A Look BackAs we move into the second half of the 2017-2018 school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on how far we have come. The average science teacher only began learning about the NGSS just a few years ago and school districts have been slow to figure out how to train and support science teachers during this transition. I began writing curriculum and supporting teachers with this website out of necessity. There were very few examples online of high quality NGSS-aligned curriculum and teachers were anxious about being asked to align their curriculum without the proper training. They were also frustrated that they were being asked to become curriculum writers on top of their very full time job. As a digital learning coach, my job was to help teachers innovate their curriculum using technology and to help develop skills in providing engaging instructional strategies. However, I have always been an advocate for the student who is different and differentiation has always been at the forefront of my work. So, I developed a model for differentiating that also helped teachers make other pedagogical shifts to a more mastery-based approach to learning. The four-part learning progression model has worked well in providing systems to introduce and revisit phenomenon, use self and peer assessment to revise and improve student work, and building skills in empowering students and valuing student choice. The lessons on this website have helped many teachers transition to the NGSS and you all have done an amazing job with also transitioning to new student-centered instructional practices at the same time. I will be finishing up the Unit 2 lessons and sharing this model and learning journey one more time at the NSTA National Conference in Atlanta on Friday, March 16th at 3:30 pm (Georgia World Congress Center, A303). I will also be video taping the session and adding it to this website for those who can not make the conference. However, when I return from Atlanta, I want to begin adjusting Units 3 and 4 to incorporate all of the new things I am learning as I have taken on some new roles with National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). |
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December 2021
AuthorCari Williams has been developing her understanding of The Framework for K-12 Science Teaching and the NGSS through the development of curriculum, collaborative learning experiences with NSTA 3D Learning Cadre Members and as a Science Peer Review Panelist for Achieve. To learn more, please go to |