Transcript MSTA and Toyota Grant Projects Science and Literacy

Toyota Grant Project:
Science and Literacy
Susan Dougherty-Fitzpatrick, Croswell-Lexington Community Schools
Andrea Nunn, Croswell-Lexington Community Schools
Rebecca Josephson-Gorinac, Sanilac Intermediate School District
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Overview of the Grants
• 2005 Toyota Tapestry Grant = $9,400
• Funds were used to purchase informational
text materials that aligned with the ABC in
Science countywide curriculum project
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Major Grant Goals
• Improve understanding of science
informational text in grades K-3
• Provide professional development for K-3rd
grade teachers (including special needs
teachers and reading specialists) in
research-based literacy strategies
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“Each and every one of you may be the
only ‘scientist’ many of your students
ever come to know. Whatever grade
you teach, as a teacher and role model,
you are a key player in shaping the
next generation of scientists,
mathematicians, and engineers who will
be responsible for the future
innovations of this country.”
Jo Anne Vasquez, Science and Children
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ABC in Science
Curriculum Overview
• ABC in Science is an elementary kit-based
program that is aligned with the state
standards
• Teachers in grades K-6 each receive 3-5
science kits per year that are stocked and
delivered by Sanilac ISD/Sanilac County
Science and Math Center
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Kindergarten
First Grade
Second
Grade
Third Grade
Fourth
Grade
Fifth-Sixth
Grade
Autumn: It’s
Apple and
Pumpkin
Time!
Atmosphere
and Weather
Creature
Features:
Life Cycle of
Butterflies
Beautiful
Plants
The Great
Lakes: Our
Bountiful
Freshwater
Supply!
Wood Lot
Ecosystems
Animals
Magnet Mania
Wetland
Animals
Wild About
the Weather!
Our Dynamic
Earth: Oh,
How it
Changes!
What’s the
Matter?
Life Cycles in
Nature
Measurement,
Forces and
Simple
Machines
Boats that
Float!
Earth, Moon
and Sun
Detective
Moolock’s
Search For
Energy!
Understanding
the
Atmosphere
Exploring Our
Earth
Using Trash:
Reduce,
Reuse,
Recycle
Motions,
Forces and
Simple
Machines
Michigan
Ecosystems:
The Web of
Life
Simple
Machines
Sound and
Light
Magnets and
Motors
K-6 ABC in Science Unit Scope and Sequence
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Selection of Informational
Text Materials
• Contacted vendors for grade and content
appropriate sample books
• Met in K-3 grade level teams for two half-days
during the summer (grant funds provided a
stipend for participants)
• Used the Nonfiction Conventions Checklist and
Your Guide to Leveled Texts to make appropriate
selections
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Nonfiction Conventions Checklist
Use the following criteria to rate the quality of each nonfiction science book you feel would be a high-quality resource for
your grade level.
Convention
Purpose
Labels
Helps the reader identify a picture or
photograph and/or its parts.
Photographs
Helps the reader understand exactly
what something looks like.
Captions
Helps the reader better understand a
picture or photograph.
The book
contains
this
feature:
Yes/No
Comments
from
Grade
Level
Team
Comments
from
Review
Team
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Your Guide to Leveled Texts
Grade
Level
Developmental
Level
Guided Reading
Level
DRA Level
K
Emergent
A, B, C
1, 2, 3, 4
K-1
Emergent/Early
D, E
5, 6, 7, 8
1
Early
F, G, H, I
9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
14, 15, 16
2
Early/Fluent
J, K, L, M
18, 20, 24, 28
3
Fluent
N, O, P
30, 34, 38
4
Fluent
Q, R
40
5
Fluent
S, T, U
44, 50
6
Fluent
V, W, X, Y, Z
44, 50+
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Assessing the Project
•
•
•
•
•
Pre/Post Tests
Electronic data collection by grade
Student questionnaires
Parent questionnaires
Other data – MLPP, MEAP, CCC Lab
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Why Nonfiction?
• Encourages planning, sustaining, and revising work
over an extended period of time
• Helps children become active learners who apply
their learning
• Generates a high level of enthusiasm and
engagement
• Replicates the process of decision making and
acting on those decisions
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• Allows students to organize information
• Allows students to pursue a special interest
• Provides opportunities to search for answers to
questions
• Provides opportunities to develop expertise
• Provides opportunities to learn and use reading
strategies specific to nonfiction
• Engages children in research and
experimentation
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• Allows students to write clearly and concisely in
interesting ways
• Expands vocabulary
• Lends itself to persuasive writing
• Provides opportunities to practice public speaking
• Exposes children to a wide range of interesting
topics and allows them to hear many different
thoughts and perspectives.
Stephanie Harvey, Nonfiction Matters, 1998
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Development of Mini-Units
at Each Grade Level
•
•
•
•
Kindergarten – Life Cycles
First Grade – Worms; Fossils
Second Grade – Light
Third Grade – Simple Machines
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Professional Development
• January 26 – Countywide First Grade
Teachers attended session to learn about
MSTA books and resources; Cros-Lex
First Grade also learned about the Toyota
Grant resources
• January 31 – Cros-Lex K-3 Teachers
participated in training with new Toyota
resources
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Teacher Professional Development
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Nonfiction Strategies
• Overview of First Grade Unit -
Wormin’ Around: A Worm’s Work
– Strategies:
• RAFT
• Headband Game
• It’s Amazing
– Foldable:
• Flip Book
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Nonfiction Strategies
• Overview of Third Grade Unit -
Simply, Simple Machines
– Strategies:
• Frayer Model
• Question Game
– Foldables:
• Venn Diagram
• Six Simple Machine Flip Book
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Resources
• Refer to bibliography of nonfiction teacher
resources handout in your packet
“Why is nonfiction almost a guaranteed success?
The key to teaching with nonfiction is passion, for
children are passionate inquirers and nonfiction
fuels their curiosity and their demand for
knowledge and understanding of the world.”
(Stephanie Harvey, Nonfiction Matters, 1998)
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Questions?
Thank You!
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