|
It isn't a secret that students struggle with science, particularly concepts in Biology. I know that I struggled with it in high school and in college. The content strands are extremely broad but many of the systems and concepts are extremely complicated and detailed. To make matters worse, there are a ton of complex vocabulary words that are unfamiliar. The state test is also saturated with pictures with blank labels that students are expected to memorize.
To be successful at teaching biology, you have to employ as many different tactics to teach the exact same thing as you possibly can. You have to make them read about it and then write about it, which I try to accomplish with my bell work. It's easy and it's the same every day - you read a question, turn to the page, read the page, find the answer, and write the answer. It's your first method of delivery. Your best students could remember the information after that - but you aren't teaching for those two kids, you're teaching for the other 99%. Then you have to talk about it. Then you have to draw it for them if there's anything to draw. Then you have to present the same information in the form of a cute video (Amoeba Sisters, anyone?) Make them draw it, now. Is there a lab that goes with it? You better do that lab - especially if it uses "chemicals" (any liquid counts as a "chemical" in my room and therefore requires everyone to be SILENT and EXTREMELY CAREFUL because a chemical spill is VERY DANGEROUS... even if the "chemical" we are using is vinegar) or lab equipment. You've exhausted every method of delivery you could imagine? Great, now you need to make a review game. No, make that three review games using the same exact vocabulary words and definitions. Now make them play the games over and over again. Now use the same content and make a Kahoot game out of it. Are you done? Great! Now your students might remember 70% of that content on a good day. Good job. You're a "teacher." |