Professional Learning
An Invitation to Teach Outside the Box
It is my belief that there is no better time in a classroom than when students are curious and asking good, thoughtful questions. To help encourage this type of environment, I’ve been thinking about how to have a classroom that is driven by inquiry and provoked by questions. This is how I found myself watching… Continue Reading
NGSS Thoughts- Grouping Performance Expectations
For this entry I’m going to be discussing the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Performance Expectations (PE), which state what students should be able to do in order to demonstrate that they have met the standards. I think of these expectations as “goals” for students in science and for teachers to know what to share… Continue Reading
You Can and Do Make a Difference
If you were asked to describe the best professional learning experience you have ever had, what would you say? Would you say it fit your needs perfectly? Would you say you were provided with individualized considerations? Would you say you were able to take the experience and share it with your colleagues? Would you say… Continue Reading
Superman Meets Learning Forward Academy Class of 2019
Last Friday morning at the Marriot Conference Center in Denver, Colorado, I found myself at the Superman-themed table introducing myself to six other educators who would become my new teammates. I had never met any of them prior to that day. I was there, along with three of my other colleagues from the AIMS Center,… Continue Reading
AIMS Facilitators Institute
Some of the most common requests the AIMS Professional Learning division is called upon to help a schools or districts with are: To help teachers close student learning gaps. To help teachers change instructional practices helping their students to learn and achieve at higher levels. To help teachers have a deeper level of understanding about… Continue Reading
Yosemite Learning
My first visit to Yosemite National Park happened last weekend. I was absolutely wowed by the park as I marveled at the landscapes. Somewhat surprisingly, I also came away professionally inspired and energized. As I thought about the history of Yosemite, and the awesome natural environment I was in, I found myself making comparisons. I… Continue Reading
New York Science Workshops Part 2 – Supportive Teaching Cultures
New York non-public school educators came together last week at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York for three days of AIMS hands-on Science Professional Learning. I was lucky enough to be there in person to spend time with all of the participants and our team of AIMS Facilitators. There were three different grade span… Continue Reading
Three Days In New York
Do you think of summer as a time to grow and learn? Being an educator, I have always filled my summers with adult learning opportunities. Summer is my time to refresh and reboot and learn new and and exciting approaches to every new school year. This week I have the opportunity to be with three… Continue Reading
Science in Three Dimensions
One of my goals when I started teaching was to create an inquiry-based science classroom for my students. To do that I used hands on science activities through which students could develop knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, as well as an understanding of how scientists studied the natural world. Much of the time, I… Continue Reading
What Will You Read?
Children ran from school buses with shrieks of excitement and expectations of what the next two and a half months might bring, the telltale sign that school is out for the summer in my town. Teachers have left their classrooms for a well-deserved break. Over the next two and half months they will imagine, think… Continue Reading
