Last Chance to Review the NGSS Draft

The second draft of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) will remain open for feedback until January 29, 2013. It is encouraged that all interested parties review the draft as individuals or in groups and provide feedback to the Lead States and writers.  If you have not already done so, please take some time to review the last public draft of the Next Generation Science Standards at http://www.nextgenscience.org/next-generation-science-standards by next Tuesday.

If you are a K-12 Science Educator you should participate in the review because, NGSS is a research based redesign of the sequence and content of K-12 science. NGSS Student Performance objectives combine the practices of science and engineering with the disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts.  How will this change your classroom and teaching?  What new resources will you need to successfully implement NGSS?

Standards-Based Grading with Rick Wormeli, April 8

Heartland AEA is pleased to host a standards-based grading learning opportunity on April 8, 2013 with featured guest, Rick Wormeli. The intention of this professional learning opportunity is for participants to build upon a foundation of knowledge, moving toward support of systemic implementation.

Focus of the session:

• Participants will deepen their understanding of the principles related to standards-based assessment and grading.
• Participants will understand how standards-based assessment, grading and reporting practices to support the implementation of the Iowa Core.
• Participants will be equipped to provide leadership and coaching for exploration, study and possible implementation of standards-based assessment and grading practices in a school/district.

Click here for a flyer that can be distributed to interested school/district leadership teams, instructional coaches and teacher leaders.

Click here to register or register through the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog and put activity number SI014299991301INV in the correct field.

Gradual Release of Responsibility Framework with Doug Fisher, April 12

Heartland AEA will host Douglas Fisher, Professor of Language and Literacy Education at San Diego State University, in a session on the Gradual Release of Responsibility Framework model. Participants should have background in this framework and will build on their knowledge and proficiency.

Participants will be able to:

• Troubleshoot typical problems and possible solutions in implementation at systems level and individual teacher level
• Understand how the framework can by applied to support various content areas and grade levels within the Iowa Core
• Understand how the framework can be differentiated to support the needs of diverse learners (advanced and struggling learners)
• Coach teachers’ implementation to maximize student learning

Click here for a flyer that can be distributed to interested school/district leaders who support Gradual Release of Responsibility framework implementation in their district/school and have background knowledge of the framework through prior study and/or implementation.

Click here to register or register through the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog and put activity number SI014399111301 in the correct field.