textbooks for junior high school science classes

[Glenski]

I teach English in Japan at a private junior/senior high school. I have a background in science (industrial, not academic), and I have also taught a special course Science in English, so my administration considers me an expert in science. So be it. This year, they have begun a special reading program to help students in JHS and SHS to read scientific material in English. In their minds, this will help prepare them for reading scientific journals in university. They figure that providing junior high school level material will be suitable for a starter, and I tend to agree with them. There may be future additions and changes to this program (especially if I have anything to say about it), but for now, this is the extent to which they feel like beginning.

So, my question for the board is this. What science textbooks do you recommend for junior high school students? My school is interested in as many topics as possible (biology, chemistry, earth science, environment, physics, etc.), as long as the books are regular classroom texts.

Thank you in advance.

[Unregistered]

Try getting samples of the Glencoe books (Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth Science). These are currently being used in one form or another by myself and a fellow teacher for the 7th and 8th grade science classes. I have also used the Prenctice Hall series (Life Science, Physical Science). These may be a good choice if the students have a solid basis in English. Hope this helps.



Meredith Lynds
Cambridge NY

[Unregistered]

For the junior high sciences, I reccommend ScienceFocus 7 and ScienceFocus8 from McGraw Hill Ryerson.

[Unregistered]

Please do NOT use the focus on science books...burn them.

I use and like the Nelson Science and Technoloy7 and 8 texts. They are current, and have a great mix of hands-on and reading activities. There new Math text is excellent too.
Shawn
Ontario, Canada

[Unregistered]

Most of the middle school text books are rated poor by I believe itis the National Association of Science Teachers. One text was written after the NSTA poll, McDougal Littell's series for Middle School: Earth Science, Life Science, and Physical Science. I was on the comittee to review and select the new science books for our county, one of the largest in FL. McD-L has incorporated reading strategies into the science curriculum.

[Unregistered]

I have yet to see a good science book. And I have seen a bunch.

[Unregistered]

Glencoe Science is a terrible series! It should come with a money back guarantee to **************** all interest of science from every student unfortunate enough to actually read them. As a special bonus scientific and mathmatical inaccuracies are sprinkled throughout the text & or pictures to confuse the brighter students and the instructors! These books are a great example of what happens when professional educators who are so far removed from the classroom deign to instruct lesser mortals.

[klynnea4]

I use the Holt Textbooks. They are excellent! I love all the extras they have to choose from. The text is easy to read for the kids.

[Unregistered]

Their Science Explorer series is pretty good. (The series covers 6th thru 8th grade sciences.) Our school adopted them last year, and we've been pretty happy with them.

[Unregistered]

We use Prentice Hall Science Explorer Series. They are good and do come in a compiled version and are available in separate books called modules. I am not sure how many there are in the series (I think 15). The texts are small and each one addresses a specific topic. My students like the hands-on experiences available. Try those!
I also like The series SciencePlus Technology and Society by Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. These are good for higher level students.

Good Luck!

[Unregistered]

Science textbooks, by and large, that are sufficient for average middle school students are supplementary at best. A well-prepared science teacher can use any science text (and many other references)to supplement their own creative, collaborative, hands-on science lessons that stimulate all of their students to reach beyond the bar to be successful, adaptive thinkers who should come to know that learning is their own. Too often, teachers who are not well-trained or are deprived of continuous in-service training in their subject area (Science) follow texts to "the letter" and essentially do nothing more than teach to the tests. Howard Romack 2003 New York State Teacher of the Year finalist Cambridge, New York

[coolrent]

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