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Development of End-of-Year Science Assessments for Grades 1 - 3
Middle Level Science:  Aligning Science Curriculum with the MST Standards
Assessing the Big Ideas in Science K-8
Introduction to CRSEP Strategies for Professional Development Co-leaders
Planning Implementation of STC Units
Writing for Understanding in Science

Development of End-of-Year Science Assessments for Grades 1 - 3

Description

Participants in this workshop will design end-of-year science assessments for grades 1 - 3.  The assessments will be aligned with the ESPET, the NYS MST Standards, and the Elementary Core Curriculum and contain multiple choice, constructed response, and hands-on items.  The assessments will help teachers in grades K-3 understand how the science content they teach contributes to the development of science literacy and prepares students for the ESPET.  The assessments will also provide students in grades 1-3 with practice taking external examinations such as the ESPET.

*Schenectady teachers will receive 30 hours of professional development as a collaborative project beginning in August and  continuing through the fall with culmination by January 2002.

Middle Level Science:  Aligning Science Curriculum with the MST Standards

Description

Districts and schools have begun work on the alignment of standards, curriculum and assessment.  This two-part workshop will provide teachers across and within districts opportunities to share and build on that work.  The design of appropriate assessment items will serve as a means for refining the alignment work.  We will grapple with such questions as:

• What are the needs of the workshop participants?

• What are the "next"steps needed in each district"

• How does/should the structure of the science itself affect alignment?

• How can alignment across grades 5-8 and K-8 be effectively achieved?

• What aspects of student development should be considered when working on alignment and the design of assessment items?

• How can the instructional philosophy or approach of a district be maintained throughout alignment and assessment work?

• What coherent practice and effective tasks do we already have within our community and how can we best use those?

Assessing the Big Ideas in Science K-8

Description

These workshops will focus on assessing cross-disciplinary science concepts and theories such as energy, systems, and kinetic molecular theory using a variety of item types including multiple choice, constructed response and performance (hands-on).  Items appropriate for students at all grade levels will be developed for use in formative and summative assessment.

Introduction to CRSEP Strategies for Professional Development Co-leaders

Description

These workshops are for Professional Development Associates interested in acting as co-leaders of STC Unit Implementation Workshops.  Each associate will participate int wo workshops.  The first will introduce Associates to professional development stratgies designed by the CRSEP project.  During the second workshop associates will work with professional development specialists to plan STC Unit Implementation workshops that will be presented in August.

Second Workshop Leaders and Dates:*

Middle Level Science:  Aligning Science Curriculum with the MST Standards

Description

Districts and schools have begun work on the alignment of standards, curriculum and assessment.  This two-part workshop will provide teachers across and within districts opportunities to share and build on that work.  The design of appropriate assessment items will serve as a means for refining the alignment work.  We will grapple with such questions as:

• What are the needs of the workshop participants?

• What are the "next"steps needed in each district"

• How does/should the structure of the science itself affect alignment?

• How can alignment across grades 5-8 and K-8 be effectively achieved?

• What aspects of student development should be considered when working on alignment and the design of assessment items?

• How can the instructional philosophy or approach of a district be maintained throughout alignment and assessment work?

• What coherent practice and effective tasks do we already have within our community and how can we best use those?

Planning Implementation of STC Units

 Description

These STC Unit Implementation Workshops  provide teachers the opportunity to plan for the implementation of STC Units.  Teachers will develop overviews  of what students should learn as the result of their participation in the STC Unit,  be introduced to science content that will help them  do a more effective job of teaching the unit and the opportunity to develop detailed plans for implementing lessons. Follow-up  workshops will provide further opportunity for the development of activity plans using formative assessment to ensure alignment with the New York State MST Standards and Core Curriculum. ( See attached STC Unit Distribution by grade level to identify units of interest.)

Participants:    Science teachers K - 8

Location:                               Mont Pleasant rooms 132A and 128  
Time:                                     Unit Introduction 9:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. 
                                              Unit Follow-up     9:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. 
                                             $60.00/per summer session  
                                               substitute  reimbursement for Unit follow-up sessions

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Writing for Understanding in Science

Description

This workshop will focus on using  STC Units to strengthen your students’ writing, reasoning, and reading abilities. STC Science Units provide students with up-close and personal contexts for writing.  Reading is important preparation for writing and putting it on paper makes students’ reasoning transparent thus integrating important English language skills in the context of coming to understand science principles.