Integrating & Monitoring Science Practices

Are you looking for a way to evaluate students as they improve their abilities to use various science practices? This rubric may be helpful to you. Highlighted science practices include ob... See More

Are you looking for a way to evaluate students as they improve their abilities to use various science practices? This rubric may be helpful to you. Highlighted science practices include observing, graphing, measuring, using diagrams, designing investigations, writing logical explanations, analyzing and modeling. Rubric descriptors for each level of proficiency are provided to help the teacher determine each student's ability level. The levels described are: prebeginner, beginning, emerging, competent, and proficient. The author is a practicing teacher in Boston, and she developed the rubric and student progress profile to help her students become better scientists. They were able to develop a few important understandings and abilities over time. It sounds like a bit of work to get started; but the teacher assures us it is worth the effort in the long run.

Knowing About Student Abilities

This article addresses the ability to assess student’s growth in developing the skills or practices necessary to do inquiry. This article provides a wonderful chart (Science Practice Learni... See More

This article addresses the ability to assess student’s growth in developing the skills or practices necessary to do inquiry. This article provides a wonderful chart (Science Practice Learning Progressions) that helps teachers to assess growth in student practices. As an educator you should first focus on one practice, and gather information about that student’s level to know what they are beginning with. An Observational Log is also provided with a list of seven steps to making good observations. There is also a Science Progress Profile Chart for units of science. This is a very thorough approach that might take time but seems well worth the effort.