More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education.
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Science education is changing. We are no longer lecturing to students about science. We are providing opportunities for our students to wonder and ask questions. They then design and conduct investigations to answer their own questions. An integral part of the process is forming conclusions and supporting them with evidence. As they move from asking questions to designing investigations and recording data to forming conclusions, they need opportunities to share ideas and discuss improvements with the rest of their peers.
The easels and markers I'm requesting will provide a means for students to visually process new information on large whiteboards so they can share with the class and discuss changes and improvements that will make them better scientists. Dry erase markers are a medium that is easily erased and altered and helps students feel safe making their reasoning visible and open to critique and questions.
One specific way that these items will be used in my classroom is during case studies. Students are provided limited information about a real-world problem, and they work together to come up with hypotheses and predictions to determine the cause of the problem and potential solutions. Along the way, they get to practice science and science-talk. The easels provide a means to display the boards where the entire class can see the thoughts of the individual groups so that the students can concentrate on content and reasoning skills rather than wondering if the class can see their work.
To observe a classroom where the teacher is merely facilitating the "science talk" of the students, where the students are the driving force of inquiry, is a beautiful thing. These supplies will help my students drive their own science education.
About my class
Science education is changing. We are no longer lecturing to students about science. We are providing opportunities for our students to wonder and ask questions. They then design and conduct investigations to answer their own questions. An integral part of the process is forming conclusions and supporting them with evidence. As they move from asking questions to designing investigations and recording data to forming conclusions, they need opportunities to share ideas and discuss improvements with the rest of their peers.
The easels and markers I'm requesting will provide a means for students to visually process new information on large whiteboards so they can share with the class and discuss changes and improvements that will make them better scientists. Dry erase markers are a medium that is easily erased and altered and helps students feel safe making their reasoning visible and open to critique and questions.
One specific way that these items will be used in my classroom is during case studies. Students are provided limited information about a real-world problem, and they work together to come up with hypotheses and predictions to determine the cause of the problem and potential solutions. Along the way, they get to practice science and science-talk. The easels provide a means to display the boards where the entire class can see the thoughts of the individual groups so that the students can concentrate on content and reasoning skills rather than wondering if the class can see their work.
To observe a classroom where the teacher is merely facilitating the "science talk" of the students, where the students are the driving force of inquiry, is a beautiful thing. These supplies will help my students drive their own science education.