Science
Science Framework
What We Want
Vision: The Ritenour School District together with families and community will empower students to function as independent thinkers who question, reason, apply and explore in a global society.
Mission: The Ritenour School District is committed to providing all students with a rigorous 21st century curriculum that promotes engaging scientific thinking through active participation and inquiry-based learning that is relevant to real-world situations.
What We Know
In the area of science curriculum, science leaders must
- Develop and align curriculum, assessment, and instruction with national and state standards while meeting local needs.
- Ensure the development and/or selection of science curriculum that is pedagogically appropriate and encompasses strategies for building conceptual understanding.
- Ensure the development and/or selection of standards-based science curriculum that infuses inquiry, promotes scientific concepts and processes, and integrates content to ensure understanding in Earth and space sciences, biology, chemistry, and physics.
- Collaborate with post-secondary educators to ensure quality content in the PreK–12 curriculum.
In the area of assessment, science leaders must
- Implement assessment methods aligned with desired student outcomes.
- Ensure the use of a variety of qualitative and quantitative assessments for school improvement, instructional improvement, and enhanced student learning.
- Provide support for the development and use of assessments that address the needs of diverse learners and that support understanding of science content and processes.
- Promote teacher use of assessment data to inform instructional practice. (NSTA Position Statement)
What We Believe
About teaching Science
- Students come to us with misconceptions
- Students need to see science in action
- Students must be active in the inquiry process
- Students must have opportunities for self-discovery
- Instruction must be based on essential questions
- We must have integration of science across the curriculum
- Teachers must have training in science instruction.
- Teachers need to be more aware of the resources already available, including outreach programs already in existence