TC Update
August 2016
In This Issue:
- Important News
- STEAM-STEM-STREAM
- Elections Come to the Classroom
- PBS Learning Media
- DASA Training Information
- Teacher Center Information
- Important Dates
Important News
CTLE Credit and BCTC Presenters
Open House at BCTC
Open House at WSKG
STEAM-STEM-STREAM
Bundles of NGSS Concepts
The organization behind the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) has begun releasing sample “bundles” of standards to help people move away from thinking that the standards are supposed to be taught as a checklist. The bundles are intended to help teachers and curriculum developers understand how they might implement the science standards, or student “Performance Expectations,” in ways that can help learners see the connections between concepts and thereby optimize class time. A 24-pageexample bundles guide provides sample bundles and lays out the rationale behind bundling. Each bundle includes a course summary, a bundle document, and a course flowchart. The sample bundles are only one way that the standards could be bundled together; rather they’re intended to illustrate the process of bundling and the types of thinking necessary in building bundles that capitalize on the connections between standards. A full suite of example bundles covering all grade levels is expected to be released during the 2016–2017 school year. Click Here to Access Free Sample Bundles Click Here to Download Free Example Bundles Guide Plus: In June 2016, a science teacher at Olympia High School in Stanford, Illinois, conducted a webinar that serves as an introduction to bundling the NGSS. Experts who helped to develop the bundling resource facilitated the webinar to discuss the principles of bundling standards. The webinar was recorded and may be viewed on the NGSS website.
Weekly Creative Thinking Math Lessons
To help K–12 students approach math with creativity and enjoyment, youcubed, a Stanford University center that provides research-based resources for teaching and learning mathematics, has released a series of free lessons in time for back to school. The Week of Inspirational Math (WiM) lesson series for teachers, parents, and students includes five lessons that offer students open, rich mathematics experiences to inspire creative thinking and a growth mindset. The lessons are accompanied by fivemotivational videos created by Stanford University mathematics education professor Dr. Jo Boaler and the team at youcubed. The lessons encourage creative mathematical thinking, as well as visual mathematics incorporating fingers, manipulatives, and motion in teaching and learning various concepts, as suggested by the latest brain science. The lessons provide opportunities for students to draw, visualize, discuss ideas, and work with models in mathematics—teaching mathematical ideas visually through pattern study and generalization. The lessons ask students, at regular intervals, how they see mathematical ideas and ask students to represent mathematical ideas in a multitude of ways, such as through pictures, models, and graphs.
Stem Assessment Tool
The nonprofit Measured Progress has developed STEM Gauge, a formative assessment resource that provides students with opportunities to demonstrate understanding of the three dimensions of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Performance Expectations (PEs)—Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Disciplinary Core Ideas—as instruction occurs. For a limited time, Measured Progress is offering a free Next Generation Science Standards STEM Gauge middle school topic-based item set for teachers to try in their classroom. Included with one free topic-based item set is access to the Teacher’s Guide andFormative Support Tools. The Teacher’s Guide provides an Item Index that displays the way each item addresses the three dimensions and lists Performance Expectations, learning targets, depth of knowledge levels, and item types. Teachers will also find suggestions for using science and engineering practices to engage students in learning science content. The Formative Support Tools help teachers integrate the NGSS into classroom instruction and assessment. The tools also include instructional strategies for transitioning to the NGSS.
Elections come to the Classroom
Contest That Supports a Cause
The Cat in the Hat has thrown his iconic red and white hat into the ring for president. Now he wants children to help him decide which cause to support—education, ocean conservation, environment, hunger, kindness. Children across the nation are encouraged to vote for The Cat to work with fellow Dr. Seuss characters and the organization and cause that they represent. The characters, organization, and cause with the most votes will receive $10,000 from Dr. Seuss Enterprises and Random House Children’s Books. At The Cat in the Hat’s “campaign headquarters,” students can check out The Cat’s campaign video, learn more about the causes, and then vote for their favorite. Deadline: All votes must be cast by 11:59 p.m. on November 8, 2016. The winning organization and cause will be announced on or around December 1, 2016. Click Here for More Information Click Here to View Campaign Video Plus: In the simple rhyming book One Vote, Two Votes, I Vote, You Vote, The Cat in the Hat introduces early readers to the basic principles of democracy, including how political parties are formed and why Election Day is held in early November.
Election Central
PBS
DASA
DASA Training Session
The next BU DASA Training Sessions will be on the following dates. All are Saturdays 9-3:30 in Fine Arts 258
Saturday, September 24th
Saturday, October 29th
Saturday, November 19th
Saturday, December 17th
For more information and to register see: http://www2.binghamton.edu/gse/dasa/dasa.html
Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Training
(required as of January 1st, 2014)
Teacher Center Info
Teacher Center and Safety
Important Dates
8/22/16- 9-12
8/23/16- 12-3
8/24/16- 9-12
8/25/16- 12-3
8/29/16- 9-12
8/30/16- 12-3
8/31/16- 9-12
9/01/16- 12-3
9/6/16- 3:30-7:30
9/7/16 begins our regular hours
9/21/16- New Teacher and Mentor Open House 4-6pm
Teacher Center of Broome County
Email: bctc@btboces.org
Website: bit.ly/broometc
Location: 601 Gates Road, Vestal, NY, United States
Phone: 607-763-3282
Twitter: @broometc