Inspired

I'm really really enjoying this book so far.



And I've only finished the first of 6 of the main parts. I haven't even explored the companion website very much yet, either.

Get it. Read it. Then contact me so we can swap ideas. PLEASE!!!

I'M SO EXCITED FOR NGSSS!!!!!

So there are a new set of Science Standards. Developed by a bunch of teachers and quite a few states (but not FL, sad face) and other professionals in the field + given feedback by anyone interested - a 3 year process - these standards are FINALLY FINISHED!

Based on the Frameworks for K-12 Science Education, these standards incorporate some key and really important ideas. But don't take it from me - here are some quotes from this story on Education Week that highlight why I am really SO SO SO SO SO excited for these standards!

"the Next Generation Science Standards are designed to provide a greater emphasis on depth over breadth in studying the subject"

they..."lead young people to apply their learning through scientific inquiry"

"Coupling practice with content gives the learning context, whereas practices alone are activities, and content alone is memorization"

"top priorities in the standards include promoting coherence in the teaching of science across disciplines and grades and having a clear and sustained focus on 'cross-cutting concepts" in the curriculum, such as patterns, cause and effect, and stability and change."

Do you see why these are great?!!? I really hope Florida jumps on board fast - or my husband jumps on board with my relocating to a place they are going to use these. I LOVE LOVE LOVE all these ideas - and can't wait for them to be reality!

"when am I going to have to use this?"

Oh goodness I hate that question.

But at the same time - from our information efficient generation - I totally understand it.

When it is really necessary that I be able to recall the first X number of elements?
When is it really necessary that I know the order of the presidents?
When is it really necessary that I know __________________?

So much of what we learned in school was just fact recollection. But why? When I can easily google rather than give my  best guess, why is it necessary for me to be able to just recall a fact?

The facts aren't what matters.

It is the cause and effect of those things being fact that matters.

I LOVE when I can explain WHY it is important to understand something to my students.

Which is why I was PSYCHED to read about the BRAIN initiative.

Now I don't really know too much more about it than I have read online today but I know that students ears and interest peak when you can easily explain to them, or, even, better, without explaining, get them to understand how whatever it is you are discussing is important to their lives.

That is where this comes in.

Genetics were probably pretty boring to learn about before the human genome project. What did some guys and pea pods have to do with me?

Then it was explained. All of a sudden students are comparing earlobe shapes, hair color, eye color, blood type, etc etc! It fit in later when talking about diseases and the human body and learning which diseases we are predisposed to and which are more chance related.

It isn't hard to think how learning all about the brain will help peak students interests.

Sometimes, that is all it takes to keep a students motivated and on the right path. Inspire them with what their knowledge can do.

And the fact that there is $100 million thrown behind it helps peak their interest as well ;)