Re: Teaching Advice - secondary earth and space science

Hillsie wrote:

I'm currently student teaching in an urban school district, teaching a
section on earth science in 8th grade. Through some weird twist of fate
(or whatever you'd like to attribute this to), I was placed at in a
school district with no real earth science program and with a teacher
who has no experience in earth science. So I'm basicaslly on my own
deciding curriculum.

Seriously, you'll need to look at your state's curriculum standards for earth sciences at various grade levels. Go to your state's Dept. of Education or Instruction, or whatever that is called locally. They may actually *tell* you what you *have* to teach. (George bless the 'All Children Left Behind' Act.)

I had reason to look at my state's K-12 earth science curriculum standards, (I teach, but not in schools) and I was appalled. Of course, having taught college Geo 101 lab in 2001, and seen the lack of freshman student knowledge first hand, I now understand why.

Good luck, and thanks for taking on this task. You're going to need it.
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