“Invite teachers to come in and talk”
Glen Westbroek is a middle school science teacher and science department chair at Orem Junior High in Orem, Utah. We talked with him at the Republican National Convention.
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
Support/implement programs that stimulate science, technology, engineering, mathematics and invention innovation for our secondary students
Students in grades 7-12 are \’opting\’ out (taking \”free\” periods) out of their normal middle/high school classes to attend 2- & 4-yr. colleges and universities where they are often \”mentored\” by faculty and graduate students because they want \”meaningful\” opportunities in STEMI courses and laboratory experiences. Bright HS students are in-part bored with the traditional experiences, unless they are engaged in AP Science and Math classes, Baccalaureate courses, or university courses that \’count\’ toward their HS graduation requirements.
We need to:
1) Provide meaningful secondary experiences by encouraging our STEMI faculty to become better prepared by obtaining higher degrees in CONTENT areas rather than in education, per se.
2) Encourage STEMI-centric students to [Read more...]
Reauthorize the Education Sciences Act and Fund IES
Reauthorize The Education Sciences Reform Act and fund the Institute for Education Science. Our teachers need usable knowledge about how children learn and how to teach them better. Should a teacher give homework to first graders and if so, what type? Do grades enhance learning, increase effort, or motivate students? When and under what conditions should a teacher praise students’ work? What are the best strategies for introducing fractions to fourth graders or teaching high school students who failed to learn fractions earlier? How can we help hyperactive children pay attention? Teachers make decisions about such issues daily and we need research [Read more...]
