Jessica Speake

Wed, Nov 13, 2019 3:57 PM
Multigenre Writing and Science Review

This article gave a great example of how to incorporate literacy with science. It also poses some statements for the reader to think about, such as reasons why students tend to not see the important bridge that can occur between science and literacy, especially when it comes to writing and communication. In this article, a specific example of a classroom project done over a significant period of time is laid out for the reader with an overview of what the project was and the time frame the project was broken into. The multigenre lab report option given to the students, which is described throughout the article with specific guidelines shared with the reader, was a wonderful idea to make the writing of the lab report about the science project to be fun, creative, and helped to meet whatever style the student or group of students chose to express themselves. This article included some specific assessment tools that can be used throughout the specific project discussed, which would be helpful to any teacher wanting to try this multigenre writing in their science classroom.

Wed, Oct 16, 2019 4:32 PM
Engineering Encounters Review

This article was broken down into the 5E model of teaching, and each step was clearly identified. The article focused on a camp for first and second graders with a focus in engineering. The author wrote the article almost as if it were a lesson plan, identifying what the main activity was for each step in the 5E model, what the students did, and what the activity was helping the teacher or student understand, with everything relating back to engineering and how it can, in fact, be taught in elementary schools. Although the specifics in the article was tailored to a camp setting, it is an engineering experience that could be used in a general education classroom. The article included some pictures of the activities being discussed that the author used in her experience, which helps to visualize what the students were thinking or doing. Everything within the article was clearly connected back to the Next Generation Science Standards, and the performance expectations, along with the three-dimensions connected with the expectations, were clearly identified. This article would be a great read for teachers trying to decide how to first introduce engineering into their general education classroom.