1 / 19

Transforming Science Education: Inquiry-Based Learning Success in Casey County Schools

Explore the successful implementation of inquiry-based learning at Walnut Hill Elementary School, where a shift in mindset transformed classroom climate, teaching practices, and ultimately student achievement. With free/reduced lunch participation at 79%, science test scores rose from 59% in 2006 to 90% in 2011. Through collaborative learning, students learn to think critically, share, and justify their understanding. This hands-on approach fosters ownership of learning and prepares students for future success, whether in college or the workforce. Discover resources and strategies to start this journey.

noreen
Download Presentation

Transforming Science Education: Inquiry-Based Learning Success in Casey County Schools

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Science: Sharing what works Presented by: Ellen Allen and Melissa Griffith

  2. Who we are: • Casey County • Walnut Hill Elementary School • Free/Reduced Lunch: 79%

  3. Science Test Scores • 2011- 90% • 2010- 86% • 2009- 65% • 2008- 74% • 2007- 74% • 2006- 59%

  4. How’d We Get There? • We changed our mindset • Which changed our classroom climate • Which changed our teaching practices • Which changed student learning • Which changed student achievement

  5. What AreInquiry Skills? • Think • Write • Share with a partner • Share with your table

  6. Inquiry • A search for knowledge

  7. Mindset • Allowing students to struggle by • Thinking • Justifying • Rethinking • Questioning • Processing • Connecting • Learning

  8. Climate • It’s okay to be wrong!! • It’s good to be wrong!!

  9. Jobs • Leader- reads directions, keeps the group focused • Secretary- records data • Reporter/Timer- keeps track of time or time limits and shares information for the whole group • Helper- gets needed materials, asks other groups for help, seeks help from teacher

  10. Practices • Activity- word classification • Directions • As a group classify words into categories • Discuss why certain words go into or don’t go into certain categories • When finished share, discuss, and justify word classification with the group beside you

  11. Learning • Students learn from one another • Students rethink ideas, thoughts • Students sharing with one another allows them to process, understand, and justify their thinking

  12. Achievement • Students take ownership for their own learning • Students process information to make their own connections • Students work at learning • Teachers are a tool that helps guide students in their own learning

  13. Leader In Me • This process is preparing the students for life whether it is a future that leads them to college or the work force

  14. Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day; Teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.---Lao-tzu

  15. Hands on Inquiry • Determine jobs based on birthday months • Leader- 1st birthday • Secretary- 2nd birthday • Reporter/Timer- 3rd birthday • Helper- 4th birthday

  16. Moving Thermal Energy by Conduction • See handout

  17. Debriefing • Discuss new information learned or connections made during activity • Clear up misconceptions before they walk out the door

  18. Resources • Workshops • Training • Networking • Books • Internet • Magazines

  19. How To Get Started • One step at a time!! • It has to start with you!! • Slow and steady!!

More Related