Sari Ito

Tue, Apr 14, 2020 2:16 AM
Article Review

I added this article to my collection because I believe the assessment is one of the biggest challenges that teachers will face throughout their teaching careers. Effectively utilizing a combination of formative assessment and summative assessment allows the teachers to differentiate instructions depending on students’ previous knowledge and modify them as the teachers track students’ progress. I’ve learned that assessment is not a huge, overwhelming process, but it is a rather step-by-step process that gathers all the small pieces together to complete the whole process. This article suggests labs and investigations as assessment tools to gauge their understanding in practical and hands-on ways. TEKSs that could go along with this article are 2.2.E and 2.2.F. To meet those TEKSs, the students are required to showing a great understanding of the contents through an investigation using student-generated data. I would assign each student to conduct an investigation over a specific topic and use it as a summative assessment tool. I agree with the article when it mentions the importance of feedback to students. The students will well reflect on their work if given valuable feedback from the teacher.

Editor’s Note: Force and Motion—Complex, Awesome, Relevant

Mon, Apr 13, 2020 11:52 PM
Article Review

I choose this brief article because I agree with the truth that even though we experience force and motion in everyday life, most of us don’t fully understand it or verbally explain how it works because of the complexity. The article suggests the effectiveness of using simple machines such as levers to teach students the mechanisms of moving things, which got my attention. I’ve learned that you don’t have to think too much when teaching the concepts of force and motion. It will most likely work better because motion is everywhere! TEKS that could go along with the article is 3.6.B. This TEKS requires the students to know that forces cause change and that energy exists in many forms by using simple objects such as swings, balls, and wagons. I could model juggling using balls to represent force and motion. I agree with the article about the idea that you could avoid the complexity of learning by using simple tools/motion.

Mon, Apr 13, 2020 7:27 PM
Article Review

I loved the fact that teachers can measure their students' previous knowledge and experiences with plants by just observing how they plant seeds. In this article, it expands a plant-seeding activity into a meaningful science hands-on activity that helps students learn about living organisms. I've learned that teachers are capable of helping the students enhance the sense of the diversity of life on Earth by giving them the opportunity to interact with different plants and animals throughout their school lives. TEKSs that would go along with the plant-seeding activity are K.1.B. and K.2.A., which require students to conduct a science experiment both in the classroom and at home. They then are expected to develop related questions and seek answers. I agree with the article about the idea that documenting students' behavior that reveals their understanding would allow the teachers to address the various misconceptions.