web sites as components,too; and some teachers use these options to design reverse classrooms. Have you considered this? It is exciting to have so many options available as you design and deliver appropriate content and experienced to your students. What have you found out about your textbook search? ~patty
Hi Jurema, There are some other physics threads that have mentioned some good resources that you may find useful. One is called Physics Instruction and support. Another is Physical Science > How to Teach Physics Very Inexpensively and Very Effectively As a matter of fact, if you put in the term physics in the SEARCH COMMUNITY/PEOPLE tab above, and click on the red Search tab, gobs of former threads with great physics resources will appear. Let us know what you decided on for a textbook. Carolyn
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