The Sourcebook for Teaching Science, Grades 6-12: Strategies, Activities, and Instructional Resources

Who in the world are these people reviewing this book? Must NOT be teachers or all the reviews come from the author of this book! This it the biggest pile of crap I have ever purchased in my life. What a complete waste of my money. Are you kidding me? A section on how to play the game MasterMind? How in the world is this helpful for the science classroom. Instead of giving you clear-cut proven ways of teaching science it analyzes things like "inductive reasoning, lateral thinking, etc" A section on misconceptions in Biology? Cold weather causes the flu? People use only 10% of the brain? Are you kidding me? This is practical application for teachers struggling to get lessons together? I am just overwhelmed at how pathetic this book is. And I just love the section on advance organizers it tells me what a Venn Diagram is and a Flow Chart is in extreme detail? I think any teacher in their right mind knows what they are, how about some Diagrams made and ready to use by teachers for crying out loud. The Chart with the Domains of Various Biological Disciplines was really enlightening-- showing for example that ANATOMY deals with organelles, tissues, organs, while the Biochemistry subject of science deals with molecules. (So glad you cleared that one up for me!) The memory techniques in extreme detail made me feel like I was sitting in a psychiatry class (maintenance rehearsal technique, chunking technique, multiple modalities technique, semantic depth technique, acronyms technique, acrostics technique, transfer appropriateness technique, discrepant scenes and event technique, retrieval practice technique.) There are absolutely no practical applications given for any of these memory techniques, just what they are in extreme technical detail! ANYWAY I COULD GO ON AND ON but will let it go. This book is by no means applicable for high school science teachers who need practical applications instead of a Ph.D. analysis of "calculations and computer modeling techniques." Oh, just turned the page to what a topographic map is (in extreme detail), glad you cleared that one up for me as well!!!Here is one excerpt from the book on Developing a Science Semester Plan (my comments are in parenthesis):It is essential that every science teacher develop a long-term plan. (DUH NO KIDDING!) Such plans help pace instruction to ensure sufficient time for key concepts, activities, and assessments. (OK KNEW THAT ONE BEFORE I EVEN WENT TO COLLEGE). It is helpful to develop a semester plan using a grid such as shown in Table 25.3. Each column represents a week or other unit of time, and each row represents an element in the teaching plan. This format makes it very easy to see the semester at a glance. (We are given this wonderful chart with what we are teaching to the left and the weeks we teach them to the right--GEE GLAD YOU SHOWED ME HOW TO DO THAT, JUST DON'T KNOW IF I COULD HAVE FIGURED THAT OUT ON MY OWN). Anyway, this is a bunch of crap! Do not waste your hard earned teacher money on this nonsense!!! Also, frustrated with the other reviewers for giving it 4 stars???? Seriously?????

I bought this book initially because I was looking for more resourses that I could use to help teach my daughter the subject of science. But I dicovered, that just what I'm currently using for her is enough for now. Don't get me wrong...this book does offer a wealth of information, that I'm sure will become more helpful as she gets older, and enters her high school years. This book is more set up for a school teacher. so, if you know a Science teacher, who happens to be teaching grades 6-12...this would be a very useful tool for them. In any rate...I'm not giving up on the book. It's a real nice book...well worth the unbelievable price that Amazon asks for! :)

This is a great resource for any science teacher. It has sparked some great ideas for me to use in my classroom. However I deducted a star because towards the end of the book the pages are printed twice which is super annoying.

This book is so perfect in so many ways. There is a TON of information in this book. It is perfect for any science teacher (biology, chemistry, and physics). I had used this book before I purchased it, and knew it would be well worth the money. There is so much inside this book, it is awesome. Well worth the money, and I would recommend all science teachers to have this as a reference book.

This is a new edition of the Sourcebook of Teaching. This has more ideas and strategies to try. I would go ahead and get it even if you have the other version.

I like how this book gives specific activities for each discipline. I have taught science for 16 years and I am finding new ways to introduce science concepts that keeps my interest! I would highly recommend this book because it offers such a wide range of approaches that are very adaptable to the classroom. It definitely has my brain recalculating!!

This is a great resource. I will say I am a bit biased as Dr. Herr is one of my professors. This book has great examples to use in your teaching as well as a plethora of online resources to go along with the book. If you are a new science teacher you should buy this book.

Excellent overview and suggestions for instructional methods and content correlations. However, there needs to be more sample activities.I would definitely recommend this book to beginning teachers.