Using Science, Talents, and Abilities to Recognize Students ~ Promoting Learning for Underrepresented Students
U-STARS~PLUS is an instructional framework that empowers teachers to provide environments that nurture the intellectual and emotional well-being of young children (Grades K-3) who may be overlooked due to poverty, cultural/linguistic differences, and/or disabilities. U-STARS~PLUS provides high-quality science and literature instruction using 32 popular children's books, allowing teachers to respond to children's strengths with challenging, advanced educational experiences. In addition, U-STARS~PLUS extends learning into the home, engaging families in meaningful ways to support a child's academic success.
Over the course of several years, author Mary Ruth Coleman and her colleagues have honed the U-STARS~PLUS philosophy, inspiring teachers to shift their views of children from "at risk" to "at potential." See the videos below to hear from Mary Ruth Coleman and to learn more about U-STARS~PLUS!
Mary Ruth Coleman, Author
U-STARS~PLUS Overview
U-STARS~PLUS Webinar
For more information about the U-STARS~PLUS components, or to request a sample, please address questions to CEC's Customer Service, 888-232-7733, service@cec.sped.org.
Teachers can use U-STARS~PLUS TOPS Folders as a tool to help systematically observe and recognize children who have outstanding potential and who may be gifted. TOPS Folders encourage teachers to make intentional and purposeful observations so that those observations can be used to provide more effective instruction and focus on students' individual strengths, thus reinforcing the "at-potential" mindset. Learn more and see price.
Science & Literature Connections provides an engaging way to integrate science into literacy time using 32 popular children's books, creating a platform for exploring scientific ideas within the context of excellent literature. Most of the selected books are readily available and many of the books have been translated into Spanish. Science & Literature Connections is organized around Bloom's Taxonomy to support a range of thinking levels and to scaffold learning. Learn more and see price.
The Family Science Packets are organized around key science concepts that are aligned with the National Science Education Standards. The Family Science Packets are composed of two major sections: Teacher Notes and Family Science Activity. Materials for families are provided in both English and Spanish on the accompanying CD. Each activity identifies processing skills critical for student advancement, including formulating a hypothesis, predicting, and collecting data. Learn more and see price.
Start the implementation of U-STARS~PLUS with all the necessary tools. This combined package for teachers contains one of each of the following: TOPS Folders set, Science & Literature Connections,and Family Science Packets. Learn more and see price.
As with any new teaching strategy, the incorporation of training is paramount to embracing all the benefits that U-STARS~PLUS provides. Containing all the components of the Teacher's Set, this package also includes a Personnel Preparation CD (not for individual sale) with more than 15 presentations to fully engage teachers in providing instruction that facilitates student learning "at-potential." Learn more and see price.
2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 1000, Arlington, VA 22202-3557 Phone: 888-232-7733 TTY: 866-915-5000
