Science Achievement in the Middle School Years

Science Achievement in the Middle School Years
Author: Albert E. Beaton
Publisher: International Study Center Lynch School of Educatio College
Total Pages: 244
Release: 1996
Genre: Education
ISBN:

The Third International Mathematics and Science Study is the largest and most ambitious study ever undertaken by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement. Forty-five countries collected data in more than 30 languages. Five grade levels were tested in the two subject areas. This report describes the science achievement of seventh and eighth graders, emphasizing the results from the eighth-grade assessment. Results are presented for the 41 countries that completed all the steps necessary to appear in this report. Singapore was the top performing country at both grade levels, with Colombia, Kuwait, and South Africa performing at the lowest levels. Perhaps the most striking finding was the large difference in average achievement between the top-performing and bottom-performing countries. Results provided a chain of overlapping countries, with most countries having an average achievement similar to that of a cluster of others, but with large differences between the top and bottom of the chain. In most countries and internationally, boys outperformed girls at both grade levels. The majority of eighth graders in nearly every country indicated that they liked science, but not all students had positive feelings about the subject. Home factors were strongly related to achievement in every participating country, but relationships between science achievement and instructional practices were less clear within and across countries. Six appendixes present information on study methodology and selected achievement results for some countries. (Contains 61 tables, 23 appendix tables, 19 figures, and 1 appendix figure.) (SLD)

Doing Good Science in Middle School, Expanded 2nd Edition

Doing Good Science in Middle School, Expanded 2nd Edition
Author: Olaf Jorgenson
Publisher: NSTA Press
Total Pages: 266
Release: 2014-04-01
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1938946634

“We are among those who have come to enjoy the blossoming intellects, often comical behaviors, and insatiable curiosity of middle schoolers—and choose to work with them! With more than 130 years of combined experience in the profession, we’ve gathered a lot of ideas to share. We know from our interactions with educators around the country that precious few quality resources exist to assist science teachers ‘in the middle,’ and this was a central impetus for updating Doing Good Science in Middle School.” —From the preface This lively book contains the kind of guidance that could only come from veterans of the middle school science trenches. The authors know you’re crazy-busy, so they made the book easy to use, whether you want to read it cover to cover or pick out sections to help you with lesson planning and classroom management. They also know you face new challenges, so they thoroughly revised this second edition to meet the needs of today’s students. The book contains: • big-picture concepts, such as how to understand middle school learners and explore the nature of science with them; • a comprehensive overview of science and engineering practices, STEM, and inquiry-based middle school science instruction, aligned with A Framework for K–12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards; • 10 new and updated teacher-tested activities that integrate STEM with literacy skill-building; • information on best instructional practices and professional-development resources; and • connections to the Common Core State Standards in English language arts and mathematics. If you’re a new teacher, you’ll gain a solid foundation in how to teach science and engineering practices while better understanding your often-enigmatic middle-grade students. If you’re a veteran teacher, you’ll benefit from a fresh view of what your colleagues are doing in new times. Either way, Doing Good Science in Middle School is a rich opportunity to reaffirm that what you do is “good science.”

Science Achievement in the Primary School Years

Science Achievement in the Primary School Years
Author: Michael O. Martin
Publisher: Timss International Study Center
Total Pages: 218
Release: 1997
Genre: Education
ISBN:

A recently completed landmark study of mathematics and science education in more than 40 countries gathered information that can help address questions as to why students in one country do better in math and science than students in another. This report focuses on the results of the primary school science test of students in 26 countries, from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS). Details of how the study was conducted, the nature of the science test, country characteristics, differences in student achievement, student achievement by science content area, and an analysis of example problems are included. Ideas of intended and implemented curricula are discussed and a number of questions related to these ideas that TIMMS may answer are listed. (DDR)

Focus on the Wonder Years

Focus on the Wonder Years
Author: Jaana Juvonen
Publisher: Rand Corporation
Total Pages: 181
Release: 2004-03-25
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0833036157

Young teens undergo multiple changes that seem to set them apart from other students. But do middle schools actually meet their special needs? The authors describe some of the challenges and offer ways to tackle them, such as reassessing the organization of grades K-12; specifically assisting the students most in need; finding ways to prevent disciplinary problems; and helping parents understand how they can help their children learn at home.

Mathematics and Science Achievement of U. S. Fourth- and Eighth-Grade Students in an International Context

Mathematics and Science Achievement of U. S. Fourth- and Eighth-Grade Students in an International Context
Author: Patrick Gonzales
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 112
Release: 2010-02
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1437921299

The 2007 Trends in International Math and Science Study (TIMSS) is the 4th administration since 1995 of this international comparison. It is used to measure over time the math and science knowledge and skills of 4th- and 8th-graders. TIMSS is designed to align broadly with math and science curricula in the participating countries. This report focuses on the performance of U.S. students relative to that of their peers in other countries in 2007, and on changes in math and science achievement since 1995. Thirty-six countries or educational jurisdictions participated at grade 4 in 2007, while 48 participated at grade 8. This report also describes additional details about the achievement of U.S. student sub-populations. Extensive charts, tables and graphs.