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IPS, A GREAT SCIENCE FOUNDATION CLASS!
The fall semester of IPS consists mostly of chemistry, the scientific method, models, and the scientific process skills:
which includes lab technique, measurement, recording data, graphing, writing conclusions, and making calculations. In addition,
the course includes several earth science concepts, the physics of heat, and applied mathematics, such as factor-labeling
and unit conversions. The study of chemistry is somewhat abstract for some students because they are working from observations
and developing chemical models about things they can not actually see.
At Heritage, our core science classes are designed and planned by collaborative teams of science teachers who are
trained and enjoy teaching. The team meets weekly to plan the class. Collectively, they decide what labs and activities
our students will experience, then we impliment their choices. IPS Team members typically teach the same content, do the
same labs, videos, see the same classroom interactive powerpoint programs, and they even take the same tests. The teachers
then evaluate the results and try to identify the best practices that worked the most successfully for various concepts for
our students. This is how they the team improves their teaching tehniques. Frequently an activity or homework assignment will
vary by the teacher, but because the content is the same, it allows students to form study groups even if they don't have
the same teaher. At Heritage, we assign students to the same teacher for both semesters because for years earlier we didn't
provide that continuity and stability and we felt that it was a necessary change for both the student, their parents as well
as the teacher. In addition, our science teaching assignments are limited to two different academic classes. The science
faculty teams (professional learning communities), will continue teaching the same classes year after year so the members
of the teams become quite good at teaching the concepts.
Historically the freshmen IPS class has been serving our students well as a foundation for their science education
at Heritage. Since its implimentation our students have tested well on the CSAP test and our chemistry and physics enrollments
have increased. As a matter of fact, we are now offering more AP sections per year in all course areas: Physics, Chemistry,
and Biology.
This semester on-line students and parents will be able to find out the daily assignments, classwork, collected work,
and handouts given out in class. In addition you will be able to access any videos used in class and all of the interactive
content focused powerpoints used in class. I'd like to make available all handouts on-line as well. If a handout is for
some reason unavailable in class, it will be available in the classroom. All students grades are posted on-line.
I can be reached afterschool by phone at 303-347-7671, but if you would not prefer playing phone tag, please drop
me an email at mrtekay@yahoo.com.
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