PRISM Science and Math Workshops 2018-2019

[Deirdre MacKnight]

2018 – 2019 PRISM Science and Math Workshops
All workshops 8:30 – 2:30 with 5.5 PD Hrs. unless noted otherwise
Cost: $150
Questions – email [e-mail] or call 973-655-7753
Register Now!
  https://goo.gl/forms/ilCcsGRzfPMBBauq2

October 16
Engineering Design in the NGSS Middle School Classroom
Integrating the E in STEM in meaningful ways can be challenging given scheduling, limited funds and resources. Together, workshop participants will consider the importance of engineering in the NGSS classroom and try various challenges that address specific integrated content areas. Teachers will leave with activities that are ready to implement when they return to school.
Facilitator: Karen Woodruff

October 19
NGSS-aligned Engineering Challenges for Elementary Students, Gr K-5
Participate in an engineering design challenge based on NGSS Engineering Practices. Experience first-hand the engineering design process and learn about a number of practical examples of classroom-tested elementary engineering challenges. Examine a variety of hands-on science and literacy materials, classroom videos, and student work from elementary engineering challenges, from river erosion prevention, ice cube keeper, to an alarm device. Learn strategies to develop engineering challenges for your classroom that you can embed in your science curriculum. Take home differentiated student notebook templates and access online pre-designed unit and engineering resources for support.
Facilitator: Jean Myers

October 24  8:30am – 12noon  PD: 3.5hrs
Administrators: "What Should I Observe in an NGSS Classroom?”
Are you an administrator responsible for conducting classroom observations in a district without a science supervisor?  If so, this workshop will benefit you. The NGSS classroom is different from when you were a student.  This interactive 3.5-hour workshop will explain the conceptual shifts in NGSS; the three Dimensions and the Performance Expectations; and provide demonstrations for the use of scientific phenomena as a means for students to make claims, support claims with evidence, and construct scientific arguments.  Administrators will receive a 3-ring binder full of the resources required to identify “Look fors” regarding teacher instructional practices and student learning.
Facilitator: Christopher Hunninghake

October 26
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices, K-8: Asking Questions and Modeling
The 8 Science and Engineering Practices of the NGSS are the most significant way the NGSS differs from prior standards. The disciplinary core ideas (content) are combined with relevant practices of science or engineering. Successful implementation of the NGSS must include a solid understanding of the eight Science and Engineering Practices.  Join us in four sessions to learn and apply these skills.  Each session deals with two practices.  Learn what each practice means and apply it for your own lessons.
Asking Questions & Defining Problems: Questions drive scientific inquiry.  Learning methods to ask good questions and to distinguish between those that can be tested or not is fundamental to all science.  Defining problems is using that same skill but focused on how to solve a specific engineering problem.
Developing and Using Models: Models include diagrams, physical replicas, mathematical representations, analogies, and computer simulations. Models do not exactly represent the real world. They are used to highlight certain features.
Facilitator: Joanne Kornoelje

November 2   
“Who stole the chocolate?” NGSS-aligned CSI for Elementary Students
Experience first-hand a Crime Scene Investigation that you can take back directly to your young detectives using simple materials. Be a detective and learn how to solve crimes by collecting evidence and analyzing it in labs activities. You will take home a differentiated student notebook, and curriculum unit, and resources to support your student work back in your classrooms.
Facilitator: Jean Myers

November 14
NGSS: Beyond the Basics, Grades 6-12    
Are you looking for ways to more effectively incorporate the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) into your science instruction?  Do you wish to make your science classroom more student centered?  This workshop will review the foundation of the standards: the three Dimensions and the Performance Expectations.  Participants will then learn how to use phenomena as a starting point for their lessons; construct explanations and argumentations for the phenomena using CER (Claims-Evidence-Reasoning) and POE (Prediction-Observation-Explanation); explore the value of student-generated models to represent ideas; and analyze the components of the 5E instructional model (if time).  Participants will receive resources in the form of lessons, handouts, ready-to-use activities, and websites.
Facilitator: Christopher Hunninghake

November 16
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices, K-8: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations and Analyzing and Interpreting Data
The 8 Science and Engineering Practices of the NGSS are the most significant way the NGSS differs from prior standards. The disciplinary core ideas (content) are combined with relevant practices of science or engineering. Successful implementation of the NGSS must include a solid understanding of the eight Science and Engineering Practices.  Join us in four sessions to learn and apply these skills.  Each session deals with two practices.  Learn what each practice means and apply it for your own lessons.
Planning and Carrying Out Investigations: Scientific investigations can be done to describe a phenomenon or to test a theory or model of how the world works. Students learn to always state the goal of an investigation, predict outcomes, and plan a course of action that will provide the best evidence for their ideas.
Analyzing and Interpreting Data: Once data is collected in an investigation, it must be then presented in a form that can reveal patterns and relationships, and help communicate results to others.  Scientists spend much time organizing and interpreting data, tabulating, graphing or other analysis.
Facilitator: Joanne Kornoelje

November 28
Fundamentals of NGSS for Teachers, Grades K-5
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) have been implemented for grades K-5. This workshop is for those teachers who are new to the NGSS and who need to learn the pedagogical and strategic thinking behind them.  Participants will be introduced to the three Dimensions (Disciplinary Core Ideas, Crosscutting Concepts, and Science & Engineering Practices), the Performance Expectations, and “new” lab formats through which students can demonstrate their learning.  Participants will receive resources in the form of handouts, classroom-ready activities, and websites.
Facilitator: Christopher Hunninghake

November 30
Integrate the NGSS Cross-Cutting Concepts into All of Your Teaching, Gr 6 – 12
Cross-Cutting Concepts are the really big ideas that pervade all the disciplines of science, and are a major component of the NGSS.  Help your students make meaning from these concepts and use them as frameworks for their understanding of science and the universe.  Develop ways to make them an integral part of your teaching. Topic emphasis will include Systems and Systems Thinking as a major overarching way to view and study phenomena that is seldom taught in K-12 schools. All cross-cutting concepts will be addressed to provide practical assistance in implementing them in lessons and units.
Facilitator: Jacalyn Willis

December 7
NGSS-aligned Science Inquiry Experiences for Elementary Students
Participate in a scientific inquiry experience based on NGSS Science Practice Standards.  Experience first-hand the inquiry process and learn about a number of practical examples of classroom-tested elementary inquiry experiences.  Examine a variety of hands-on science and literacy materials, classroom videos, and student work from elementary inquiries, including simple machines, reflection, living organism behavior, and stream water quality. Learn strategies to develop scientific inquiry experiences for your classroom that you can embed in your science curriculum.  Take home differentiated student notebook templates and examine online resources.
Facilitator: Jean Myers

December 12
NGSS: Phenomena & CER, Grades 5-12
Are you looking for ways to engage your students in activities that support collaboration and argumentation?  This interactive workshop begins with a brief review of the foundation of the standards: the principles of NGSS, the three Dimensions, and the Performance Expectations.  Participants then learn how to use phenomena as a starting point for their lessons.  Finally, participants examine CER (Claims-Evidence-Reasoning), a process for writing and speaking about science.  This involves collaboratively discussing useful instructional and assessment strategies and practicing the process that guides students in making claims, supporting claims with evidence, and constructing scientific arguments. Participants will receive many resources in the form of lessons, handouts, classroom-ready activities, and websites.
Facilitator: Christopher Hunninghake

December 14
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices, K-8: Mathematical Thinking and Constructing Explanations
The 8 Science and Engineering Practices of the NGSS are the most significant way the NGSS differs from prior standards. The disciplinary core ideas (content) are combined with relevant practices of science or engineering. Successful implementation of the NGSS must include a solid understanding of the eight Science and Engineering Practices.  Join us in four sessions to learn and apply these skills.  Each session deals with two practices.  Learn what each practice means and apply it for your own lessons.
Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking: Students use mathematics to represent physical variables and their relationships.  This builds to quantitative predictions. Computational thinking includes strategies for organizing data and creating simulations of natural and designed systems.
Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions: Students construct their own explanations for phenomena, based on the evidence culled from their investigations and research.  In engineering the solution is the answer to the need for the design.
Facilitator: Joanne Kornoelje

*****2019*****

January 9 - Mathematics
Effective Teaching Practices for Middle Grades Teachers
The focus of this workshop will be to examine ways to integrate Effective Mathematics Teaching Practices suggested by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in Principles to actions: Ensuring mathematical success for all (2014) in the middle grades mathematics classroom.  Participating teachers will have the opportunity to discuss each practice in depth and formulate specific strategies for effective mathematics teaching. Purposeful questioning and facilitation of meaningful mathematical discourse will be explored through tasks that promote reasoning and problem solving.  A variety of lesson tasks will be shared and examined for future classroom use.
Facilitator: Eliza Leszczynski

January 10
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices, K-8: Argumentation & Evaluating & Communicating Information
The 8 Science and Engineering Practices of the NGSS are the most significant way the NGSS differs from prior standards. The disciplinary core ideas (content) are combined with relevant practices of science or engineering. Successful implementation of the NGSS must include a solid understanding of the eight Science and Engineering Practices.  Join us in four sessions to learn and apply these skills.  Each session deals with two practices.  Learn what each practice means and apply it for your own lessons.
Engaging in Argument from Evidence: Argumentation is a process for reaching agreements about explanations.  The best explanations for natural phenomena are based reasoning and argument. Student engagement in scientific argumentation is critical to understanding the culture we live in and how to apply science for the benefit of society.
Obtaining, Evaluating and Communicating Information: Students must be able to read, interpret and produce scientific text, as well as develop the skill to communicate their findings clearly and persuasively.  Critical reading of information, recognizing good ideas, errors and flaws, is fundamental to good thinking.
Facilitator: Joanne Kornoelje

January 18
NGSS: Beyond the Basics, Grades K-5
Are you looking for ways to more effectively incorporate the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) into your science instruction?  Do you wish to make your science classroom more student centered?  This workshop will review the foundation of the standards: the three Dimensions and the Performance Expectations.  Participants will then learn how to use phenomena as a starting point for their lessons; construct explanations and argumentations for the phenomena using CER (Claims-Evidence-Reasoning) and POE (Prediction-Observation-Explanation); explore the value of student-generated models to represent ideas; and analyze the components of the 5E instructional model (if time).  Participants will receive resources in the form of lessons, handouts, ready-to-use activities, and websites.
Facilitator: Christopher Hunninghake

January 25
“Ooh NOT Eww!” NGSS-aligned Organism Study for Elementary Students
Experience first-hand a living organism investigation that you can use directly with your young scientists in your classroom. Investigations will be inquiry-based; driven by observations, students will formulate questions and collect data and research to formulate answers.  As well you will investigate ways to integrate and utilize literacy. You will take home a differentiated student notebook, a curriculum unit and resources to support your student work back in your classrooms.
Facilitator: Jean Myers

February 1
NGSS: Phenomena & CER, Grades 5-12
Are you looking for ways to engage your students in activities that support collaboration and argumentation?  This interactive workshop begins with a brief review of the foundation of the standards: the principles of NGSS, the three Dimensions, and the Performance Expectations.  Participants then learn how to use phenomena as a starting point for their lessons.  Finally, participants examine CER (Claims-Evidence-Reasoning), a process for writing and speaking about science.  This involves collaboratively discussing useful instructional and assessment strategies and practicing the process that guides students in making claims, supporting claims with evidence, and constructing scientific arguments. Participants will receive many resources in the form of lessons, handouts, classroom-ready activities, and websites.
Facilitator: Christopher Hunninghake

February 15
NGSS: Beyond the Basics, Grades 6-12
Are you looking for ways to more effectively incorporate the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) into your science instruction?  Do you wish to make your science classroom more student centered?  This workshop will review the foundation of the standards: the three Dimensions and the Performance Expectations.  Participants will then learn how to use phenomena as a starting point for their lessons; construct explanations and argumentations for the phenomena using CER (Claims-Evidence-Reasoning) and POE (Prediction-Observation-Explanation); explore the value of student-generated models to represent ideas; and analyze the components of the 5E instructional model (if time).  Participants will receive resources in the form of lessons, handouts, ready-to-use activities, and websites.
Facilitator: Christopher Hunninghake

February 22
Bringing the Maker Movement to your Elementary School
Make something that does something using circuits. In this open-ended maker workshop, participants will build new understandings of circuitry through a hands-on experience to making something.  Multiple materials will be available including littleBits, paper circuits, squishy circuits, and Makey Makeys. Examine a variety of student work, classroom videos, and articles to develop strategies to bring the Maker Experience to your students.
Facilitator: Jean Myers

February 27
Authentic Data with NASA Connections, Grades 6-12
Engaging students in explorations of authentic data provides meaningful learning opportunities and integrates across subject area content. The NGSS and CCSS encourage analysis and interpretation of data. It can be challenging to identify meaningful ways to integrate data from international missions and scientific explorations. In this workshop, participants will think critically about the use of data in the classroom and learn to select publicly available data sets that enhance meaningful student-centered lessons. Teachers will learn where to access the latest NASA and NOAA mission data for applications in all science disciplines and learn how to appropriately select data sets that students can use for deeper understanding of content.
Facilitator: Karen Woodruff

March 8
NGSS: Beyond the Basics, Grades K-5
Are you looking for ways to more effectively incorporate the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) into your science instruction?  Do you wish to make your science classroom more student centered?  This workshop will review the foundation of the standards: the three Dimensions and the Performance Expectations.  Participants will then learn how to use phenomena as a starting point for their lessons; construct explanations and argumentations for the phenomena using CER (Claims-Evidence-Reasoning) and POE (Prediction-Observation-Explanation); explore the value of student-generated models to represent ideas; and analyze the components of the 5E instructional model (if time).  Participants will receive resources in the form of lessons, handouts, ready-to-use activities, and websites.
Facilitator: Christopher Hunninghake

March 15
NGSS-aligned Engineering Challenges for Elementary Students, Gr K-5
Participate in an engineering design challenge based on NGSS Engineering Practices. Experience first-hand the engineering design process and learn about a number of practical examples of classroom-tested elementary engineering challenges. Examine a variety of hands-on science and literacy materials, classroom videos, and student work from elementary engineering challenges, from river erosion prevention, ice cube keeper, to an alarm device. Learn strategies to develop engineering challenges for your classroom that you can embed in your science curriculum. Take home differentiated student notebook templates and access online pre-designed unit and engineering resources for support.
Facilitator: Jean Myers

May 22
Integrating Mathematics and Science in the Middle Grades Classroom
Come and explore effective mathematics and science activities your middle grades students will surely love and enjoy!  In this workshop, we will explore the nature of interdisciplinary teaching of mathematics and science, and engage in activities that support active student learning of concepts in both disciplines. This workshop is ideal for mathematics teachers looking to infuse more relevant and meaningful applications of mathematics in science into their curriculum. From the mathematics of filling flower vases with water to counting birds in the forest, this workshop will surely enhance the collection of your favorite classroom activities! 
Facilitator: Eliza Leszczynski

June 11
Catalyzing Change in High School Mathematics
The focus of this workshop for high school mathematics teachers will be to examine and discuss key recommendations presented by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in Catalyzing change in high school mathematics: initiating critical conversations (2018).  Participating teachers will have the opportunity to discuss and co-develop ways to implement equitable instruction in the mathematics classroom and examine essential concepts for high school mathematics (number, algebra and functions, statistics and probability, geometry and measurement) proposed by the writers of Catalyzing change.  Ready-to-use classroom activities will be shared and explored in the context of each essential concept. 
Facilitator:  Eliza Leszczynski

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