Often, the first few days of school are referred to as the honeymoon period. Generally, students are on their best behavior. They are quieter and more reserved than at any other point in the school year. But, this period doesn’t…
NGSS aligned tests are very different from traditional assessments. The three-dimensional nature of the standards makes them challenging to assess. Are you making one of these common mistakes on your summative assessments? Don’t worry. The fixes are simple. Mistake #1:…
Choosing great phenomena isn’t easy. Phenomena need to be relevant and engaging in order to meet their intended purpose. But, what makes a great phenomenon great? Get examples of great phenomena and learn how to find your own in this…
Summer is finally here! After the exhausting year that you have had, you need as much relaxation as you can get. If you are a science teacher and you are planning to spend some time prepping this summer, here are…
Are you making the most of your science investigations? When Erin started teaching, she definitely wasn’t. She started by using a mostly lecture-based model for her classroom. Then, when she began to incorporate investigations she didn’t consider the purpose of…
Are you using recipe-style science labs in your classroom? While these activities are common, they don’t teach students how to plan and carry out investigations. In this episode, Erin discusses the main reasons that teachers are afraid to ditch these…
This week, Nicole and Erin answer a listener question from Michelle in Washington. Michelle asked, “I would love to know more about how students go through the explore phase. How do you find activities for the students? How do you…
The 2020-2021 academic year hasn’t been easy. But, for some teachers, it hasn’t been without success either. Meet Mercedes, a middle school science teacher. This candid conversation is both a celebration of what is possible and a reflection on where…
Adopting a curriculum is a major hurdle to overcome in the shift to NGSS. However, after the adoption, you might start to notice that the curriculum isn’t connecting with your students. We have found that it’s nearly impossible to create…
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