If you are here, you likely are interested in using the CER framework in your science class. While this is an excellent framework for teaching the practice of engaging in an argument from evidence, it isn’t without its challenges. For…
Argumentation helps scientists to understand the world around them. Also, it is a tool that we use in our everyday lives to improve our understanding of a subject. However, argumentation was absent in previous versions of the standards. Here is…
Science and Engineering Practices are one of the three dimensions of the NGSS. They represent a significant change in science education because they empower students to take the lead in their own education. And, they represent a shift away from…
The 3 dimensions of the NGSS are at the heart of the instructional shifts that come with these standards. 3D learning in the NGSS represents a move away from the memorization of unrelated facts. Instead, they require a move toward…
Middle school labs look very different in an NGSS aligned classroom. The NGSS will change your labs in more ways than you think. Here are 4 ways that the NGSS will change labs in your classroom. How are labs different…
I have been getting A LOT of questions from teachers who are new to NGSS. Don’t panic! Even reading the next generation science standards can be a challenge. How do I read the NGSS? Check out this 10-minute guide to…
One of the biggest changes that have occured in the shift to meet the intent of the NGSS is the role that students play in their own learning. Students are no longer allowed to be passive participants in their own…
When I started teaching to meet the intent of the NGSS, my students struggled with creating models. Over time, I have learned how to help my students make better models. Here are five ways to improve your student’s NGSS models….
