Mariana Deloera

Scope on Safety: Responding to Laboratory Accidents

Thu, Nov 10, 2016 12:38 AM
Classroom Safety

This article focuses on lab safety in a science classroom. Although, it mentions it addresses specifically middle school science, I think it can be used for any science classroom where tools and science supplies are used! Though they are not encouraged, an accident or two might happen. Children can be forgetful or accidental when it may happen. The responses of both the teacher and the students is just as important as the outcome of the accident. I think this article made many good points that could help teachers prepare students and prepare themselves for when an accident may occur. I really liked this article because it identified a list of possible accidents but also backed it up with a possible symptoms that can help teachers take the measures needed. I think this is something not very many teachers think of, but once it happens they often wish they had. It ends with suggesting getting first aid certified. I think this would be great if schools offered this for all their faculty members.

Methods and Strategies: Strategy Makeover—K-W-L to T-H-C

Wed, Oct 26, 2016 8:09 PM
Best Strategy

This article talks about how science classrooms can organize their thoughts on a THC chart. Everyone knows about the KWL charts as a reading comprehension strategy. This article introduces the THC strategy. It takes the K(now) of the KWL chart to a T for think. It takes the W(onder) to a H for how. Finally, it converts the L(earn) to a C for conclude. The THC chart is unique and individual for science learning as it it can be used for any inquiry learning classroom. It takes away the fear of kids having the starting point of doubting what they know about a concept, and changes it to what they desire to learn. Instead of writing what they learn immediately they first have to think critically on how they can fired an answer to their question. Lastly, it helps them collect their evidence and report their findings. Through this, teachers can assess students by looking at what they have concluded from looking at the chart. This is an awesome strategy and I highly would encourage teachers to implement this strategy in the science classrooms.

First Graders Can Do Science

Tue, Oct 18, 2016 2:01 AM
Inquiry is for everyone

This article does an excellent job of painting a picture of how first graders can actively be engaged learners of inquiry science based practice. Candice Marshall is a first grader teacher who decided to introduce her young learners to the tradition of presenting their science experiment at the school’s science conference. She went about it through the inquiry process. In the article, she expands on the steps she took in order for her students to get through the inquiry steps successfully and with the most they could take away from learning. She first explains the process of formulating questions for their investigations. She allowed her students to have choice in this process, which in the end proved to us this is significant in science learning. She then explains on to how to keep everything organized in order for maximum learning to occur. Then she explains the investigation phase, how she incorporate writing and how the final results of her students participation in inquiry investigations. The biggest insight she provides us with is stressing how much the kids enjoyed the process of managing their own questioning, leading their own investigation, and presenting their findings with such pride. This article explains perfectly how even our youngest learners can indeed be scientists.