Science Material Evaluation – Building Contact Responsibilities

 

Timelines:

January 31            Request sample materials for each building

February 6            Science materials arrive in schools and are reviewed by teachers

February 28            Science committee meets to finalize science materials selection

March 9            Proposal to the Board of Education- adopt recommended materials

March 13            Begin ordering selected materials

 

Responsibilities:

 

1.) Communicate with staff in your school

ü      Talk with your principal about the best way to communicate with the staff regarding the progress of the science curriculum review committee.

ü      Inform the staff in your building that the committee is in the final review stages of the science materials selection process.  Explain that all staff input is desired and will be considered as we evaluate the two science programs (FOSS and McMillan/McGraw-Hill). 

2.) Circulate science sample materials

ü      When the materials arrive at your building, distribute the materials to the appropriate grade level teachers and make sure that all materials are circulated. 

ü      It is important that all staff have an opportunity to review materials and provide feedback.  If a staff member chooses not to review and evaluate the materials, that is OK.  They at least need to be offered the opportunity.

ü      Print out 2 copies of the evaluation form for each staff member, review the form with staff and distribute the evaluation form with the sample science materials.  Ask teachers to return the completed evaluation form (for both science programs) to you by February 26th.

ü      The feedback form that will be used to standardize responses can be downloaded, viewed and printed out from our web site at http://curriculum.risd41.org/committee/science/SCIENCE_EVALUATION.doc .

3.) Represent your building’s thoughts about the two science programs

ü      Collect all completed evaluation forms by February 26th.

ü      Come prepared to represent your building's thoughts on the science materials at the February 28th science meeting.  Bring all completed science materials evaluation forms with you to the meeting.

 

 

 

4.) Return sample materials

ü      Collect the sample science materials that were sent to your building after all teachers have had an opportunity to review them.  We may have to send back some of these materials, so please keep the packaging.  Contact Jay when all sample materials have been packaged and collected.

 

Sample Materials Ordered:

ü      McMillan/McGraw-Hill sample kits have been ordered.  Each building will receive sample materials for K-6.  They will be sent directly to the contact person. 

ü      FOSS materials have also been ordered.  Two sets of the following kits have been ordered and will be sent to Anna Lorenz (at Eugene Field). Anna will be communicating with the contact person identified at each school (list above) to determine which kits to send out.  Here are the kits that are being sent to us:

 

FOSS Kits

ü     Food and Nutrition (grades 5,6)

ü     Mixtures and Solutions (grades 5,6)

ü     Solar Energy (grades 5,6)

ü     Models and Designs (grades 5,6)

ü     Human Body (grades 3,4)

ü     Magnetism and Electricity (grades 3,4)

ü     Water (grades 3,4)

ü     Ideas and Inventions (grades 3,4)

ü     New Plants (grades 1,2)

ü     Solids and Liquids (grades 1,2)

ü     Pebbles, Sand and Silt (grades 1,2)

ü     Trees (grades K)

ü     Fabric (grades K)

 

 

Thanks for all your help with this process.  Please contact me if you have any questions or need further clarification.

 

Jay