EBOOK
About
An accessible, engaging primer on the eight science practices at the heart of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), providing K—8 instructional leaders with the grounding they need to ensure excellent science instruction in every classroom.
The NGSS reconceptualize science instruction by redefining the teacher as someone who helps students construct their own knowledge by "thinking like scientists" and engaging in discrete science practices.
However, with STEM teachers in short supply and generalists often feeling underprepared to teach elementary and middle school science, what can instructional leaders do to ensure students get a strong start in this critical area and learn to love science?
Although a content-neutral approach to supervision-one that emphasizes general pedagogical features such as student engagement, cognitive load, or classroom management-is undoubtedly beneficial, the best instructional leaders know that content-specific approaches are necessary to achieve real excellence.
This is an essential guide for any K—8 instructional leader who wants to empower all teachers to provide all students with rich science experiences and develop the cognitive and noncognitive skills students will need to thrive in more advanced courses, work, and society.
The NGSS reconceptualize science instruction by redefining the teacher as someone who helps students construct their own knowledge by "thinking like scientists" and engaging in discrete science practices.
However, with STEM teachers in short supply and generalists often feeling underprepared to teach elementary and middle school science, what can instructional leaders do to ensure students get a strong start in this critical area and learn to love science?
Although a content-neutral approach to supervision-one that emphasizes general pedagogical features such as student engagement, cognitive load, or classroom management-is undoubtedly beneficial, the best instructional leaders know that content-specific approaches are necessary to achieve real excellence.
This is an essential guide for any K—8 instructional leader who wants to empower all teachers to provide all students with rich science experiences and develop the cognitive and noncognitive skills students will need to thrive in more advanced courses, work, and society.