Next Generation Science Standards Are Out!

            After months of waiting, the final draft of the Next Generation Science Standards is available. What this means is that these national standards have been released so that the individual states can chose to adopt or not adopt them. Although it is not mandatory to do so, in the end most states will likely adopt them. Why? In a word: Uniformity. If a student moves from one state to another, there needs to some continuity between what they were learning in their old school and what they will learn in their new school. [I've heard the conspiracy theory about the government wanting to brainwash our children using CC and NGSS and I think it is silly. There are far easier ways to do that using television.]

            Despite what many are saying, there is nothing ground breaking in the new standards. In fact, science students in CA are going to be responsible for learning less than they were before on most topics (except possible climate change). The idea is to go deeper into each concept, which I am all for.

            My only real beef with the standards are the assessments. They have not been created yet, but it is expected that there will be less multiple choice and more writing and possibly Lab Practicals involved. I don’t see how the state of California can afford to do score these types of tests. Multiple choice tests are easy with their bubbled–in forms that can be quickly scanned by computer. But scoring something as subjective as an essay or diagram or expecting the schools to pay for Lab Practical materials does not make good sense.

            So, we wait on pins and needles. The states will spend the next school year creating their own Standards and assessments based on the NGSS. They will ask for public comments (and possibly listen to them). There will be no end-of-course (CST) tests for high school next year in CA and only pilot testing the following year. That should help.

Increasing Science Literacy!

           It takes a lot to get me excited, but I am very excited about our newest product. It is our first product SPECIFICALLY geared towards the Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. I know, right? Very cool!

            As you know, the NGSS and CC science addendum bend towards the analysis of concepts to increase understanding.  In that vein, we have created a simple form for helping students learn how to analyze a science journal article. It includes a form for lower-level science and upper level science courses. It is also useful for middle school science as long as you can find suitable journal articles. Perhaps you could create your own “faux articles” in place of actual journal articles. We may be releasing a middle school version in the future that does this for you.

Check back for more exciting new products in the future!

Implementing The Next Generation Science Standards

     About a month ago I emailed the contact person for the California Department of Education Testing website asking some questions about the NGSS. I wanted to know when the new Standards would be implemented and how were they planning to test our students based on these Standards. It took a full month to get a reply. I had forgotten I had emailed her.

     Her answers were odd. She told me the CST's, our current testing scheme, would be "sunsetting" at the end of the next school year.The Standards are not even officially out yet (in fact, the drafts were removed from their website) and they already have a firm date on when they will no longer use the old test? That means that once the state gets the Standards (they are a lead state in their creation, so they will adopt them), they only have a year to develop tests for Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science and Physics. Does that sound like something the STATE could do quickly? And how about Integrated Science? How about the 10 grade Life Science test? What are your plans for those? I'd like to plan for the future, but I can't.

     There was also no answer about the testing format. Many people assume they will change the format of the test to include a writing portion.There are 6 million plus students in public schools in CA. How can you effectively grade the writing of 6 million students in a matter of a few months (test scores come out in the summer)?

     The NGSS are supposedly geared towards the student being able to demonstrate proficiency in science. Why do they need to have a writing portion? The likelihood is that the new standardized tests for CA will look just like the old ones. But CA is not saying anything now.

     Come on, CDE! We need information! If I am going to "completely change the way I teach science," you need to give me a heads-up. I can't completely change my way of teaching the summer before school starts. I'd like at least a year to plan.

How Will the Next Gen Science Standards Be Tested?

     I have been wondering for a while how these new national science standards would be tested. The Common Core Standards, for Math and English, are supposed to be tested in more of an essay format and the push seems to be there to do the same thing for science. (I don't know what some people have against multiple choice, but I have never had a problem with them.) Still, the question was there.
    
     I noticed this week that the testing portion would be left up to the individual States. So, CA will write the test for my students based on the new standards. I took a little trip over to the California Department of Education - Testing website. There is nothing new. No mention of new Standards (they aren't official yet, anyway). No mention of their possible approach. No call for teacher input.

     The timeline states we should begin implementing changes next school year and be fully committed to the NGSS by the following year, yet we have no idea how our students will be tested. On top of that, we have to wait for our state (CA in my case) to make that decision. Crazy.

     BTW, looking at the names of the people involved in creating the new science standards, I did not find a single, current high school science teacher. Lots of college professors and a few former high school teachers, but not one current high school science teacher listed as an author. I suppose they will say they consulted, but should we have been involved in the authorship? Wouldn't that have given the standards more credibility?

 If you wanted to know what it was like to fight in the trenches during WW2, would you ask a Vietnam veteran or a WW2 veteran?

Super Sale at TpT.com!

There is a great sale at Teachers Pay Teachers this weekend. Click the link below and use the promo code to get 28% off your materials!


                                     

Apply, Apply, Apply!

The Common Core and Next Gen Science Standards are going to require some big changes for teachers. It's not enough to memorize any more. We have to focus more on helping students to apply the knowledge we are giving them.


Soldier on, my friends. You are going back to school!

Examining the New Standards

     My biggest gripe so far with the Next Generation Science Standards is that I really don't see how they plan to test the students. Here are some of the ways the Standards begin:

"Critically read scientific literature and produce scientific writing..."
"Design and conduct an investigation to..."
"Use a model to support the explanation of..."

Are the new Standardized tests going to be essay questions only? What does that mean for those that can't write well (SPED, ELL, etc)? Are there laboratory practicals involved? How feasible is that? I don't see the point of the language used in the Standards if our goal is for students to understand a concept. Shouldn't they all begin "Students will understand that.....?"

     Don't get me wrong. I actually like the Standards in practice for the most part and can see myself using them. However, I fail to see the link between them and a useful, national Standardized test.  

Next Gen Science Standards

The second draft of the Next Generation Science Standards are out and open for feedback for the next few weeks. If these Standards are formally adopted, it will completely change the way we teach Science. Some of the integrated aspects of these Standards worry me a bit and I'm not sure how they will be able to test these Standards adequately.

Cautiously optimistic.

Prayers for Newtown

Another school shooting. What can you do?

1. Examine your school's Disaster Preparedness Plan (parents and teachers).

2. Hug your family a little tighter and Thank God for their continued safety.

Remember, you can't legislate crazy people away.

Please take time out of your day to pray for the town of Newtown, CT.

Vote For TeachersPayTeachers.com!

They want to win a Crunchie for best Education Startup. I agree they should.

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