90 PDP;
4
Graduate Credits
90 PDP;
4
Graduate Credits
Exploring Science in Grades 3-8
“from MCAS to MTEL” and Back
What can I get out of this course?
Past participants said the following:
“For the first time in my life, I think I get it!”
“I don’t need to fake understanding now.”
“…allows you to make connections to what you teach and what you know outside the classroom. This makes it more understandable and relevant which makes you more confident in the content.”
“I know I have improved my questioning technique and I have a deeper understanding of some concepts which is reflected in my classroom.”
This course welcomes teachers of science from grades 3 to 8. It counts toward your recertification in science, the Lowell Program and the Lowell Teacher Academy. You will get 90 PDPs. The four graduate credits are optional for a fee if you need them. The course is potentially helpful in helping you pass the MTEL General Science test.
Prerequisite: come the way you are. When we meet, we will engage in rich problems at all levels as a way to make sense and integrate our knowledge and understanding across these topics of middle school science. In order to discuss topics in Life Science and Earth Science, we will dig into Force and Motion, Energy, Electricity and Magnetism, Air Water and Weather, Sound, Light, Chemistry, and Biology. We will support each other through sense making and problem solving using collaboration and discussion. We will not be shy about constructing minds-on Gedanken (“Thought”) experiments; we will not be shy about re-learning some math to understand the science. Come and refresh what you knew at one point but haven't used or come and learn something new to enrich your teaching. Either way this course will improve your classroom instruction. Bring your questions in science, tough topics to teach, and enjoy the learning in a non-threatening environment you will help create. Take this unique course.
Instructor Andrew Chen
Andrew Chen is familiar with Lowell teachers and their curriculum. He knows full well that due to reassignment and other realities, some of us are teaching out of our comfort zones. He has run many successful professional development courses specially designed for Lowell teachers. He will meet you where you are and move you up from there. In addition to improving your content knowledge, this course models an inquiry-based classroom from which you will also gain good listening and questioning techniques.
Location Stoklosa Middle School Library, Lowell MA
Dates 12/18/2008, 1/8/2009, 1/15, 1/22, 1/31, 2/5, 2/12,
2/26, 2/28, 3/5, 3/7, 3/12, 3/19, and Wed 3/25 Math and Science
Conference
(Times: Thursdays 3:50 PM - 6:50 PM; Saturdays (BOLD) 8:00 AM to
3:30 PM)
Registration Please log on to
http://schooldesk/ from your computer at school to register. Also
fill in the information below. HURRY SEATS ARE
FILLING UP FAST!
A
partnership of
Lowell
Massachusetts Dept. of Elementary
and Secondary Education
Massachusetts Board of Higher Education
Exploring Science in Grades 3-8