Midyear Evaluation Results Midyear Evaluation Results & Next Steps& Next Steps

Johanna WaldmanJohanna Waldman

Biology – Of what work are Biology – Of what work are students most proud?students most proud?• Human/Primate Comparison Project (9)Human/Primate Comparison Project (9)• Notebook (8)Notebook (8)• A test (6)A test (6)• Critter Project (4)Critter Project (4)• Step Lab (2)Step Lab (2)• Egg-speriment Lab Report (2)Egg-speriment Lab Report (2)• Circulatory system diagram (2)Circulatory system diagram (2)• A homeworkA homework• GroupworkGroupwork

Biology – Favorite Lessons & Biology – Favorite Lessons & AssessmentsAssessments

• Critter Project (13)Critter Project (13)

• Egg-speriment (11)Egg-speriment (11)

• Stepping Up the Pace Lab Stepping Up the Pace Lab (11)(11)

• Natural Selection Activity Natural Selection Activity (7)(7)

• Just a Body Responding (6)Just a Body Responding (6)

• Test (4)Test (4)

• Onion skin lab (4)Onion skin lab (4)

• pH Activity (2)pH Activity (2)

• Groupwork (2)Groupwork (2)

• Evolution (4)Evolution (4)

• Labs/experiments (2)Labs/experiments (2)

• Tony’s BrainTony’s Brain

• Change over time Change over time jigsawjigsaw

• Endocrine systemEndocrine system

• Immune systemImmune system

• Observing primate Observing primate movementmovement

• Respiratory systemRespiratory system

• TaxonomyTaxonomy

• Zebra’s stripesZebra’s stripes

• HomeostasisHomeostasis

Biology – Least FavoritesBiology – Least Favorites• Onion skin lab (9)Onion skin lab (9)• Tests (9)Tests (9)• Brain (5)Brain (5)• Body systems (5)Body systems (5)• Egg-speriment (4)Egg-speriment (4)• Change over time Change over time

jigsaw (4)jigsaw (4)• Step Lab (3)Step Lab (3)• Critter project (3)Critter project (3)• Evolution (2)Evolution (2)• Cells (2)Cells (2)• Videos w/ notes (2)Videos w/ notes (2)

• Lab report (2)Lab report (2)• Circulatory system (2)Circulatory system (2)• HomeworkHomework• Immune systemImmune system• TaxonomyTaxonomy• TermitesTermites• BacteriaBacteria• LectureLecture• Digestive systemDigestive system• Thumb experimentThumb experiment• KidneysKidneys• pHpH

Biology - LearnersBiology - Learners

• Visual (19)Visual (19)

• Listening/writing (12)Listening/writing (12)

• Hands-on (2)Hands-on (2)

• Individual (2)Individual (2)

• WorksheetsWorksheets

• FunFun

• Clear directionsClear directions

• No distractionsNo distractions

• Reading and asking questionsReading and asking questions

Biology – Demonstrate Biology – Demonstrate UnderstandingUnderstanding

• Writing (14)Writing (14)

• Orally (ex. Presentation) (11)Orally (ex. Presentation) (11)

• Creative (11)Creative (11)

• Test (2)Test (2)

• ElaboratingElaborating

• Answering questionsAnswering questions

• WorksheetsWorksheets

Biology – Why do Biology – Why do homework?homework?

• Grades (20)Grades (20)

• Understanding (14)Understanding (14)

• Prepared for next class (8)Prepared for next class (8)

• So as not to disappoint teacher (2)So as not to disappoint teacher (2)

• PridePride

• Want to do it if understandWant to do it if understand

• Because it is importantBecause it is important

Biology – biggest challengeBiology – biggest challenge

• Vocabulary (9)Vocabulary (9)• Homework (5)Homework (5)• Paying attention (3)Paying attention (3)• Notebook organization (2)Notebook organization (2)• Open response (2)Open response (2)• Tests (2)Tests (2)• Understanding (2)Understanding (2)• Studying (2)Studying (2)• Lab reportsLab reports• GroupworkGroupwork

Biology – What can Ms. W Biology – What can Ms. W do?do?• Remind about homework (2)Remind about homework (2)

• Work one-on-one (2)Work one-on-one (2)

• Review day before test (3)Review day before test (3)

• Slow downSlow down

• Make me stay afterMake me stay after

• Ask me about my homework everydayAsk me about my homework everyday

• Wake me upWake me up

• More funMore fun

Biology – Next StepsBiology – Next Steps• Already have review day before test – Already have review day before test –

make sure there is sufficient timemake sure there is sufficient time• Shorten later critter project parts but have Shorten later critter project parts but have

students add on to them.students add on to them.• More creative & writing assignments More creative & writing assignments

(using “left” side more)(using “left” side more)– Large posters of digestive system then Large posters of digestive system then

diagramming cellular respirationdiagramming cellular respiration– Letter from a carbon about its tripLetter from a carbon about its trip– Dewey’s adventure – comic strip through water Dewey’s adventure – comic strip through water

cyclecycle– Either written story or picture of trip through Either written story or picture of trip through

the nitrogen cyclethe nitrogen cycle

More Biology Next StepsMore Biology Next Steps

• Learning StylesLearning Styles– More use of concept maps and diagramsMore use of concept maps and diagrams– Large-scale human demonstrations of conceptsLarge-scale human demonstrations of concepts– Use of songs (photosynthesis song, Use of songs (photosynthesis song,

photosynthesis rap, water cycle rap)photosynthesis rap, water cycle rap)

• Master notebook table of contents on Master notebook table of contents on butcher paperbutcher paper

• More explicit work around vocabularyMore explicit work around vocabulary– Before we started cellular respiration or Before we started cellular respiration or

photosynthesis, students created glossaries of photosynthesis, students created glossaries of important vocabulary termsimportant vocabulary terms

– Given vocabulary list or flash cards before a Given vocabulary list or flash cards before a testtest

More Biology Next StepsMore Biology Next Steps• I have made a conscious effort to I have made a conscious effort to

stop and explain homework before stop and explain homework before the end of class and make sure the end of class and make sure everyone knows it.everyone knows it.– If time allows, I try to give students 5 If time allows, I try to give students 5

minutes to get started at the end of minutes to get started at the end of class class I see results in completion rate I see results in completion rate next daynext day

– Now quality needs to improveNow quality needs to improve

• Approaching students with specific Approaching students with specific issues (sleeping, homework, etc.)issues (sleeping, homework, etc.)

Biology – Long TermBiology – Long Term

• Re-work or remove onion skin labRe-work or remove onion skin lab

• Create more time and space for critter Create more time and space for critter project follow-upsproject follow-ups

• Include more structured presentationsInclude more structured presentations

• Find ways for creative projects Find ways for creative projects involving body systemsinvolving body systems

• More structured vocabulary workMore structured vocabulary work

• Visual learner strategiesVisual learner strategies

Behavioral Science – Of what Behavioral Science – Of what work are students most proud?work are students most proud?

• Piaget’s Theory Stage Group Piaget’s Theory Stage Group Presentations (4)Presentations (4)

• Behavioral modification project (4)Behavioral modification project (4)

• Tests (3)Tests (3)

• PowerPoints (2)PowerPoints (2)

• Drug Research paperDrug Research paper

• BinderBinder

Behavioral Science - Behavioral Science - FavoritesFavorites

• Genetics baby project Genetics baby project (5)(5)

• Behavioral Modification Behavioral Modification Project (5)Project (5)

• Studies, videos, etc. on Studies, videos, etc. on kids (4)kids (4)

• Classical conditioning Classical conditioning water squirting, etc. (3)water squirting, etc. (3)

• Cognitive science Cognitive science rotating stations (3)rotating stations (3)

• Piaget presentations Piaget presentations (3)(3)

• Brain imaging Brain imaging presentations (2)presentations (2)

• Critical thinking activity Critical thinking activity Split-brain patient lessonsSplit-brain patient lessons

• Cognitive learningCognitive learning• NeuronNeuron• Habituation labHabituation lab• Halloween readingsHalloween readings• Interesting readingsInteresting readings• AggressionAggression• Group projectsGroup projects• PowerPointPowerPoint

Behavioral Science – Least Behavioral Science – Least FavoritesFavorites• Neurons (7)Neurons (7)• Brain (5)Brain (5)• Behavioral modification project (3)Behavioral modification project (3)• Novelty-seeking genetics project (2)Novelty-seeking genetics project (2)• TestsTests• Piaget packet readingPiaget packet reading• PapersPapers• Mind-body dualismMind-body dualism• Drug research paperDrug research paper• Brain imagingBrain imaging• Reading packetsReading packets

Behavioral science – Behavioral science – LearnersLearners• Visual (11)Visual (11)• Hands-on (5)Hands-on (5)• Notes/reading (4)Notes/reading (4)• Groupwork (2)Groupwork (2)• HearingHearing• ObservingObserving• WritingWriting• RepetitionRepetition• ExamplesExamples

Behavioral Science – show Behavioral Science – show understandingunderstanding

• Presentations (6)Presentations (6)

• Creative projects (6)Creative projects (6)

• Writing (4)Writing (4)

• Test (3)Test (3)

• HomeworkHomework

• Being involvedBeing involved

• DiscussionDiscussion

• Putting notes in own wordsPutting notes in own words

Behavioral Science – Why do Behavioral Science – Why do homework?homework?

• Grade (15)Grade (15)

• To learn/understand better (8)To learn/understand better (8)

• Preparation for next class (5)Preparation for next class (5)

• So as not to let Ms. W downSo as not to let Ms. W down

• You are supposed toYou are supposed to

• To be eligible to play baseballTo be eligible to play baseball

Behavioral Science - Behavioral Science - challengeschallenges

• Doing homework (3)Doing homework (3)

• Understanding (2)Understanding (2)

• VocabularyVocabulary

• FocusFocus

• Doesn’t like schoolDoesn’t like school

• Interest in content (2)Interest in content (2)

Behavioral Science – What Ms. Behavioral Science – What Ms. W can doW can do

• Be available for helpBe available for help

• More fun (2)More fun (2)

• Fewer PowerPoint (2)Fewer PowerPoint (2)

• Slower (2)Slower (2)

• More homework checks (2)More homework checks (2)

• More notesMore notes

• More reviewMore review

• SmileSmile

Behavioral Science – Next Behavioral Science – Next StepsSteps• Reiterate my availability and ways to Reiterate my availability and ways to

communicate with me.communicate with me.– Create specific hours around papers/testsCreate specific hours around papers/tests– Built in class time for students to work on Built in class time for students to work on

major assignments so they can ask for help.major assignments so they can ask for help.

• Incorporated more little writing/thought Incorporated more little writing/thought exercises that ask about students’ own exercises that ask about students’ own experiences, especially as Write Nowsexperiences, especially as Write Nows– Examples: memories from own child Examples: memories from own child

development, reflections on themselves in development, reflections on themselves in social situations, own personalities, etc.social situations, own personalities, etc.

More Behav. Sci. Next StepsMore Behav. Sci. Next Steps

• Checking homework more, even if daily Checking homework more, even if daily spot checkspot check

• Slowed down pace (I have been ahead Slowed down pace (I have been ahead of past years so I have some extra days of past years so I have some extra days to build in more activities or review)to build in more activities or review)– Letting students read and write more in Letting students read and write more in

classclass

• Restructured use of short video clipsRestructured use of short video clips– More prediction, general observationMore prediction, general observation– Then more formal discussion of Then more formal discussion of

psychological principlespsychological principles

More Behavioral Science Next More Behavioral Science Next StepsSteps

• Broke down 3Broke down 3rdrd term paper into smaller term paper into smaller piecespieces– Had shorter due dates where students could get Had shorter due dates where students could get

more direct feedbackmore direct feedback

• More use of homework next day to capitalize More use of homework next day to capitalize on that as motivation to do homeworkon that as motivation to do homework– Challenge of what if students don’t do it?Challenge of what if students don’t do it?

• Breaking up reading packet readings moreBreaking up reading packet readings more– Reading some sections in class in short bursts Reading some sections in class in short bursts

with guidance on what students should be findingwith guidance on what students should be finding

Behavioral Science – Longer Behavioral Science – Longer TermTerm• Try to give more time for behavioral Try to give more time for behavioral

modification project with more structure modification project with more structure around observations.around observations.

• Find more activities to help with learning Find more activities to help with learning the brain and neurochemistry.the brain and neurochemistry.– Perhaps more assessment after shorter Perhaps more assessment after shorter

amounts of time as wellamounts of time as well

• Continue to work on presentation and Continue to work on presentation and cooperative learning skills, especially with cooperative learning skills, especially with PowerPointPowerPoint

• Continue to find more creative projects – Continue to find more creative projects – especially around more complex topics especially around more complex topics (brain, neurochemistry)(brain, neurochemistry)