Tell OSPI what you think about proposed revisions to science standards

Comments

1. Sharon Rodgers says:
   October 5, 2008 at 4:26 pm

   The Seattle Meeting is Tuesday October 7 (all the rest of the information is correct (John Stanford Center at 3rd & Lander 6:30-8:00. The Draft Standards should be posted tomorrow.
2. Bob Kowal says:
   October 16, 2008 at 11:29 am

   The new Science standards group the science knowledge into Physical, Earth and Life areas. I think this is good. The Inquiry part of the new revision should still task the students to throughly work through the steps of the inquiry. I believe that the Hypothesis part should still be used at the 5th grade level. Changing it to another word is just vocabulary. They CAN understand Hypothesis.

   In 2005, I developed reading materials that led to a 95 percent class passing rate on the Reading WASL. They were simple to use. In 2006, I developed some science curriculum materials that are very easy to use, take very little prep time, and follow the WASL format. I created 40 plus quizzes that cover the GLE knowledge areas and each takes about 15-20 minutes to cover. I’d put them on the overhead during morning entry time and then as I corrected them, taught a quick mini lesson on the topic. I included notes and information that any teacher could use without having to research the knowledge area.

   In addition, I wrote 20 fully explained, step by step Inquiries that my students really got enthused about. They also have 30 plus extension inquiries that change a variable, like the WASL, and students can do them in class or at home.
   I started using them in January 2007 and just three and half months later by April when the WASL science test was given, students knew the knowledge areas of the GLEs and the Inquiry process. My class had a 77% passing rate on the Science WASL test. The state average was 36.5%. I never had such a great year teaching science and it was so fantastic to see students loving science inquiry!

   The best aspect of the materials I used, was that they require no kits. I have over 50 inquiries that need about 42 items, half of which are found in my classroom. I don’t use kits that cost districts thousands of dollars and my results are better than teachers that have used kits, FOSS or other company’s.

   I have talked to teachers and many of them say “Kits are okay, but they still take a lot of time to prepare an inquiry and I have so many other things to teach that science just doesn’t get done the way I’d like it to.” When I showed them my materials they exclaimed, “WOW, this is what I need”.
   America needs creative citizens and I believe that getting students enthused about science generates curiosity and creativity. I am tired of seeing the USA low on the list of achievement when we are compared to other countries. We CAN improve and I hope that my materials will help achieve that.

   I thank all of you who worked so hard on this revision for your efforts. Together we can achieve our goals and move our country to the top of the list. As one motivation speaker says, “If you can conceive it and believe it, you can achieve it.
   If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

   Sincerely,

   Bob Kowal

   bobkowal@gmail.com