In the traditional approach to classroom management, the responsibility of maintaining a positive and respectful environment has largely rested on the teacher’s shoulders. However, with the introduction of respect agreements, a wonderful shift occurs. These agreements distribute the responsibility among…
We’ve all had THAT class. You know the one you dread teaching. Individually, the kids are great. But when you put them in the room together, it feels like the student behaviors are out of control. In this episode, Nicole…
This fall, Nicole returned to the classroom for the first time in five years. Based on her previous experience in the classroom, she knew she had to create some boundaries before she returned. So, she made three commitments before returning….
Let’s talk about those back to school activities. Despite the many shifts we’ve seen teachers making in their classroom, we’ve seen several teachers continuing to use old practices. Even if they’ve ditched the scientific method, many teachers are still teaching…
Nicole recounts a day this summer when she was teaching summer school. She planned a simple observation activity and was surprised that her students struggled with simple observation skills. Around the same time, a listener asked how to improve observation…
This episode comes from a listener’s question about science notebooks. Lindsay from New Mexico asked the following question. “I would love to learn more about incorporating interactive notebooks into the NGSS classroom. Do you follow [the] left/right side [structure]? How…
Your district adopted a science curriculum. You hoped it would be well aligned with the NGSS. But, after reviewing it, you realized it wasn’t built for 3D learning. You aren’t alone. This week we answer this question from Kim in…
Traditional classrooms put teachers as tellers front and center. But, transitioning to the Next Generation Science Standards and a more student-driven approach to science instruction moves the work of students to the main stage. Incorporating science stations is one way to create a classroom that values and emphasizes active learning. Also, it shifts ownership and responsibility for student work where it belongs: to your students!
The CER is a framework that was created to help students with the practice of engaging in an argument using evidence. It helps them understand the difference between parts of an argument. However, it is often confusing for them to…
Recent Comments