Chapter 1 Journal

I found this chapter to be a great introduction for teachers to learn that teaching science as inquiry can be very successful. It can also be a guide to some teachers who may take a different approach on how they teach science. Teaching science as inquiry gives students a better opportunity to understand science more. In my elementary classes of science, we didn’t do many hands on projects or experiments. We did do lots of worksheets and sometimes would we pair up and do a small experiment, which I still had some confusion about. When I teach science I want to take a very different approach then the way I was taught. It is very essential that students get plenty of hands on experiments and projects. Doing proactive assessments where students can get a better look and feel for the lesson plan is a great way to teach science as an inquiry. I found ideas in this chapter, which reminded me of when I was in high school how science was so fun to do and learn about. In high school, we did many more projects and experiments. Maybe the reason why in elementary school, teachers did not want to do intense experiments was so the children wouldn’t get hurt. But I did find that in this chapter there are some experiments that involve merely water, wax and foil paper. I am a bit nervous about teaching science, but I know with time and experience I can make it very fun for my students and keep them interested in learning more and more about science beyond the classroom.

As I was graduating high school, at that point I was excited to take science courses in college. I really think it is very important to teach a student science in a student-centered classroom, where the students are doing most the discussion, asking questions, etc. This would be done after the teacher has taught his/her lesson and the students are ready to take what they have learned and demonstrate through their assessments. Being able to demonstrate what the student has done through their work, not only does it show progress to the teacher, but also to the student. And this can bring feelings of achievement in reaching their goal, and excitement. Knowing that the student can understand the lesson and prove it, is how I want my students to feel.

In Proficiency 2, there are motivating inquiry tasks that students can use in their daily lives, even after their courses. I agree with the National Science Education Standards where they consist of tasks that are important to some ways students will learn the material. Students will be able to develop planning skills, understand how to conduct an investigation. Students will learn to use appropriate tools to gather their information and use evidence to develop their conclusions. Students have a lot of interesting questions and this is where I want to be able to teach my lesson plans to help my students expand their scientific knowledge and learning tasks. Science can relate to math skills and this will give students an opportunity to practice their math proficiency. When the standardized tests are given out, most students will be ready. With much practice and the right projects in the lesson plans, students will gain plenty of techniques that will help them in the tests they will need to take.