Learning Science in the Elementary School Classrooms of Western New York

Conference Presentation: Does Actual Teaching Mirror the Task 4 Requirement of the edTPA Assessment? How aligned to actual teaching is the edTPA assessment?

In this presentation, a teacher candidate, Samantha Hoggard, described the teaching task assigned to her by her cooperating teacher. She was asked to “grade” math fact fluency tests for several weeks. As she methodically scrutinized the data, Samantha unknowingly mimicked many of the Task 4 requirements of the edTPA assessment. This presentation will highlight the connections between real teaching and Task 4, uncovered by Samantha.

Presenters:  Samantha Hoggard and Dr. Chris Shively

2nd Graders and Ms. Hoggard
[link to presentation]

Conference Presentation: Making Invisible Science Concepts…Visible: “Hands-on” Investigations Are Not Enough

Elementary school students cannot see electrons flowing through a closed electric circuit or the forces acting on a floating boat. When elementary school students participate in “hands-on” investigations regarding these two phenomena, it is very hard for a teacher to know what concepts students have assimilated.

This presentation described how teacher candidates planned, taught, and analyzed three science lessons intended to improve elementary students’ conceptual knowledge of electricity and forces.

Presenters:  Kelly Beller, Natalie Galvin, Jenna Murphy, and Dr. Chris Shively

4th Grade Student and Natalie Construct a Physical Circuit
[link to presentation]

Important Website

[PhET Circuit Construction Kit]