DIOCESE OF
Name of Publisher: Scott
Foresman/Addison Wesley
Subject Area: Middle School Life, Earth, Physical
Science
Title of Textbook or Series:
Science Insights
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:
A listing of the program components is available by visiting the publisher’s website at www.sf.aw.com.
CONTENT
A. ALIGNMENT WITH
CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS RATING: 3.5
Content
must align with the diocesan standards.
B. LEVEL OF
TREATMENT RATING: 3.4
The
level of complexity or difficulty of content must be appropriate for the
standards, grade level, and student abilities.
Comments: Content is age appropriate with some challenges. High vocabulary and reading level.
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: 2.0
Content
must be accurate in historical context and contemporary facts and concepts.
Comments: Some errors in both teacher’s edition and in answer keys on section activities.
E. CURRENTNESS OF CONTENT RATING: 2.5
Content must be up-to-date for
the academic discipline and the context in which the content is presented.
Comments: 1999 copyright outdated. “Planet Diary” linked.
F. AUTHENTICITY OF CONTENT RATING: 3.2
Content
should include problem-centered connections to life in a context that is
meaningful to the ` students.
Comments:
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: 3.2
PRESENTATION
A. COMPREHENSIVENESS
OF STUDENT AND TEACHER RESOURCES RATING: 3.4
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: 3.5
TEACHER
RESOURCES Individual
Rating: 3.3
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: 3.6
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:
D. READABILITY
OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS RATING: 3.6 Narrative
and visuals should engage students in reading or listening.
E. PACING
OF CONTENT RATING: 4.0
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: 3.0
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: Resources for teachers could be more easily done.
LEARNING
A. MOTIVATIONAL
STRATEGIES RATING: 3.3 Instructional
materials must include features to maintain learner motivation.
B. TEACHING
A FEW “BIG IDEAS” RATING: 3.6 Instructional
materials should thoroughly teach a few important ideas, concepts, or themes.
Comments:
C. EXPLICIT
INSTRUCTION RATING: 4.0
Instructional
materials must contain clear statements of information and outcomes.
Coments:
D. GUIDANCE
AND SUPPORT RATING: 3.1
Instructional materials must
include guidance and support to help students safely and successfully become
more independent learners and thinkers.
Comments:
E. ACTIVE
PARTICIPATION RATING: 3.7
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: 3.6
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
3.2
OVERALL TOTAL RATING:
STRENGTHS:
Good pacing; makes adaptations for scheduling.
CONCERNS:
OVERALL IMPRESSION:
Not an exceptional program.