Becoming a Better Science Teacher: 8 Steps to High Quality Instruction and Student Achievement

"A very exciting and user-friendly text, dealing with standards and making practical connections to assessment and teaching, and with excellent examples throughout." -Gary Willhite, Teacher Educator Southern Illinois University Create a new vision for high quality science teaching! In today's standards-based educational climate, teachers are challenged to create meaningful learning experiences while meeting specific goals and accountability targets. In her essential new book, Elizabeth Hammerman brings more than 20 years as a science educator and consultant to help teachers connect all of the critical elements of first-rate curriculum and instruction. With this simple, straight-on guide, teachers can analyze their existing curriculum and instruction against a rubric of indicators of critical characteristics, related standards, concept development, and teaching strategies to develop students' scientific literacy at the highest levels. Every chapter is packed with charts, sample lesson ideas, reflection and discussion prompts, and more, to help teachers expand their capacity for success. Hammerman describes what exceptional teaching looks like in the classroom and provides practical, teacher-friendly strategies to make it happen. This research-based resource will help teachers: Reinforce understanding of standards-based concepts and inquiry Add new content, methods, and strategies for instruction and assessment Create rich learning environments Maximize instructional time Ask probing questions and sharpen discussion Include technology Gather classroom evidence of student achievement to inform instruction Through a new, clear vision for high quality science teaching, this book gives teachers everything they need to deliver meaningful science instruction and ensure student success and achievement.

Table of Contents:
Foreword Preface Introduction Part 1. Creating a Vision for Science Education 1. On the Shoulders of Giants 2. Defining High Quality Science Teaching Part 2. Giant Steps to High Quality Teaching 3. The Role of Science Standards 4. Creating a Context for Meaningful Learning 5. Methods, Strategies, and Best Practices for High Quality Instruction 6. Tools for Thinking and Meaning 7. Assessments to Guide Instruction 8. Safe, Supportive and Challenging Environments for Learning 9. Eight Steps to High Quality and Student Achievement

About the Author :
Elizabeth Hammerman is a dedicated science educator and consultant. Her professional background includes teaching science at the middle school and high school levels and over 20 years of experience teaching university science education courses and co-directing funded grant projects. She has done extensive professional development with teachers in the field, specializing in curriculum development and implementation, performance assessment, and effective teaching and learning. The need for high-quality professional development programs and materials in science education became apparent throughout the many projects and professional relationships with teachers who were eager to increase their knowledge base, skills, and confidence for teaching science more effectively. Hammerman has co-authored a book on performance assessment in science and authored a database of science assessment tasks. She has published articles, presented programs at national conferences, consulted nationally, and developed curriculum and assessments for cutting-edge school districts and commercial products. Since relocating to North Carolina in 1999, Hammerman has been a math/science consultant for a consortium of seven county school systems, has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in teacher education and science education, served as director of education and professional development for Virtual Learning Systems, and worked as a consultant for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. She is actively involved in professional development and continues to work on a series of professional development books for science education for Corwin Press.

Review :
"The major strengths of this book are dealing with standards and making practical connections to assessment and teaching, and the excellent examples throughout and their practicality. A very exciting and user-friendly text." "What a treasure! The contents will change the way teachers teach and students learn. This book is a tour de force, a must-read for every educator!" "This text is especially strong in the clear, solid approach toward developing high-quality science instruction. It does an exceptional job of relating this step-by-step approach to educational research on science pedagogy." "Gives teachers everything they need to deliver meaningful science instruction and ensure student success and achievement." "Hammerman′s recommendations and instructional supports complement current teaching practices across disciplines and grade levels."