Monday, October 29, 2018

Improve Science Study

I will host the study results on the grade-level physical science website which is available to support the learning community in this regard. 
Like a heavy backpack, I've been carrying around the need to update the physical science study work for my students. With analysis, I realized that what I needed to do this work was a good eight to ten hours of uninterrupted study. With that in mind, I reached out to the principal in the school and asked for a professional day to do that work. The day was granted, and now I'm thinking about what it is that I need to do to improve my teaching in this area. My work will include the following:

  • Rereading and studying all related materials 
  • Revisiting past efforts 
  • Organizing a learning path including about six to ten learning experiences
  • Outlining each learning experience with related videos, activities, information, and materials
  • Scheduling the teaching on the year's calendar
  • Potentially choosing one or two upcoming learning events to support this study
  • Reaching out to expert visitors and potential field experiences to support this study
  • Integrating this study, where possible, into our year-long River Studies Grant, a year long environmental study with students in conjunction with Mass Audubon's Drumlin Farm educators and naturalists
In the end, I hope that I'll have a good teaching/learning map which will set me up to better teach the physical science unit to fifth graders. Good professional learning doesn't always have to be attendance at a course or conference. Sometimes this work is best done on your own with a day of uninterrupted study, planning, and prep.