In contrast, Mr. Moore, another sixth grade teacher
with eight years experience and a first to eighth grade
license, who was not found to be effective (in the
Level 1 range on the LSC rubric), spent each of the
four class periods going over assigned homework
questions and calling on students to give the answers.
Then, students took turns reading aloud and began
working in class on the assigned homework questions.
Seventh grade teachers. Mrs. Hamilton, a teacher
with 18 years experience and first to eighth grade
certification, was the only effective seventh grade
teacher (at the Level 4 range on the LSC Rubric).
Mrs. Hamilton, when asked what the most effective
science environment looked like, responded, “Inquiry.
The kids are actively participating. They want to
learn. They are not bored. They want to be part
of it. They want to learn it. And that’s the way to
learn.” Her classroom was set up to enable guided
inquiry ona daily basis, as she provided students with
multiple questions to explore and various materials
for students to choose from, including those brought
from home. Students could choose questions of
interest to work on. One of the inquiries observed
was a problem-based learning unit in which students
chose from a heaping pile of butter tubs, oatmeal
cans, plastic cups, cardboard tubes, pins, and so
forth to create their own “rock band.” They had to
make instruments from these household materials
that would deliver the right pitch and sound to
accompany their song of choice. Students played a
concert for their peers with their instruments and
learned that music can come from multiple resources.
Mrs. Hamilton followed this activity with a study of
instruments used by Native Americans and others
before instruments became mass produced.
Mrs. Davis and Mr. Brown were the other two
seventh grade science teachers. Mr. Davis had four
years experience and a seventh to twelfth grade
biology certification (at the Level 2 range on the
LSC rubric). Mr. Brown had 16 years of experience
and a first to eighth elementary certification (at the
Level 2 range on the LSC rubric). Observations of
their classes revealed a majority of teacher- and
textbook-centered instruction. One day a week, each
teacher had students do a step-by-step verification
lab from the book, with little opportunity for student
questioning or discourse about the one real answer.
Mr. Davis said that effective science instruction was,
“In my mind, trying to make concepts that seem to be
concrete into, you know, so that they can understand
what they’ve got.”