DIOCESE OF
Name of Publisher: Harcourt
Brace
Subject Area: Science
Title of Textbook or Series:
Harcourt Science
Grade Levels: K – 5 Copyright: 2000 Edition:
RATING KEY: 4-Superior
3-Good 2-Fair 1-Poor
0-Feature Not Present
NA- Not Applicable
OVERVIEW:
A listing of program resources is available by visiting the
publisher’s website: www.harcourtschool.com.
CONTENT
A. ALIGNMENT WITH
CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS RATING: 3.4
Content
must align with the diocesan standards.
Comments: Meets Diocesan curriculum standards.
B. LEVEL OF
TREATMENT RATING: 3.7
The level
of complexity or difficulty of content must be appropriate for the standards,
grade level, and student abilities.
Comments: All units are age and grade level appropriate.
C. EXPERTISE
FOR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT RATING: 3.8
Expertise in the content area and in
education of the intended students must be reflected in the authors, reviewers,
and sources.
Comments: National Science Standards are incorporated.
D. ACCURACY
OF CONTENT RATING: 3.8
Content
must be accurate in historical context and contemporary facts and concepts.
Comments: Accuracy apparent –
contemporary issues addressed.
E. CURRENTNESS OF CONTENT RATING: 2.7
Content must be up-to-date for
the academic discipline and the context in which the content is presented.
Comments:
“Science Through Time” sections are current – motivating.
F. AUTHENTICITY OF CONTENT RATING: 3.8
Content
should include problem-centered connections to life in a context that is
meaningful to the ` students.
Comments: “People in Science” provide meaningful life connections.
G. MULTICULTURAL
REPRESENTATION RATING: 3.0
Portrayal of gender, ethnicity, age,
work situations, and social groups must include
multicultural fairness and advocacy.
Comments: “People in Science” demonstrates multicultural fairness and advocacy.
H. HUMANITY
AND COMPASSION RATING: 3.5
Portrayal of the appropriate
care and treatment of people and animals must include compassion, sympathy, and
consideration of their needs.
Comments:
TOTAL CONTENT RATING: 3.5
PRESENTATION
A. COMPREHENSIVENESS
OF STUDENT AND TEACHER RESOURCES RATING: 3.7
Resources must be complete
enough to address the targeted learning outcomes without requiring the teacher
to prepare additional teaching materials for the course.
STUDENT
RESOURCES Individual
Rating: 3.6
Comments: Big Books, flip charts, trade books, transparencies, videos, audio tapes, technology and much more.
TEACHER
RESOURCES Individual
Rating: 3.7
Comments: Three individual teacher manuals per grade level.
B. ALIGNMENT
OF INSTRUCTIONAL COMPONENTS RATING: 4.0
All components of the
instructional package must align with each other, as well as with the
curriculum.
Comments: Links to math, writing, reading, health and technology are available.
C. ORGANIZATION
OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS RATING: 3.7
The structure and format of the
materials must have enough order and clarity to allow students and teachers to
access content and explicitly identify ideas and sequences.
Comments: Graphic organizer enhances effective presentation of lesson concept.
D. READABILITY
OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS RATING: 3.6 Narrative
and visuals should engage students in reading or listening.
Comments:
E. PACING
OF CONTENT RATING: 3.7
The amount of content presented
at one time or the pace at which it is presented must be of a size or rate that
allows students to perceive and understand it
Comments: Each lesson concept incorporates vocabulary development, investigative activities and process skill builders.
F. EASE OF
USE OF MATERIALS RATING: 3.2
Both print and other media formats
of instructional materials must be easy to use and replace and be durable
enough for multiple uses over time.
Comments: Big Books have hard covers; unit dividers are card stock quality.
LEARNING
A. MOTIVATIONAL
STRATEGIES RATING: 3.7 Instructional
materials must include features to maintain learner motivation.
Comments: The great variety of teacher and student resources is sure to motivate even the most reluctant learner.
B. TEACHING
A FEW “BIG IDEAS” RATING: 4.0
Instructional
materials should thoroughly teach a few important ideas, concepts, or themes.
Comments: Lesson concepts are fully developed for each grade level.
C. EXPLICIT
INSTRUCTION RATING: 4.0
Instructional
materials must contain clear statements of information and outcomes.
Comments:
D. GUIDANCE
AND SUPPORT RATING: 4.0
Instructional materials must
include guidance and support to help students safely and successfully become more
independent learners and thinkers.
Comments: Pictures and print presentation enhance instruction.
E. ACTIVE
PARTICIPATION RATING: 3.9
Instructional materials must
engage the physical and mental activity of students during the learning process.
Comments: Wide variety of engaging activities.
F. TARGETED
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES RATING: 3.7
Instructional materials should include
the strategies known to be successful for
teaching the learning outcomes targeted in the curriculum requirements.
Comments:
G. TARGETED
ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES RATING: 3.7
Instructional materials should
include assessment strategies known to be successful in determining how well
students have achieved the learning outcomes targeted in the curriculum
requirements.
Comments: Internal review questions, chapter reviews, and performance assessment and rubrics are included in a well-packaged assessment manual.
TOTAL
LEARNING RATING: 3.6
3.6
OVERALL TOTAL RATING:
STRENGTHS:
· Overall appearance, photos, diagrams good
· Excellent student resource book: good labs and process skills practice
· Assessment program strong and varied
· A variety of enrichment activities
provided.
· Good technology resources available.
CONCERNS:
· Organization could be stronger
· Questionable rate of pacing
· Health curriculum is not as strong as it
could be
OVERALL IMPRESSION:
Good solid content! Teacher resources will aid educators who do not have a strong science background.