The State Board of Education (SBE) officially adopted the EP&Cs (Environmental Principles and Concepts) in 2004 and they are an important piece of the curricular expectations for all California students. Teachers can introduce these EP&Cs through their many connections with the three dimensions of the CA NGSS, and by focusing instruction on the environment of […]
Being an educator is not an easy job. In my short career in education I have learned how much education policy, standards, and frameworks can change. For me, the first change came with Common Core State Standards (CCSS), and now with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). NGSS may seem like an immense obstacle to some teachers; […]
“A free-flowing river—the last of its kind—winds through 80 miles of rich habitat. Down the western side of the Sierra Nevada and across the Central Valley, the Cosumnes River flows through farmland, pastures, rare oak woodlands, and wetlands that support migrating birds. Because no dams block its flow, salmon still spawn in its waters.” ~ […]
I enjoyed a much needed sojourn into the Eastern Sierras this summer. For two weeks, my husband, our two Queensland Heelers, and I cruised our truck camper in and out of the mountains north and south of Bridgeport, California. We hiked every day through quiet forests, alongside rushing rivers and churning waterfalls. The dogs frolicked […]
As a kindergarten teacher, one of my goals at the beginning of each school year is to have my students reading and (hopefully!) writing by June. At the beginning of every year I realize what a monumental task it is as I gaze at my classroom on that first day of school. If you’ve ever […]
Science is central to how we understand and make sense of the world around us. Could it be that the best way to teach science might be to turn that idea on its head? The natural world is central to how we understand and make sense of science. Across California, where schools are implementing new […]
If a teacher decides to adopt a project based learning (PBL) approach, even the Gold Standard Project Based Learning unit, the most comprehensive tier of PBL strategies, starts with a simple question: What’s the content that teachers will use to foster a successful classroom? There is no shortage of sources from which to choose: individual state […]
Part two: A Deeper Dive Please refer to Part 1 of Kurt’s post, where he shares an in-depth look at the Get Outside with NGSS workshop! We have a unique opportunity in 2017 to invigorate public education; specifically, to elevate environment-based science learning. This exciting momentum is driven by dramatically increased recognition of the value of […]