What successful science teachers do: 75 research-based strategies

1. General science instruction. Encourage students to become more involved and interested in science Guide students to engage in science-appropriate discourse Utilize graphic organizers in your classroom Increase depth of coverage to improve student learning Foster self-efficacy and motivation in your students Challenge your students with different levels of questioning Try using the 5E instructional model Support your students to engage effectively in disciplinary argumentation Utilize mind mapping to improve student achievement Test students' ideas to facilitate reasoning skills Create an emotionally positive science classroom environment Engage students who have a history of poor school achievement Include students with special needs in student-centered instruction 2. Scientific inquiry and laboratory experience. Engage your students in inquiry-based science Teach model-based inquiry over the scientific method Use problem-based learning to introduce students to inquiry-based science Implement inquiry-based instruction in low-track classes Attain educational goals through laboratory experiences Convert traditional labs to inquiry-based activities Align the goals of dissection to the curriculum 3. Collaborative teaching and learning. Fine-tune collaborative student relationships with the Socratic seminar Teach your students collaborative strategies and skills Utilize formal cooperative learning methods in the classroom Introduce students to constructive, cooperative, and academic controversy Communicate beyond the classroom by using electronic pen pals 4. Utilizing technology for the classroom and professional development. Add technological tools to your students' learning Put your students' internet skills to use in the classroom Use technology to accommodate students' different learning styles Give students opportunities to use media production for classwork Incorporate mobile technology into student assignments Model inquiry with students using limited resources Update your approach to literacy-related content activities Foster literacy development through visual texts and media Utilize portable media players to bring exemplary resources into teaching Find opportunities to record yourself teaching to share with peers 5. Science assessment. Look at formative assessment in a coherent and cohesive way Use standards-based inquiry to prepare students for standards-based tests Align instruction and assessment tools to state curriculum standards Utilize formative assessment to better engage students in content and instruction Add a classroom response system for instant formative assessment Design formative assessment for data to inform instruction Encourage assigned textbook reading by giving open-book tests Focus on students' writing strengths al science instruction. Encourage students to become more involved and interested in science Guide students to engage in science-appropriate discourse Utilize graphic organizers in your classroom Increase depth of coverage to improve student learning Foster self-efficacy and motivation in your students Challenge your students with different levels of questioning Try using the 5E instructional model Support your students to engage effectively in disciplinary argumentation Utilize mind mapping to improve student achievement Test students' ideas to facilitate reasoning skills Create an emotionally positive science classroom environment Engage students who have a history of poor school achievement Include students with special needs in student-centered instruction 2. Scientific inquiry and laboratory experience. Engage your students in inquiry-based science Teach model-based inquiry over the scientific method Use problem-based learning to introduce students to inquiry-based science Implement inquiry-based instruction in low-track classes Attain educational goals through laboratory experiences Convert traditional labs to inquiry-based activities Align the goals of dissection to the curriculum 3. Collaborative teaching and learning. Fine-tune collaborative student relationships with the Socratic seminar Teach your students collaborative strategies and skills Utilize formal cooperative learning methods in the classroom Introduce students to constructive, cooperative, and academic controversy Communicate beyond the classroom by using electronic pen pals 4. Utilizing technology for the classroom and professional development. Add technological tools to your students' learning Put your students' internet skills to use in the classroom Use technology to accommodate students' different learning styles Give students opportunities to use media production for classwork Incorporate mobile technology into student assignments Model inquiry with students using limited resources Update your approach to literacy-related content activities Foster literacy development through visual texts and media Utilize portable media players to bring exemplary resources into teaching Find opportunities to record yourself teaching to share with peers

5. Science assessment. Look at formative assessment in a coherent and cohesive way

Use standards-based inquiry to prepare students for standards-based tests

Align instruction and assessment tools to state curriculum standards

Utilize formative assessment to better engage students in content and instruction

Add a classroom response system for instant formative assessment

Design formative assessment for data to inform instruction

Encourage assigned textbook reading by giving open-book tests

Focus on students' writing strengths

6. Culturally responsive teaching and learning. Avoid culturally stereotyping science students

Make academic success your first priority for all students

Reach out to students from unfamiliar cultural and linguistic backgrounds

Structure homework for success for students from nondominant backgrounds

Develop science standards with a multicultural perspective

Broaden discourse opportunities to invite a diverse range of contributions

Provide diverse learning opportunities for student discourse

Manage and change your students' misconceptions

Guide students to choose authentic problems to solve

Utilize meaningful cues with your English language learners

Provide ELLs with opportunities for extended interactions in group work

7. The complex nature of the gender gap in science. Examine the evolving nature of gender issues in science classrooms

Change the opportunities and experiences of girls in the science classroom

Represent science in ways that encourage girls to stay interested

Improve attitudes toward science through STS approaches

8. Science and literacy. Address the three key elements of reading fluency in science instruction

Use scaffolding to improve science reading comprehension

Consider reading as inquiry with primary literature

Focus on developing scientific literacy and student reasoning

Use paraphrasing to promote reading comprehension in science textbooks

Utilize think-alouds to reveal students' thought processes while reading

Select commercial reading programs that can improve scientific literacy

Use a variety of print materials to inspire student reading and writing

Expand vocabulary instruction to improve comprehension and motivation

Use students' native languages in science literacy instruction

9. Families and science instruction. Avoid the "blame game" mindset

Involve low-income parents in their children's academic learning

Understand how homework can present problems for students and families

Change parents' attitudes toward science to change students' attitudes

Involve community members in learning to explore home-based discourse

Recognize the diverse needs of language-minority students and families

Consider parental responses to a child's learning disability.