Wednesday, February 5, 2014

NGSS and teaching science

Wow...five years between posts! In that time, 'A Framework for K-12 Science Education' was commissioned and published. I was very excited to read the draft in 2011, see the revisions in 2012 and the book finally being published by National Academies Press. One of the most significant milestones was the recognition that a coherent elementary science progression was essential to progress in overall science education. Just this moth, NSTA adopted an early childhood science education statement. This is what I've been hoping for since first writing this blog. Coupled with this commonsense realization was the recognition of the need for design ad engineering to integrated in all aspects of K-12 science education. My excitement knew no bounds until the excellent 'Framework' book was set to the NGSS folks for 'unpacking' into curricular gobbledygook. As a consultant, I'm spending time repacking and restating the excellent work done by the original study group. NGSS notoriously downplays the D/E piece of the puzzle and overplays the upcoming 'Smarter Balance' testing regime. In the 31 years I have been teaching science,l I've found my colleagues to be very proactive in what they do because they believe in what they do. We know when kids miss the boat, and if the administration leaves us alone, we fix what is broken! I'm refraining from drinking the NGSS cool aid for the time being, reserving my right to teach in the best manner possible. I will rejoice, though, if students with a stronger foundation begin to percolate up with some sense of why science is important!