DIOCESE OF ORLANDO OFFICE OF SCHOOLS

Instructional Materials Summary

 

Name of Publisher:            Prentice Hall

 

Subject Area:                      Middle Grades Science (Life, Earth, Physical)

 

Title of Textbook or Series:   “Exploring”   (Life, Earth, Physical)

 

Grade Levels:     6 – 8                    Copyright:    1999               Edition:

           

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

                             NA- Not Applicable

OVERVIEW:­­­­­

 

An adequate program for middle grades.  A list of program resources is available by visiting the publisher’s website at www.phschool.com.  

 

CONTENT                                                                                      

 

A.   ALIGNMENT WITH CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS                                      RATING:     3.5

      Content must align with the diocesan standards.

 

Comments:

 

B.   LEVEL OF TREATMENT                                                                              RATING:     3.3

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

 

Comments:  Reading level is age appropriate for middle grades.

 

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:  Credentials are noted.

 

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

 

Comments:   Content reviewed was free of errors.

 

E.    CURRENTNESS OF CONTENT                                                                   RATING:     3.1

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

 

Comments:  Since copyright is 1999, some content of this edition was outdated.

 

F.    AUTHENTICITY OF CONTENT                                                                     RATING:    2.9

       Content should include problem-centered connections to life in a context that is meaningful to the `      students.

 

Comments:  Few connections

 

G.    MULTICULTURAL REPRESENTATION                                                         RATING:    4.0

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

      

Comments:

 

H.    HUMANITY AND COMPASSION                                                                  RATING:    3.4

Portrayal of the appropriate care and treatment of people and animals must include compassion, sympathy, and consideration of their needs.

 

Comments:

 

                                                                        TOTAL CONTENT RATING:     3.4

 

 

PRESENTATION

 

A.    COMPREHENSIVENESS OF STUDENT AND TEACHER RESOURCES         RATING:    3.1

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:    3.1

 

Comments:  Few suggested readings

 

       TEACHER RESOURCES                                        Individual Rating:    3.1

 

Comments:  Organizational format differs from other programs.  Many suggestions available in various forms.

                       

B.    ALIGNMENT OF INSTRUCTIONAL COMPONENTS                                       RATING:   3.7

All components of the instructional package must align with each other, as well as with the curriculum.

 

Comments:

 

C.    ORGANIZATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS                                      RATING:   3.1

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:  Information is cluttered.  Difficult to follow.

 

D.    READABILITY OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS                                         RATING:    2.7

       Narrative and visuals should engage students in reading or listening.

 

Comments:  Text has adequate visuals, not outstanding.  Some graphics appear to be older.

E.    PACING OF CONTENT                                                                               RATING:    3.2

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:    3.9

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:

 

 

                                                            TOTAL PRESENTATION RATING:    3.3

 

 

LEARNING

 

A.    MOTIVATIONAL STRATEGIES                                                                    RATING:    3.1

       Instructional materials must include features to maintain learner motivation.

 

Comments:  Pictures were dark and uninteresting.

 

B.    TEACHING A FEW “BIG IDEAS”                                                                  RATING:   3.7   Instructional materials should thoroughly teach a few important ideas, concepts, or themes.

 

Comments:  Adequate but not exceptional

 

C.    EXPLICIT INSTRUCTION                                                                             RATING:   3.7   Instructional materials must contain clear statements of information and outcomes.    

 

Comments:  Adequate

 

D.    GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT                                                                        RATING:    2.5

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

 

Comments:  Support is mediocre.  No sample problems in physics section of physical science.

 

E.    ACTIVE PARTICIPATION                                                                            RATING:    3.8

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

 

Comments:  Adequate

 

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:  Good

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:

 

 

                                                                        TOTAL LEARNING RATING:     3.5

                                                                                                                                   

  3.4
 
 


                                                                          OVERALL TOTAL RATING:

 

 

STRENGTHS:

 

Integrated resources.  Science activity books help with integration.  Program is available in a modular format which allows for an integration of life, earth and physical science.  The organization of teacher support material is by chapter, rather than supplemental packets.

 

 

 

CONCERNS:

 

Adequate resources, limited technology and accommodations for special needs.  Pictures are somewhat outdated.

 

 

 

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

 

Adequate; flexible in its use; reasonably attractive presentation.