Rise and Shine: A Practical Guide for the Beginning Science Teacher
Chapter 10: Parents as Partners
Online Appendix
Recommended Resources
Report Card Comments
100 Useful Words and Phrases When Writing Report Card Comments for Elementary Students: www.worksheetlibrary.com/teachingtips/usefulwordsforreportcards.html. If you are looking for modifiers and descriptors that will help express the accomplishments of students who are receiving specific grades (such as a C), this is a great site to help you craft your comments.
Comment Ideas for Report Cards: http://teachnet.com/how-to/endofyear/personalcomments061400.html. You will find a collection of more than 300 general adjectives and phrases on this site.
How To: Report Card Comments: http://teachersnetwork.org/ntol/howto/align/reportsam. Teachers Network has many resources for teachers. The report comments and phrases do not address science specifically but include speaking, writing, listening, general remarks, and phrases, as well as key terms.
Report Card Comments: www.teach-nology.com/teachers/report_cards. This is a members-only site that provides comments for all disciplines as well as behavior.
Report Cards: Advice and Suggested Comments: www.teachervision.fen.com/school/assessment/6964.html?&detoured=1. This site provides comments and phrases in categories concerning work habits, personality and attitude, student behavior, academic achievement, and citizenship.
Report Designer: www.bigwave.com.au/reports/bigsample.html. This site contains comments indicating four levels of development for each category, including cooperation, following directions, independent worker, enthusiasm, work habits, use of time, and several disciplines of science. This extensive listing is a free sample. You may pay to access the entire site and develop your own list based on their large catalog.
Evolution
Evolution: www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution. A resource from PBS, including videos for students and online courses for teachers
Evolution Resources: www.nsta.org/publications/evolution.aspx. A list of print and electronic resources compiled by NSTA, including a Q & A about teaching evolution
Evolution Resources from the National Academies: http://nationalacademies.org/evolution
Intelligent Design on Trial: www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/intelligent-design-trial.html. The website of the NOVA program documenting the court case of 2005.
Jensen, J. 2008. NSTA toolkit for teaching evolution. Arlington, VA: NSTA Press.
National Center for Science Education: http://ncse.com. Resources from an organization whose goal is to keep the study of evolution in public schools
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). 2003. NSTA position statement: The teaching of evolution. NSTA. www.nsta.org/about/positions/evolution.aspx
Understanding Evolution: http://evolution.berkeley.edu. Tutorials and teaching resources, including a version in Spanish.
Dissection
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). 2005. NSTA position statement: Responsible use of live animals and dissection in the science classroom. www.nsta.org/about/positions/animals.aspx.