Our staff of exceptionally-trained Regional Teacher Partners are available to provide customized and targeted professional learning and bring it right to your district or school. Examples of support are listed below, but we always develop our programming based on the needs of your teachers, school, or district. Email us to find out how we can assist you with your professional learning.
Science Program Review
The Science Program Review provides your school with an overall picture of the science instructional program and recommendations for improvement. The process includes an onsite visit from a review team from PIMSER to conduct classroom observations and interviews with students, parents, teachers of science, and the principal. In addition, teachers and principals will complete online surveys about their roles in the science program. The review team then analyzes all collected data and develops a comprehensive report. Finally, a member of the review team returns to the school to review the report with the principal and answer any questions.
Science Implementers Initiative
Get one-on-one support for new teachers, those new to teaching science, or teachers who need support implementing aspects of the KAS in their classroom. Partner virtually with a Master Teacher and learn to navigate the KAS for Science: Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs), Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs), and three dimensional learning.
Examples of support we can provide:
- Give expert feedback on a teacher’s unit of study
- Review a sample of student work from a TCT that a grade level has implemented with their students, followed by a partnership conversation about curriculum and instruction changes to move the thinking forward
- Review standards being bundled for a unit and discuss together ideas for assessment and activities
- Assist teachers with writing a storyline for a unit of study Virtual observation of a classroom lesson, followed by feedback to the teacher
- Assist teachers with planning a lesson that is aligned to the standards and is three dimensional
- Work with a PLC to discuss a Practice
Virtual training: $100/hour (via Zoom or Teams)
Unit development for 3-dimensional teaching
Three dimensional teaching and learning, as envisioned by the NGSS, requires a different approach to designing instruction. We have developed a process that has proven to be effective for any grade level or science discipline. You will leave this short course with a unit outline that is aligned to the NGSS, grounded in phenomena of interest to students, and includes a summative task and embedded assessments, a unit storyline, focus questions, investigations, and learning targets. Tools, processes, resources, and samples will be provided.
Review of existing units with feedback for revision
One of our science Regional Teacher Partners, who has been trained to use the EQuIP Rubric for Science, will review and provide specific, actionable feedback on any grade-level and/or science discipline unit of study.
ACT Science Boot Camp
Practice strategies for accessing complex texts, analyzing data, and analyzing opposing arguments. Develop tasks requiring these key processes. Analyze student work samples to identify problem areas. View flyer for a complete description.
Classroom-Embedded Assessment Design
A statewide science assessment system is currently being developed (watch this KDE video!). Knowing how to design NGSS-aligned, effective classroom assessments is more important than ever! Because of the 3-dimensional nature of the NGSS, classroom assessments will need to provide multiple and varied opportunities to demonstrate blended learning, have multiple component tasks for a given NGSS performance expectation, focus on a smaller set of important gatekeeper concepts, provide scaffolding to help students generate valuable information about their blended knowledge, and be scored so that they provide valuable feedback on DCI’s, practices, and crosscutting concepts. Participants will:
- Determine characteristics of NGSS-aligned tasks
- Utilize evidence-centered design,
- Construct monitoring, and support materials
- Generate grade-level specific classroom assessment tasks and rubrics
Integrating engineering into units of study
Participants will leave the session with:
- An understanding of the two engineering core ideas as described in the Framework for their grade band
- Methods for effectively integrating engineering into a science unit of study
- A bibliography of engineering resources aligned to the NGSS
Short Courses K-12
These short courses are designed to strengthen grade-level specific content understanding and/or understanding of science and engineering practices at the designated grade bands. All sessions will examine misconceptions and naive conceptions that might hinder concept and practice development, and participants will learn how to design experiences to help students change these misconceptions. Participants will experience activities as a learner that promote concept and practice understanding, and discuss implications for best practice and highly effective teaching with other professionals. Teachers will leave each session with examples, resources, and a deepened understanding of how to implement the NGSS. View flyer for a complete description.
Literacy integration in the Science Classroom using the Literacy Design Collaborative model: elementary, middle and high school levels
How do you effectively integrate reading, writing, speaking and listening into your science classroom? Being able to access complex texts as well as a range of media is essential for helping students understand science concepts. Learn how to locate materials, practice a range of strategies to help students before, during, and after reading, develop text-dependent questions, and ways to use text evidence as support for explanations. Writing in science is fundamental for helping students process ideas and communicate understanding. Gain strategies and tools for using notebooking, writing explanations, and developing a range of written products (articles, infographics, lab reports, etc.). In addition, experience ways to facilitate science discourse in your classroom.