by: Page Keeley
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Type Journal ArticlePub Date 1/1/2012Stock # sc12_049_05_28Volume 049Issue 05
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Seeing Is Not Always Believing
Using the formative assessment probe called “Objects in the Sky” can help the teacher know if elementary students know that the moon can be seen in the daytime. Many trade books only show t... See More
Using the formative assessment probe called “Objects in the Sky” can help the teacher know if elementary students know that the moon can be seen in the daytime. Many trade books only show the phases of the moon at night. This may lead to student misconceptions even when they may have actually seen the moon in the early morning or late afternoon. Having students explain why they chose their answers and opening it to a discussion leads to deeper understanding. Better yet, looking at the moon during the daylight with students might help dispel this misconception.
Morning Moon? Even Seeing Isn't Always Believing
Ms. Keeley shares her formative assessment probe entitled “Objects in the Sky” that informs the teacher as to which students may have misconceptions about whether the moon is visible during ... See More
Ms. Keeley shares her formative assessment probe entitled “Objects in the Sky” that informs the teacher as to which students may have misconceptions about whether the moon is visible during the day (or only at night). An important point that the author makes is that even if students have seen the moon in the daytime, they still may THINK that it is only visible at night. She then shares some ideas for how to help students confront and reconstruct their conceptions. This is a monthly column in the journal that addresses an array of student misconceptions. I find the formative assessment probes to be beneficial with students of all ages. For as we may have experienced from our own deep-seated misconceptions, we must be shown over and over and over again before we will eventually change our beliefs.
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