Issues in Science Ed #2, 2/2006

Total responses so far: 492

Identify the number ONE issue or challenge that you face as a science educator:

Response
 Percent
 Count
Other 15.9%
 78
Assessment and accountability 11.0%
 54
Classroom size 8.5%
 42
Implementation of No Child Left Behind 7.1%
 35
Science for All 7.1%
 35
Inquiry 6.5%
 32
Determining what to teach 5.3%
 26
Literacy and science 5.1%
 25
Recruiting and retaining teachers 4.3%
 21
Teacher quality 4.3%
 21
Classroom management 3.3%
 16
Teacher preparation 3.0%
 15
Special needs 2.4%
 12
Curriculum development 2.4%
 12
Science education and technology 2.4%
 12
Professional development issues 2.2%
 11
Integrating curriculum 2.0%
 10
Evolution 1.4%
 7
Certification 1.2%
 6
Research 1.2%
 6
Diversity 0.6%
 3
Safety in the classroom 0.2%
 1

Other:
Funding
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funding for resource lab
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Limited/declining budgets for materials
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Maintaining student interest in science pre-K through career
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Money for hands-on experiences
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Classroom facility for labs
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Assessment and accountability and Classroom management, making parents and students accountable for there work
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Assessment and accountability and Classroom management, making parents and students accountable for there work
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students simply do not 'get' why an education is important and why they should learn this
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Idea that school science = science literacy
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both the class size (34 students on average) and the insufficient time allocated to teaching laboratory based science (240 minutes)
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Insufficient materials and supplies for lab activities
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class size
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administration (central office) who do not "get it"
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a real science classroom/lab
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Not enough time to adequately prepare for classes
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administrators micro-managing
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science content being taught in non-tested grades
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Locating resources (e.g., people and money) to solve the problems
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Need more time to plan and teach
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Finding time to teach science in Reading First Schools
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Meeting state standards that are constantly changing.
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Time: even with integration more time is needed to foster science literacy in our students
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Lack of prior science knowledge
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the rooms are too small, the equipment is inadequate, the teachers are unprepared to teach 21st century childdren (pedagogy with technology)
-------------------------
a watered-down curriculum for all to pass
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How do we get rid of the science WASL.
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TIME to implement & organize all that is asked of me
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Time to teach, grade, email, call, serve on committees, clean, organize, file, create, and renew
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VERY inadequate lab facilities
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There is not enough time to teach it.
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students' lack of critical thinking skills
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kids, parents, administration do NOT care if science is learned, entertainment, babysitting(applies in HS also), 'no calls or conflicts' is the desired order.
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the low mathematical competency of students. This inhibits our ability to move forward in some science areas
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Student apathy: lack of interest and motivation in science classes
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Time in the elementary classroom
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Blocking with 7th graders. 90 minute periods
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materials to teach with- no equipment or budget
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materials to teach with- no equipment or budget
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Student Accountability & Motivation
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students poor math skills
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overinvolved parents and their influence on grades
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having TIME for labs and to teach everything that should be taught
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time to teach all the topics with enough depth that students can use the knowledge and continually fall back into the same common misconceptions that most people have about fundamental science concepts
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teacher's knowledge of science content
-------------------------
lack of time
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student willingness to study & participate
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Inadiquate Science Education Standards
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Lack of inquiry-based elementary education
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Availability to do labs / inquiry
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not enough time to do all I want to do; i.e. plan new and interesting activities, keep up with the latest in my field with regard to the science and resources available
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The density of the curriculum; getting it all taught in one year at a mastery level for state testing!
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Long term student engagement
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It really bothers me as to the number of students served who just don't seem to care. not just in science but about anything
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student motivation
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Budget for Inguiry Teaching Materials
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Earth sciences needs parity with life and physical sciences at the high school level and high stakes testing programs.
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Unprepared students (math skills) & lack of student reading their textbook.
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Not enough time to teach all important science concepts
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old and inadequate classroom facilities; facility makes laboratory exercises difficult
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supplies
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financing
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salary
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The lack of student accountability.
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Lack of adequate math and literacy skills
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Trying to incorporate hands-on when there is so much content to cover before testing
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Funding
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support for teachers as professionals by the district
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poor access to equipment & supplies
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Many students have math and reading skills below grade level
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ESL or English language learners keeping up with the curriculum
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It is a bit artificial to identify one issue. It is disturbing to see the increasing lack of concern by the general populace for science education. It boils down to apathy on all levels toward science.
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Lack of facilities; I teach in regular classroom
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MCAS
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34 students in 38 minutes= stress
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Get rewarded for scholarship of teaching and learning
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time to do everything
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General publics mistrust of science
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classroom set of materials required for experiments
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Planning time
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science is not being taught in the lower grades
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student attendance & accountability
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