Back-to-school presentation
A Healthy MixJeff Astor Simon Technology HSCommon Core and
Content1Common Core and Content
2Common Core Who Are You?With the emergence of the common core,
California has adopted content aligned with Smarter Balance
Assessments.These are dictated by the NGSS (Next Generation Science
Standards)
3Do Any of These Standards Explicitly Talk About Gas Laws?Short
Answer: Pretty much, no.Does that mean we dont need it?Should it be
brushed over? Avoided all together?How do we align the content our
students must now, with the common core expectations asked of us by
the NGSS?
4Todays GoalsIdentify what the NGSS asks of us as teachers and
what the outcomes will be for students.Decide what specific
teaching strategies promote the higher order thinking the NGSS is
designed to emphasize and how to use them.Adapt lessons to include
Common Core components, but still incorporate dense scientific
content and social justice.
5A WalkthroughTurning the Gas Laws Lessons into Socially
Conscious Analyses.
6What does the NGSS Say about Science?Science receives less
instructional time (a form of material resources) than language
arts and mathematics, which are both considered to be basic skills.
Particularly, science instruction in low - performing schools is
often limited and tightly regulated due to the urgency of
developing basic literacy and numeracy. In addition, under the
demands of accountability policies, schools devote extended time
and attention to the heavily tested subjects of language arts and
mathematics, leaving limited time for science.7Science!The NGSS
capitalize on the synergy with the CCSS for English language arts
and literacy and for mathematics. The standards across the three
subject areas share common shifts to focus on core concepts and
practices that build coherently across K-12. Scientific and
engineering practices in the NGSS (e.g., argumentation from
evidence) share commonalities with those of the CCSS for English
language arts and for mathematics (see Figure 1). Furthermore, the
CCSS for literacy require strong content knowledge, informational
texts, and text complexity across subject areas, including science.
In a similar manner, the NGSS make connections to the CCSS. Such
synergy will help effective use of instructional time among English
language arts, mathematics, and science.8This means we need a combo
packageMathEnglishScienceCultural RelevanceSocial
JusticeModelingEngineering Practices
9OH Snap! Thats a lot.
How do we do it?10MathFrom the NGSS: The difference is that
scientific arguments are always based on evidence, whereas
mathematical arguments never are. 4.OA.A.3.Solve multistep word
problems posed with whole numbers and having whole number answers
using the four operations.5.MD.C.4. Measure volumes by counting
unit cubes, using cubic cm, cubic in, cubic ft, and improvised
units.
Science example: Compress the air in a cylinder to half its
volume. (Draw a picture of the volume before and after, and explain
how you know that the new volume is half of the old volume.) Can
you compress the volume by half again? Why is it difficult to
do?
11ELAFrom the NGSS: Students need to be able to gain knowledge
from elaborate diagrams and data that convey information and
illustrate scientific concepts. Likewise, writing and presenting
information orally are key means for students to assert and defend
claims in science, demonstrate what they know about a concept, and
convey what they have experienced, imagined, thought, and
learned.CCR Reading Anchor #7.Integrate and evaluate content
presented in diverse formats and media, including visually and
quantitatively, as well in words.CCR Reading Anchor #9.Analyze how
two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to
build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.
12ScienceContent is still pertinent and essential, but must be
framed in new context with rich assessments.Focus on Data Analysis,
Scientific Process, Justification, and TDQs.
Models and visual representations are key in the effort to
increase student awareness.Content is relevant when applied to real
world settings social justice components are the tenet of each unit
theme.13Cultural RelevanceContent - Apply gas laws to
demonstrations, videos, realia/manipulatives, lab activities, real
world experiences.
Crosscutting - Give students an opportunity to relate the
content learned in chemistry class to content internalized from
previous classes (biology, MS science).
Practices - Let students experiment in the classroom setting
with the concepts that they have explored.
14Social JusticeEnvironmental Awareness is a current movement at
the forefront of the scientific community.Communities of lower
socio-economic status are much more likely to have a higher
incidence of medical issues related to particle pollution.Lets
students propose solutions to the real world issues! Its their
chance to have a voice and advocate for their rights.
15Lesson TransformationWhat will it look like?
16Time to TweakThis lesson has a lot of holesLack of
cohesionRequires sufficient scaffolding and constant monitoring for
progress.
Bottom Line:Common Core transition is a work in progress.It will
take multiple failed attempts before we get any where near
correct.
17EvaluateNot sure if your lesson is as Common Core-y as you
want?Evaluate Using the EQuIP Math RubricEvaluate Using the EQuIP
ELA RubricSend it on over to your MTLD to get a fresh perspective
on your progression, and use the Eval Forms to assess yourselves.
Iterate, improve!Get excited, because youve already started the
transition!18Lets Have a Great Year!Feel free to leave me feedback,
comments, or questions at [email protected] for your
participation and effort!19
