I can’t believe it’s been a week since I added a new post to the site. It’s not as if we haven’t been doing anything.

Last week I met with other teachers and we evaluated the teaching/learning strategies we are using in class (how we teach) compared to the results we are obtaining (your grades). As a result I am making some changes which you are already beginning to see.

• A stronger focus on maintaining a quality notebook from which you can study. Today you received the table of contents to help you get better organized.
• More worksheets and printed information to insure the information in your notebooks is accurate and beneficial. You’ll start getting those in class tomorrow. This will increase the amount of homework you have by requiring you to apply your classwork to the practice homework.
• New reading strategy to help you get more from your science texts. You copied this into the reference section of your notebook yesterday. You also had to apply this immediately to the Nature of Forces reading assignment.
• Self testing. This is a way for you to determine before test day what you know and don’t know. This should help you to study more effectively.

We’ll use these methods along with the hands-on experiments you’ve been doing to reinforce concepts and demonstrate theories. Of course all of this won’t matter much unless you decide to make an extra effort as well.

Speaking of grades — you were given grade strips today. Make sure to share them with your parents and have them signed. For some of you — great job! If on the other hand, they aren’t pleased with your grades promise them you’re going to work as hard as I am at improving your grades. Then do it!

Lastly, remember science in the news is due tomorrow.