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Criteria

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2

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4

NA

Lesson Planning

1

The teacher candidate makes clear to the students what the objectives of the lesson are

2

The teacher candidate uses motivational strategies that generate and maintain students’ interest in the lesson

3

The teacher candidate demonstrates adequate preparedness in the planning and implementation of the lesson by aligning science content with local, state, professional science standards

Lesson Implementation and Evaluation

4

The teacher candidate is well organized and paces the lesson e.g. begins and ends the lesson in an appropriate manner

5

The teacher candidate uses teaching strategies that accommodate the needs of a range of students from diverse backgrounds and disabilities

6

The teacher candidate uses strategies that create learning environments that support positive social interactions

7

The teacher candidate uses examples that relate the lesson to real life and depicts science as an on-going enterprise rather than static facts

8

The teacher candidate employs student-centered activities in the lesson that promotes students’ engagement, interest and understanding

9

The teacher candidate employs educational technologies

that improve the opportunity to learn for students when compared to other (traditional) methods of instruction

10

The teacher candidate employs proper safety procedures and uses appropriate procedures caring for living organisms

11

The teacher candidate uses formal and informal assessment strategies to determine students’ understanding of science concepts and process skills

12

The teacher candidate successfully implemented the lesson’s objectives

Teacher Knowledge, Skills and Dispositions

13

The teacher candidate demonstrates accurate knowledge of the lesson’s science concepts and facts and uses higher order questioning strategies to encourage students to analyze assumptions and facts

14

The teacher candidate demonstrates understanding of students’ naïve science conceptions and employs appropriate strategies, such as discrepant events, to help change perceptions - e.g. mass ≠ weight

15

The teacher candidate practices classroom management strategies to avoid potential problems , such as maintaining visual contact and physical proximity to students as needed during the lesson

16

The teacher candidate handles discipline problems skillfully

17

The teacher candidate reflectively evaluates his/her teaching practices and changes delivery of lessons (e.g. methods, content level) based on student performance indicators

18

The teacher candidate demonstrates mastery of both oral and written expression in the language used to teach the lesson

19

The teacher candidate practices ethical and professional standards throughout the lesson

20

The teacher candidate demonstrates a professional deportment when discussing observations and shows a willingness and an ability to implement recommendations to improve instruction