Cases are anecdotal stories written by classroom teachers about a puzzling or surprising event during a science lesson. For example, one science case is written by a teacher who is thinking about how best to deliver content instruction in magnetism and electricity, and the potential for student misconceptions when teachers try to explain content. They are intended to stimulate teacher reflection on pedagogy and science content. This year, 4 to 5 case discussions focusing on physical science will be available to teachers in BASEE led by WestEd regional consortium. A stipend is available through BASEE for participating teachers.
Attending a Workshop/Institute
This is particularly effective if a team of teachers attends the conference and shares with the rest of the staff. Program flyers that BASEE recommends will be given to your school's Science Lead. Those workshops/Institutes that are currently approved are listed below. Other programs can be pre-approved using a professional development form (under development), or contact your SRT.
Bay Area Schools for Excellence in Education Workshops:
MBA Teacher Institute (two week summer session and three follow-up weekend workshops during each year of the two year program): Applications will be accepted from teams of two to four teachers from the same site. You may request an application by email from Rita Bell. Application deadline is March 29, 1998.
Watershed Workshop (4th grade water)
Saturday Workshops: Natural systems of Monterey Bay
This approach to staff development is favored by many teachers. Your site plan could include release time for coaching in specific areas of science instruction. For example, you may want to work on:
Classroom and Materials Management
Using inquiry based teaching methods
Questioning Techniques
Site Based Professional Development
This option will vary for teacher teams. Perhaps you want release time with your grade level partners to plan how you will integrate your science and literacy programs. It could also include researching literature books or evaluating software to enrich science. Another option would be to redesign selected kit lessons to make them more inquiry based. You may wish to articulate science units with district standards and district designed performance assessments.
Student Work Study Groups
Teachers often find it valuable to meet together as a group on a regular basis to discuss student work. Many school sites have used student work study sessions as part of their Program Quality Review. A Student Work Study Group could be grade level-specific, or cross grade at a school site. Participants could choose to focus on:
using student work to inform instruction
student conceptual understanding and misconceptions
student self-reflection
Study groups are led by the Science Resource Teacher, or a trained Science Lead Teacher.
