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Mentoring the Next Generation of Science Teachers
Field experiences (i.e., student teaching) early in teacher preparation programs affect new teachers’ practices and beliefs more than any other component of their teacher preparation work. Yet, very few teachers mentoring teacher candidates receive…
Using One-Page Assignments as Alternative Assessments
Not too long ago the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Coordinator at my middle school sent an email requesting teachers to share their one-pagers (also known as one-sheets) with her for our AVID revalidation.
Tosa Talk
I have been the Elementary Science Teacher On Special Assignment (TOSA) for the last three years at Palm Springs Unified School District and sometimes get asked, “What exactly do you do?”
Environmental Literacy May Be the Answer
Across the state at science education events, environmental literacy is increasingly in the spotlight. At the opening of the CSTA conference, after the Climate Summit, high school teachers were so eager to get more resources that some sessions were…
Creating a High School School Culture that Believes in Kids
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) expect students to do the work of scientists and engineers such as making and revising models, arguing from evidence, and designing experiments. If we don’t think our students are capable of independent…
Applying NGSS Practices and Crosscutting Concepts to Student-Developed Health Education Projects in High School
As a Health science teacher at Eagle Rock High School in Los Angeles Unified School District, I saw that as my students learned Health content there was an opportunity for them to simultaneously make sense of and apply some NGSS Practices and…
Getting Good at Getting Better
As schools attempt to improve their practice in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Vista Unified School District has engaged in NGSS site walkthroughs using a classroom observation tool developed with the K-12 Alliance as a part of the CA…
Eavesdropping on Conversations: the Bright Side to Instructional Materials Review
Over the last six months, I have had the privilege of spearheading the K-12 science adoption in my district. For many people in charge of this process, the word privilege might seem a little too rose-colored glasses; however, the process has been…
Moon, Planets, and Stars, February through April 2020
In the western sky at dusk, Mercury in February, and Venus in March-April, reach their highest positions and best visibility of 2020.
Crosscutting Concepts Part 1: Patterns in K-2
As early childhood science educators, we are beginning to explore and gain understanding about the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).