| Title: | Foundation Stage Science: A Guide for Mentors |
| Author: | David Coates, Pam May and Judy Vause, Tina Jarvis,and Frankie McKeon |
| ISBN: | 1 902126 14 9 |
| Publisher: | SCI Centre |
| Address: | School of Education, University of Leicester, 21 University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RF |
| Date of Publication: | 2003 |
| Classification: | Resources to support mentors |
| Intended Audience: | Mentors and ITT trainees |
| Strengths: |
It is one of few resources to focus on the Foundation Stage; It guides trainee’s planning; It provides a useful checklist and examples for monitoring planning; It provides a checklist for observing the science elements of children’s learning activities. |
| Checklist Rate - One to Five | |
| Appropriate Content |
1
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2
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3
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| Student Use |
1
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2
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3
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4
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| Tutor Resource |
1
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2
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3
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4
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| Visuals |
1
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| Overall Style |
1
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2
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3
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| One of Series |
There
is a primary companion
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| Photocopiable |
Parts
are, yes
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Full EMAC Review
Foundation Stage Science: A Guide for Mentors - David Coates, Pam May and Judy Vause, Tina Jarvis,and Frankie McKeon
The content of the book / resource
The booklet is 68 pages long and provides a guide to writing [and, for mentors- reviewing] a science medium term plan, within the KUW area of the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage; to writing [ and reviewing] an effective science activity plan; and, for mentors, to observing and debriefing on science activity. It serves a number of purposes: to guide a trainee into the Foundation setting and how in general its curriculum is organized; as well as to guide planning and mentoring.
It provides checklists in each section, which are a little daunting, though useful, together with weak to good examples of their use by mentors on trainees’ plans.Its effectiveness in catering for its target audience
It tries to do much within the short volume, and ends up being more value to the trainee than to the mentor.The value to the user
A useful guide to trainees, which also offers some useful support and structure to mentors, and there is generally little for mentors specifically focused upon the Foundation Stage.Its capacity to support students and / or mentors
The booklet is a guide for both trainees and mentors.Its particular strengths and any weaknesses
The focus upon science selects only some of the KUW learning outcomes, and therefore may not be common practice. However, science is a core NC subject and so is important, and tackling that focus could provide a useful, in-depth analysis of an ideal planning process which would be helpful to trainees as a case study.Readability, presentation and cost
The price is £10.00, which is quite high for a narrowly-focused student text, but it would be a useful reference source and guide for both mentors and trainees.