Next Gen Navigator: 2017 November

November 2017

Science For All

One of the tenets of the Framework for K–12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) is that learning about and engaging in science and engineering is for all students. "All" means that regardless of socioeconomic status, learning difficulties, language barriers, race, gender, or being marginalized in any way, every child should have adequate learning opportunities in science and engineering. This month, our authors share how they make science education equitable for all children.

Enjoy!
Kathy Renfrew
Field Editor, Next Gen Navigator

A Learning Trajectory for Sensemaking in Science

Elementary teacher Emily Miller shares her understanding of how English language learners make meaning in the science classroom. She discusses "collective sensemaking," how it can be developed, and the tools she uses to scaffold that learning. Read More

Science for All Students: A Teacher's Perspective

Elementary students thrive while learning to develop and use models as they investigate light in Rita Januszyk's class. In her classroom, engaging in science provides opportunities for students to not only learn science, but also to deepen their language understanding. Read More

Asking Questions and Defining Problems by Making Cultural Connections

Susan Cohen values the cultures of all children, and she supports this by creating instruction using culturally relevant pedagogy. She shares how the science and engineering practice of asking questions and defining problems is culturally sound and productive in moving student learning forward. Read More

CLASSROOM RESOURCES

Teachers! Share Your Outstanding Lessons and Resources

The NGSS@NSTA Hub—which now contains nearly 700 vetted lessons, videos, and other classroom resources to help teachers work toward the vision of the NGSS—invites teachers to add to the library by uploading and sharing their own resources. All resources can be searched by topic or Disciplinary Core Idea, and can be reviewed and rated. Read this FAQ on how to upload and share your resources.

Improving Practice

Videos

This NSTA video series features teachers in a second- and third-grade classroom with bilingual students demonstrating new instructional strategies based on the Framework and the NGSS.
The Teaching Channel has videos supporting science for all, including Supporting ELLs Through Project-Based Learning.

Attention Ninth-Grade Science Teachers: Participate in Project 2061's Language Factors and Student Performance Study

AAAS Project 2061 is working with WestEd to help all students be more successful on standardized science tests. In particular, they are working to improve tests to make them more effective for students whose primary language is other than English. They are recruiting ninth-grade science teachers with significant numbers of Spanish-speaking students to administer a 30-item multiple-choice test to their students. Learn more and register by Nov. 30.

STEM Teaching Tools

STEM Teaching Tools offers briefs that explore the topic of equity in science education, including

Practice Brief 6: How Can I Get My Students to Learn Science by Productively Talking With Each Other?
Practice Brief 11: Implementing Meaningful STEM Education With Indigenous Students and Families
Practice Brief 15: How Can We Promote Equity in Science Education?
Practice Brief 27: Engaging English Learners

GOOD READS

NGSS for All Students

The NGSS Appendix D demonstrates how student groups that have been traditionally underserved in science education deserve opportunities to become scientifically literate through a comprehensive understanding of science over time. It highlights the importance of providing all students with high-quality science education and provides seven case studies from educators on the NGSS Diversity and Equity Team.

NGSS for All Students

This book includes the seven case studies (noted in the NGSS Appendix D item above) and supplements them with additional chapters to deepen your understanding of the strategies and make what you learn more usable. Learn more about the book in this blog post by Okhee Lee, one of the authors. Read this related journal article in The Science Teacher.

Kicking It Up a Notch: Becoming a Culturally Relevant Educator

This article featured on the NODE—a website for and by developmental biologists—explores taking science teaching to the next level, to help all students achieve a higher degree of learning.

CALENDAR

Nov. 30

Twitter #elngsschat @ 8 pm ET

Dec. 7 & 21

Twitter #ngsschat @ 9 pm ET

Dec. 14

Twitter #elngsschat @ 8 pm ET

Dec. 15

Application deadline for NSTA Teacher Awards program

NEWS & VIEWS

New Mexico Adopts the NGSS (NGSS@NSTA Hub News, Nov. 15, 2017)

Salinas Valley (CA) Teachers Get Ready for New Science Standards (Monterey Herald, Nov. 9, 2017)

NSTA Expresses Support for White Paper on Features of NGSS-Aligned Instructional Materials (NGSS@NSTA Hub News, Nov. 6, 2017)

Pronouncing Students' Names Correctly Should a Big Deal (Teacher Magazine, Nov. 15, 2017)

Visit the NGSS@NSTA Hub to read all the latest NGSS news

Do you have questions or a submission for the Next Gen Navigator? Contact us at nextgennavigator@nsta.org.

Forward to a Friend

National Science Teachers Association

1840 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, VA 22201-3000 Phone: 703-243-7100

The Next Gen Navigator is a monthly e-newsletter

delivering information, insights, resources, and professional learning opportunities for science educators by science educators on the Next Generation Science Standards and three-dimensional instruction.

Why are you receiving this email?

Because you signed up to receive

NSTA's Next Gen Navigator

Newsletter

Not interested anymore?
Unsubscribe here.