HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
This past week was Teacher Appreciation Week, but I can honestly say I have found myself appreciating your kids - for several reasons that deserve to be celebrated!
CELEBRATE: OPEN-ENDED SUCCESS!
One of the most challenging types of test question to answer is the dreaded "open-ended response" question. These are short essays that require students to explain different situations in scientific terms. Typically, open-ended questions are application-based, which require the highest level of understanding. Additionally, open-ended questions contain multiple parts that the students must address.
The quality of ALL students' open-ended responses on our most recent Unit 7: Forces and Motion Exam blew me away! The students were so thorough and so accurate in their responses. They took me twice as long to grade as a result - and I was thrilled!
CELEBRATE: GROWTH MINDSET!
So many students worked SO HARD over the past three weeks to go back and improve their understanding of Unit 6: Chemical Reactions, and that has paid off in so many ways.
I am so thankful for the way these students have embraced the growth mindset practices we've had in place all year long - and I hope as they reflect on all we have done in Foundations of Science they realize that we have absolutely accomplished the mission we discussed during the first week of school: "Our goal is growth."
Comparing their pretests to their post-tests, analyzing their own formative assessments, choosing review strategies that work for them, completing test corrections, and retaking assessments to show mastery of content are all ways in which students have demonstrated that the process of learning is as important as the product.
I hope your kids see what I see - that their hard work has led to huge improvements in their understanding of science throughout the year!
CELEBRATE: ONE MORE WEEK!
This week (May 9 - 13) is our last full, uninterrupted week of instruction for the school year. How crazy is that?!
We will round out our Ecology unit this week, and then start our review for the Final Exam on Monday, May 16. Keystone Exams start May 16, so our class time will be reduced to just over 30 minutes per day. We'll spend all 7 class days leading up to our final reviewing for the test, so that means all students are going to have at least four hours of in-class time devoted to studying and preparing for their cumulative final exam. Periods 2, 3, and 4 will take their Final Exam for Foundations of Science on Wednesday, May 25.
In addition to the Vocab Review, Concepts Review, and Skills Review that I will provide to all students over the course of the next two weeks, please keep in mind that our entire year's worth of notes, labs, practice sheets, videos, review materials, and extra practice resources are still open on Schoology! Schoology should be a tremendous review resource as students go back and brush up on the year's most important topics.
CELEBRATE: SUNSHINE!
It has been so nice to see the sun in the sky again. I hope you have the opportunity to spend today enjoying time with your family!
This past week was Teacher Appreciation Week, but I can honestly say I have found myself appreciating your kids - for several reasons that deserve to be celebrated!
CELEBRATE: OPEN-ENDED SUCCESS!
One of the most challenging types of test question to answer is the dreaded "open-ended response" question. These are short essays that require students to explain different situations in scientific terms. Typically, open-ended questions are application-based, which require the highest level of understanding. Additionally, open-ended questions contain multiple parts that the students must address.
The quality of ALL students' open-ended responses on our most recent Unit 7: Forces and Motion Exam blew me away! The students were so thorough and so accurate in their responses. They took me twice as long to grade as a result - and I was thrilled!
CELEBRATE: GROWTH MINDSET!
So many students worked SO HARD over the past three weeks to go back and improve their understanding of Unit 6: Chemical Reactions, and that has paid off in so many ways.
I am so thankful for the way these students have embraced the growth mindset practices we've had in place all year long - and I hope as they reflect on all we have done in Foundations of Science they realize that we have absolutely accomplished the mission we discussed during the first week of school: "Our goal is growth."
Comparing their pretests to their post-tests, analyzing their own formative assessments, choosing review strategies that work for them, completing test corrections, and retaking assessments to show mastery of content are all ways in which students have demonstrated that the process of learning is as important as the product.
I hope your kids see what I see - that their hard work has led to huge improvements in their understanding of science throughout the year!
CELEBRATE: ONE MORE WEEK!
This week (May 9 - 13) is our last full, uninterrupted week of instruction for the school year. How crazy is that?!
We will round out our Ecology unit this week, and then start our review for the Final Exam on Monday, May 16. Keystone Exams start May 16, so our class time will be reduced to just over 30 minutes per day. We'll spend all 7 class days leading up to our final reviewing for the test, so that means all students are going to have at least four hours of in-class time devoted to studying and preparing for their cumulative final exam. Periods 2, 3, and 4 will take their Final Exam for Foundations of Science on Wednesday, May 25.
In addition to the Vocab Review, Concepts Review, and Skills Review that I will provide to all students over the course of the next two weeks, please keep in mind that our entire year's worth of notes, labs, practice sheets, videos, review materials, and extra practice resources are still open on Schoology! Schoology should be a tremendous review resource as students go back and brush up on the year's most important topics.
CELEBRATE: SUNSHINE!
It has been so nice to see the sun in the sky again. I hope you have the opportunity to spend today enjoying time with your family!