As science teachers, or teachers in general, we tend to have the mindset of doing things in our classroom the way we were taught, the way our department runs things, or what our colleague down the hall does. But if you really think about the reason behind what you’re doing, what you normally do might change. That’s exactly what happened with formal lab reports in my classroom. In this episode, I’m sharing why I ditched formal lab reports and how that decision impacted me and my students.
When I started to examine why I was assigning formal lab reports, I realized I was doing them for all the wrong reasons. So, when I finally made the decision to ditch them altogether, it greatly benefited my students and me. The pressure was off, and labs started to become enjoyable again, along with many other positive benefits. And since students weren’t getting critical thinking and scientific writing skills from the formal lab reports, I incorporated supplemental activities that provided students opportunities to practice those skills.
I’m aware that some science teachers feel very strongly about doing formal lab reports, and this might be a controversial episode, but for me, they didn’t serve a purpose in my classroom anymore. By ditching formal lab reports, it transformed the culture on lab days while still finding ways for students to practice skills that will help and support them later in their educational career. So whether you continue to do formal lab reports in your science classes or not, I hope this episode encourages you to make appropriate changes that are best for you and your students!
Resources Mentioned:
Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode105
113. What to Do When You Have No Energy - Truths for the Classroom
112. What to Do When You Have No Energy - Systems for the Home
111. Priorities and Boundaries in the New Year
110. How to Manage a Classroom of Apathetic Students
109. 10 Questions to Ask Yourself as You Reflect Over Your Course Sequence
108. 5 Must-Have Routines and Procedures for Secondary Teachers
107. NGSS and Standards-Based Grading With Guest Boni Hamilton
106. Standards-Based Grading, Citizenship Grades, Motivation and MORE With Guest Jennica Harrison
104. Using Summative Assessments to Prepare Students for Standardized Tests
103. Authentic Assessments: How to Assess Students in a Way That Actually Matters
102. Tips for Teaching Waves and Kinematics in Your Physics Class With Guest Laura Preiser
101. 6 Tips for Teaching Stoichiometry in Your Chemistry Class
100. Your Questions Answered: Grading, Challenging Behaviors, Leave, Favorite Labs, Supporting ELs and MORE!
99. How to Teach the Nervous and Endocrine Systems in Your Anatomy Class
98. 5 Tips for Teaching Biochemical Reactions in Your Biology Class
97. 6 Grading Tips That Changed My Life
96. Why I Stopped Assigning Homework (And 6 Surprising Results)
95. How to STOP Grading Everything
94. How to Deal with Cheating in Your High School Science Classes
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