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  • What Is the Milky Way?

    Book Chapter |

    The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about our home galaxy, the Milky Way. The probe is designed to reveal whether students recognize that our solar system is inside the Milky Way, that on…

  • Expanding Universe

    Book Chapter |

    The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the big bang theory. The probe is designed to reveal the extent of their qualitative understanding of what is expanding according to the theory.

  • Is the Big Bang “Just a Theory”?

    Book Chapter |

    The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the big bang as a theory. The probe is designed to find out if students can distinguish a scientific theory from the use of theory in everyday…

  • The Two <i>R</i>s

    Book Chapter |

    The purpose of this word use probe is to elicit students’ ideas about two commonly confused words in astronomy—rotate and revolve. The probe is designed to find out if students can conceptually distinguish between the…

  • Where Did the Sun Go?

    Book Chapter |

    The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the position of the Sun in relation to the Earth. The probe is designed to find out how students envision the Earth as a sphere in space and its…

  • Sunrise to Sunset

    Book Chapter |

    The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the apparent movement of the Sun. The probe is designed to reveal where students think the Sun rises and sets, and how it moves during the day.

  • No Shadow

    Book Chapter |

    The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the Sun’s motion during the day. The probe is designed to reveal whether students know that the Sun is never directly overhead as viewed from the…

  • What’s Moving?

    Book Chapter |

    The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about Earth’s orbit. The probe is designed to find out whether students recognize that the Earth orbits around the Sun.

  • Off To A Good Start

    Book Chapter |

    As you begin your science teaching career, you will have many questions. The best place to start is to ask questions of yourself. You may not be able to answer all of the questions quickly or casually, but they should…

  • Parents As Partners

    Book Chapter |

    Although teachers have a huge influence on students, no one can have the effect on students that parents can. No matter the student’s age, the approval of parents is a fundamental need of every child and a powerful…

  • Preparing For Your Evaluation

    Book Chapter |

    Consider observations by others as opportunities to improve your skills as a teacher. Be proactive in providing your observer with as much information as possible to make their visit productive. Informed comments from…

  • Finding Support

    Book Chapter |

    Even the most competent, professional teacher in the school was once a first-year teacher and faced issues similar to yours. Many of your colleagues will be sympathetic to your struggles and willing to help. Take…

  • End-Of-Year Activities And Reflections

    Book Chapter |

    By spending a little time at the end of the year organizing your materials and reflecting on your experiences as discussed in this chapter, you’ll be ready for the challenges at the beginning of the next year.

  • Before You Open The Classroom Or Lab Door For Students

    Book Chapter |

    No one is going to tell you what to do during the most critical day of school—the first day. You are responsible for creating the atmosphere and tone that your classroom will provide for the entire year and beyond. The…

  • The First Week of School

    Book Chapter |

    . The way you begin the school year will affect everything that occurs in your classroom and with your colleagues for the remainder of the year—and beyond. When you were student teaching, your cooperating teacher had…

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