So Long Geologists - Keep on Rockin'!

"Geologists don't take Schist from anyone!"

Our final class with our Geologists went great.    We concluded our time with the class doing one final test on the mineral's luster - for you non-geologists, luster is how how a mineral reflects light.   Although the days test wasn't our most exciting, it was neat that the kids were finishing up their mineral ID books and were moving on to the next stage of IDing the minerals.   It is too bad we won't be there to do it with the kids because they are all very excited!  

As far as differentiating instruction, we continued the same practice that we have been using successfully for the entire unit.  We have a group that requires more instruction and extra time each week to finish the mineral testing.  What Arlette and I have been doing is as soon as we have given the entire class the instruction and released the kids to their stations, we immediately check in with the three groups we anticipate may require some guidance to get going.    Usually all they need is for us to break down the instructions again and then they are on their way.   We also check on these groups more frequently just so any issues that may come up are solved right away. 

We have also been diligent about having mineral readings on hand for the groups who finish ahead of the others.   Further, to help our students who have fine motor issues, on the vocabulary sheets Arlette and I filled in the definition, leaving them to fill in the word.  It is a practice suggested by their teacher that seems to work well. 

The class teacher needed a grade for their science work so our assessment was a quiz!  Arlette and I chose to quiz them on their rocks and mineral using a cloze activity with a word box.  So much for the kids loving us. :) Actually, no one stressed and they all seemed to know their information really well.    It was kind of anti-climatic ending with a quiz but I think it bothered me much more than it bothered the kids.  

I really enjoyed my time at the S.R. I learned a lot and I hope our kids did too.    It was a great way to get some exposure to teaching and science.