3D Assessment
K12Science
I was recently reading the March/April 2024 issue of “Science Scope,” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the “From the Editor’s Desk” column written by Patty McGinnis. She wrote an article entitled, “3D Assessment.” In the article she shared ideas about writing assessments aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards. The National Research Council recommends that teachers utilize a combination of constructed response, selected response, and projects to assess three-dimensional learning. She recommended two...
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Making Thinking Visible
K12Science
I was recently reading the January/February 2024 issue of “The Science Teacher,” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the “Editor’s Corner” written by Ann Haley MacKenzie. She wrote an article entitled, “How Can We Make Our Students’ Thinking Visible?” In the article she shared three strategies for making thinking visible. The strategies were taken from the books, “Making Thinking Visible” and “The Power of Making Thinking Visible.” The strategies are: “See-Think-Wonder” “Connect-Extend-Challenge” “CSI:...
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Outstanding Science Trade Books for Early Elementary School Students - Part 2
K12Science
I was recently reading the January/February 2024 issue of “Science and Children,” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association, for elementary school science teachers. In this issue, I read the section on the “Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students.” The selections are a collaboration of the National Science Teaching Association and the Children’s Book Council. In part 2 of this two-part podcast series, I share eight books that were selected for early elementary students. The books are: “Whale Fall” by Melissa Stewart “Find Out About Animal...
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Outstanding Science Trade Books for Early Elementary School Students - Part 1
K12Science
I was recently reading the January/February 2024 issue of “Science and Children,” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association, for elementary school science teachers. In this issue, I read the section on the “Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students.” The selections are a collaboration of the National Science Teaching Association and the Children’s Book Council. In part 1 of this two-part podcast series, I share nine books that were selected for early elementary students. The books are: “We are Branches” by Joyce Sidman “How Birds Sleep” by...
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Outstanding Science Trade Books for Middle School Students - Part 2
K12Science
I was recently reading the January/February 2024 issue of “Science Scope,” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association, for middle school science teachers. In this issue, I read the section on the “Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students.” The selections are a collaboration of the National Science Teaching Association and the Children’s Book Council. In part 2 of this podcast series, I share seven more books that were selected for middle-school students. The books are: “A Star Explodes: The Story of Supernova 1054” by James Gladstone “Old Enough...
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Outstanding Science Trade Books for High School Students
K12Science
I was recently reading the January/February 2024 issue of “The Science Teacher,” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association, for high school science teachers. In this issue, I read the section on the “Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students.” The selections are a collaboration of the National Science Teaching Association and the Children’s Book Council. In this podcast, I share the two books that were selected for high school students. The books are: “Hidden Systems” by Dan Nott “The Woman in the Moon” by Richard Maurer
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Outstanding Science Trade Books for Middle School Students - Part 1
K12Science
I was recently reading the January/February 2024 issue of “Science Scope,” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association, for middle school science teachers. In this issue, I read the section on the “Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students. The selections are a collaboration of the National Science Teaching Association and the Children’s Book Council. In this first of two podcasts, I share six of the twelve books that were selected for middle school students. The books are: “My Indigo World” by Rosa Chang “Before Colors: Where Do Pigments and Dyes...
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Growing Beyond Earth
K12Science
I was recently reading the January/February 2024 issue of “Science Scope,” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association for middle school science teachers. In this issue, I read the “Citizen Science” section written by Jill Nugent. She wrote an article entitled, “Growing Beyond Earth: Cultivating 21st-Century Science Exploration.” The Growing Beyond Earth citizen science project, in partnership with NASA and the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, partners with classrooms and identifies edible plant varieties that are well suited for beyond Earth growing...
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Eliciting Student Thinking
K12Science
I was recently reading the January/February 2024 issue of “Science Scope,” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association, for middle school science teachers. In this issue, I read the “Editorial” section written by Patty McGinnis. She wrote an article entitled, “Eliciting Student Thinking.” Eliciting student thinking is a high-leverage practice in which the teacher utilizes questions and tasks that encourage and promote student thinking and sharing of ideas.
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Building Quality Science Instruction
K12Science
I was recently reading a WestEd blog post on the Next Gen Science website, dated January 10, 2024. In this blog, I read the post “Seeing is Believing: Building a Shared Vision of Quality Science Instruction.” It was written by Vanessa Wolbrink. In the years following the adoption of new science standards, states and districts must begin to navigate the complexities of transitioning to new learning goals — including updating instructional materials, professional learning, course descriptions and requirements, and assessments. In order to determine what changes are needed and...
info_outlineI was recently reading the September/October 2022 issue of “Science & Children” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the Editor’s Note column, written by Elizabeth Barrett-Zahn. She wrote a column entitled, “Joyful Science.”
Remember to plan lessons, follow the curriculum, and cover the content, but don’t forget that essential element in the planning — the students. Create space and time for them to find the joys in learning by figuring things out, debating, assessing data, developing arguments, and solving problems. Let’s find ways to make learning joyful.