How Do You Use Your BC Chem11 Worktext?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Gresham Smith on March 3, 2012 at 6:38pm

We use ours like textbooks so kids don't write in their copy. Either way, I would find it far too cumbersome to collect and mark daily -or even weekly- assignments. I only collect and evaluate one lab, one quiz and one test for each chapter.

Permalink Reply by Tracy Cowie on March 7, 2012 at 10:41pm

Although I teach at an inner city school, >95% of students elect to buy and write in the book.  I find most of the kids favour highlighting and adding their own notes in the margins of the book.  We typically go over the practice questions as a class and they are responsible for completing the review questions and checking the answer keys.  If I want to ensure they understand a particular concept, I may give them one to three questions to complete and hand in as their "ticket out of class".  I find this is a manageable way to get necessary feedback.

Permalink Reply by Cheri Smith on March 8, 2012 at 9:35am

Hey Tracy:  You've been using your book almost exactly the same way I have (along with my colleague who teaches Chem 11 at Yale).  Virtually all of our students purchase the book and we use LCD projectors along with a tablet or Smartboard.  We go over some of the tougher material during class and have the kids do the highlighting and ADD a few NOTES in the MARGINS where it might be necessary.  This sounds VERY CLOSE to what you're doing. 

   During class we focus on the Warm Ups, Quick Checks and Practice Problems and the occasional Activity (as an example, I LOVE the Rate of Evaporation of Water Activity 3.3 - it is REALLY AWESOME IF ANYONE HAS NOT TRIED IT - QUICK and BOY...does it ever make the point!).  We only ever assign the review questions for "homework".   Actually...I quite LIKE the idea of a few problems WELL DONE as a ticket out at the end of the period (when before lunch or PM).  I've done something similar, but not with the work-text questions.  Good idea.

     I was wondering how you approach the issue of  asking your students to purchase their work-texts, particularly in a school with a demographic like your's.  I know my students WANT a "notebook" containing their notes and problems.  The work-text is essentially that.  They want to be able to carry this material into the grade 12 course and potentially  into their college chemistry course so they have something to refer back to.  Most likely, Gresham provides the students with notes or handouts they fill a notebook with to serve such a purpose.  We suggest the students purchase the books or be stuck signing them out without the opportunity to write in, and keep, their "notebook".  Pretty much everyone sees the value of "paying up front" for paper already filled with "notes" they would take anyway.  Is there a particular approach you use to ensure your students all end up with a work-text?  Please share your experience with the rest of us.   

Permalink Reply by Tracy Cowie on March 8, 2012 at 12:05pm

Hi Cheri,

I must start by saying that I am at a new school this year and have never given my students the option of buying a text before, so I had a fair bit of trepidation when approaching my principal about the possibility of students buying texts.  After asking me to justify my choice my principal agreed to buy for this year, but warned me that it was unlikely that most students would purchase the book. I sent home a letter, which I have attached, giving the students/parents the choice.  I was surprised when not one parent contacted me.

First semester, 2 of 30 students chose not to buy, thus not to write in the book.  This semester, I suggested to students that they talk to previous students about whether it was worthwhile to buy the book.  All of my current students have elected to buy and write in the book.  This school year two students, who have their school fees waved, were given books.  When you consider damage, loss and photocopying, I feel the department has still come out ahead.

Now I wonder why I was so worried (and I was worried!) about taking this approach, because it has been so easy.  Easy to ask for and collect the money, easy for the students to use the resource and less time at the photocopier for me.  We all know that kids work at different rates; with this book students always have something they could be working on.  I have had students go on vacation without missing a thing and all without me running around putting together materials!

Hope this helps!

Attachments:

• Chem 11 textbook letter.docx, 20 KB

Permalink Reply by Gary Davidson on March 8, 2012 at 4:01pm

Given the option, almost all of my students, like Tracy's, wanted their own worktexts in my mixed demographic school.  I love the "one to three question - ticket out of class" idea.  Thanks for the letter Tracy!  In response to Gresham (a former student teacher of mine) - You have learned well grasshopper.  I marked an assignment per class per day for 33 years and I'm convinced there were many, many, more valuable ways I could have been spending my time!