Post by novillero on Jul 23, 2008 14:44:00 GMT -5
I thought this was a bit unusual. I don't know if kids are watching CSI, but I guess anything to get kids to learn and develop critical thinking is a good thing.
Science curriculum undergoes revision
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
FREEHOLD - The study of forensic science has attracted a great deal of attention in the wake of successful televisions shows such as "CSI," "Criminal Minds" and "NCIS."
Now the study, or at least an introduction to the study, of forensic science will make its way into the classrooms of the Freehold Intermediate School, Park Avenue.
A new science curriculum that focuses on challenging students will be in place for students when they return in September, according to Thomas Tramaglini, director of technology and assessment for the Freehold Borough K-8 School District.
Tramaglini and a committee that included Director of Curriculum/Language Arts Supervisor Ronnie Dougherty, Richard George, Erika Hewish and Karen Soto recently completed the new science curriculum they had been crafting since September.
The new science curriculum, according to Tramaglini, promises to be more rigorous and more challenging than the previous curriculum, which had been in place for five years. He said the new course work will better prepare students for high school.
At one point, the Freehold Borough committee members met with Jennifer Seery, the science supervisor at Freehold High School, to share ideas and suggestions about the intermediate school's new science curriculum.
"This curriculum is career-oriented," Tramaglini said. "We want to push our kids. We want them to begin thinking about what it is they want to do after high school."
He said the new curriculum looks at what teachers need to be teaching, what the students' needs are, and tries to ensure it is a program in which the students can excel.
"We want science to be special for them, more of an experience, not just another class," he said. "In the end, the bottom line is that the students are going to benefit."
Tramaglini explained that when students learn the three pillars of science - life science, earth science and physical science - in separate grades, by the time they reach high school and need to address all three, they may have to refresh their memory a bit. He said the new curriculum will allow students to learn all three areas of science simultaneously at varying grade levels.
The forensic science aspect of the course is a bonus that students were not exposed to previously. They will learn about the genetic material they see featured on TV shows and they will also learn to relate to the scientific side of what they are seeing on TV by including problem solving skills, according to Tramaglini. The forensic science segment of the curriculum will only be available to eighth-graders.
"We want to better prepare our kids for high school. It's so great to see them gain experience with different curriculums and watch them grow," he added.
Freehold Borough Superintendent of Schools Elizabeth O'Connell said the comprehensive science program at the Freehold Intermediate School is "designed to spiral content through the curriculum. Within the alignment to state and national standards, the curriculum at each grade level contains three pillars of science: life, earth and physical science. In each of these areas, students will encounter inquiry-based activities connected to the real world.
"Students will also learn and apply their knowledge to analyze scientific processes and solve authentic problems," O'Connell said. "The goal of our science program is to build a student's knowledge for success on state assessments, as well as to expose them to content that will prepare each student for the future."
She said students will learn to think critically, to use scientific processes to solve problems, to understand the interrelationship between science and technology, and to develop a conceptual understanding between the nature and process of technology.
O'Connell said the updated science curriculum at the intermediate school is "just one example of the importance of the (state's) new school funding formula. We would not have been able to move forward with the purchase of new curriculum materials if the new funding formula was not in place. Our students will receive activity materials, lab setups, content leveled readers, textbooks and additional materials."
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2008/0723/front_page/018.html
Science curriculum undergoes revision
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
FREEHOLD - The study of forensic science has attracted a great deal of attention in the wake of successful televisions shows such as "CSI," "Criminal Minds" and "NCIS."
Now the study, or at least an introduction to the study, of forensic science will make its way into the classrooms of the Freehold Intermediate School, Park Avenue.
A new science curriculum that focuses on challenging students will be in place for students when they return in September, according to Thomas Tramaglini, director of technology and assessment for the Freehold Borough K-8 School District.
Tramaglini and a committee that included Director of Curriculum/Language Arts Supervisor Ronnie Dougherty, Richard George, Erika Hewish and Karen Soto recently completed the new science curriculum they had been crafting since September.
The new science curriculum, according to Tramaglini, promises to be more rigorous and more challenging than the previous curriculum, which had been in place for five years. He said the new course work will better prepare students for high school.
At one point, the Freehold Borough committee members met with Jennifer Seery, the science supervisor at Freehold High School, to share ideas and suggestions about the intermediate school's new science curriculum.
"This curriculum is career-oriented," Tramaglini said. "We want to push our kids. We want them to begin thinking about what it is they want to do after high school."
He said the new curriculum looks at what teachers need to be teaching, what the students' needs are, and tries to ensure it is a program in which the students can excel.
"We want science to be special for them, more of an experience, not just another class," he said. "In the end, the bottom line is that the students are going to benefit."
Tramaglini explained that when students learn the three pillars of science - life science, earth science and physical science - in separate grades, by the time they reach high school and need to address all three, they may have to refresh their memory a bit. He said the new curriculum will allow students to learn all three areas of science simultaneously at varying grade levels.
The forensic science aspect of the course is a bonus that students were not exposed to previously. They will learn about the genetic material they see featured on TV shows and they will also learn to relate to the scientific side of what they are seeing on TV by including problem solving skills, according to Tramaglini. The forensic science segment of the curriculum will only be available to eighth-graders.
"We want to better prepare our kids for high school. It's so great to see them gain experience with different curriculums and watch them grow," he added.
Freehold Borough Superintendent of Schools Elizabeth O'Connell said the comprehensive science program at the Freehold Intermediate School is "designed to spiral content through the curriculum. Within the alignment to state and national standards, the curriculum at each grade level contains three pillars of science: life, earth and physical science. In each of these areas, students will encounter inquiry-based activities connected to the real world.
"Students will also learn and apply their knowledge to analyze scientific processes and solve authentic problems," O'Connell said. "The goal of our science program is to build a student's knowledge for success on state assessments, as well as to expose them to content that will prepare each student for the future."
She said students will learn to think critically, to use scientific processes to solve problems, to understand the interrelationship between science and technology, and to develop a conceptual understanding between the nature and process of technology.
O'Connell said the updated science curriculum at the intermediate school is "just one example of the importance of the (state's) new school funding formula. We would not have been able to move forward with the purchase of new curriculum materials if the new funding formula was not in place. Our students will receive activity materials, lab setups, content leveled readers, textbooks and additional materials."
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2008/0723/front_page/018.html