Uncovering Student Ideas

Since publication of Volume 1 of this series, thousands of teachers are using these innovative classroom assessment tools to improve student learning in science. Following in the footsteps of earlier volumes in the Uncovering Student Ideas in Science series, this book, published in 2007, provides short, easy-to-administer assessment probes that determine what misconceptions students bring to the classroom. The teacher notes provide extensive information about the content, curricular and instructional implications, and research on learning. In addition to the life, physical, earth, and space probes included in every volume, this volume also includes 3 nature of science probes- one on students’ perceptions of “the scientific method”, hypotheses, and scientific theories. Additional topics include plants, stars, seasons, shadows, condensation, electrical circuits, forces, states of matter, oxidation, mirrors, life cycles, respiration, growth and development, decomposition, rainfall, clouds, and more.
Volume 3 provides 10 detailed suggestions for teachers on how to use the probes to further their own professional learning either individually or as part of collaborative groups such as professional learning communities. This volume, as well as the ones preceding it,  is an invaluable resource for classroom teachers, preservice teachers, professional developers, and college science and preservice faculty.
You can purchase this book through the NSTA store (and download a free chapter) by clicking here: http://www.nsta.org/store/?lid=tnavhp