Sci and SS

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Home : 2002 : December : 4

Sci and SS
By Jesica

I teach Sci and SS so I know what difficult subjects these can be. I do have a couple of questions:

1. When you look at the test, does the material you studied seem to be addressed on the test? I ask this because I'm
wondering if there is material that is covered during class that the student is missing?
2. Is it the format of the test? I mean, does the student do well with multiple choice but the tests are essay and he isn't doing as well?
3. Does the teacher offer any study guide of his/her own? I send home a study guide for each of my chapter tests in both of these subject areas and grades

really improved because of it.

4. Does the teacher have any suggestions as to why your grandson is doing so poorly on these tests? Is he goofing off during class, not doing assignments, etc? I'm not trying to make any judgements here - just trying to get to the real reason for this since it sounds like you are doing everything right.

5. Are there assignments given before the test? I find that some teachers do thing in class but don't have corresponding written work for students to complete before the test. If that is the case, maybe you could make up your own worksheets/activities.

My last suggestions are a couple of things I use in my classroom.

a. I have the kids make vocabulary flashcards for all words in the chapter. Word on one side, definition on the other.

b. I play Jeopardy with my students to learn important facts from the chapter. I don't know if this would work well with just one child but maybe you could make up your own kind of game. Kids tend to respond to these because they think they are fun and don't realize they are learning somethings at the same time.