DIOCESE OF ORLANDO OFFICE OF SCHOOLS

Instructional Materials Summary

 

Name of Publisher:            Glencoe

 

Subject Area:                      Life, Earth, Physical Science

 

Title of Textbook or Series:   Life Science; Earth Science; Physical Science

 

Grade Levels:     Middle                Copyright:    2002               Edition:

           

RATING KEY:   4-Superior  3-Good   2-Fair   1-Poor   0-Feature Not Present

                             NA- Not Applicable

OVERVIEW:­­­­­

 

Good series with very good teacher resources.  A listing of the program components is available by visiting the publisher’s website at www.glencoe.com/sec/science. 

 

CONTENT                                                                                      

 

A.   ALIGNMENT WITH CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS                                      RATING:     3.6

      Content must align with the diocesan standards.

 

Comments:

 

B.   LEVEL OF TREATMENT                                                                              RATING:     4.0

The level of complexity or difficulty of content must be appropriate for the standards, grade level, and student abilities.        

 

Comments:  High level of reading and vocabulary, generally age appropriate with some challenges

 

C.    EXPERTISE FOR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT                                              RATING:     4.0

       Expertise in the content area and in education of the intended students must be reflected in the authors, reviewers, and sources.

 

Comments:  Excellent, includes high school, middle school and college advisors.

 

D.    ACCURACY OF CONTENT                                                                         RATING:     3.2 Content must be accurate in historical context and contemporary facts and concepts.

 

Comments:  Content reviewed shows no errors.


E.    CURRENTNESS OF CONTENT                                                                   RATING:     3.9

Content must be up-to-date for the academic discipline and the context in which the content is presented.

 

Comments:  Up-to-date especially with 2002 copyright

 

F.    AUTHENTICITY OF CONTENT                                                                     RATING:    3.7  Content should include problem-centered connections to life in a context that is meaningful to the `            students.

 

Comments:  Good

 

G.    MULTICULTURAL REPRESENTATION                                                         RATING:     4.0

       Portrayal of gender, ethnicity, age, work situations, and social groups must     include multicultural fairness and advocacy.

      

Comments:  Found in each chapter

 

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:     3.7

 

 

PRESENTATION

 

A.    COMPREHENSIVENESS OF STUDENT AND TEACHER RESOURCES         RATING:    3.5

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:    3.2

 

Comments:

 

       TEACHER RESOURCES                                        Individual Rating:    3.8

 

Comments:  Great resources

 

                       

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:


 

C.    ORGANIZATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS                                      RATING:      3.5

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:  Good organization

 

D.    READABILITY OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS                                         RATING:     3.6

       Narrative and visuals should engage students in reading or listening.

 

Comments:  Attractive and engaging

 

E.    PACING OF CONTENT                                                                               RATING:    3.6

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:

 

F.    EASE OF USE OF MATERIALS                                                                  RATING:     4.0

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:  Very easy to use

 

 

                                                            TOTAL PRESENTATION RATING:     3.6

 

 

 

LEARNING

 

A.    MOTIVATIONAL STRATEGIES                                                                    RATING:    3.7  Instructional materials must include features to maintain learner motivation.

 

Comments:  Engaging activities

 

B.    TEACHING A FEW “BIG IDEAS”                                                                  RATING:    3.5  Instructional materials should thoroughly teach a few important ideas, concepts, or themes.

 

Comments:  Good

 

C.    EXPLICIT INSTRUCTION                                                                             RATING:    4.0  Instructional materials must contain clear statements of information and outcomes.    

 

Comments:  Both text and resources are excellent.

 

D.    GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT                                                                        RATING:    3.3

Instructional materials must include guidance and support to help students safely and successfully become more independent learners and thinkers.

 

Comments: 


 

E.    ACTIVE PARTICIPATION                                                                            RATING:    3.9

Instructional materials must engage the physical and mental activity of students during the learning process. 

 

Comments:

 

F.    TARGETED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES                                                RATING:    4.0

       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:    3.8

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:  Many forms of assessment are used.

 

 

                                                                        TOTAL LEARNING RATING:    3.7

                                                                                                                                   

  3.7

 
 


                                                                          OVERALL TOTAL RATING:

 

 

 

STRENGTHS:

 

Technology integration; well planned text; teacher planning resources are excellent; many activities.  Rich in cross-curricular activities.

 

 

 

CONCERNS:

 

May be too challenging in vocabulary and content for some students.

 

 

 

 

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

 

Teacher resources are enough to get through the whole year.  Great job!  Very good text presentation.  Very attractive texts.  Good use of color, graphics, pictures, layout, etc.  Teacher resources provide everything needed.  Well organized texts – easy to use.