iExploreScience: STEM in Elem

In this episode, Nicole VanTassel from iExploreScience chats with middle school teacher Sarah Ratelis about her experience using the NGSS in your inclusive classroom.  They discuss how to start differentiating to meet the needs of ALL of your students - including the gifted learners - without getting totally overwhelmed. Resources Referenced: >> Ratelis Science Learn more... >> Check o...

In this episode, Erin and Nicole discuss strategies to integrate the Crosscutting Concepts into your three dimensional instruction.  The Crosscutting Concepts provide students with a "lens" through which to view phenomena, a tool to make connections between disciplines, and a strategy to understand and integrate new content into their existing understanding.  But how do you carry that ou...

In this episode, Erin Sadler discusses school closures and remote learning.  She answers the questions that you submitted to and provides suggestions for this new challenge in education.  Erin answers questions about maintaining a work-life balance while working from home, dealing with a lack of engagements and inequities in the remote learning space.  Resources Referenced: >> Establishing N...

In this episode, Nicole and Erin chat about how to use several Science and Engineering Practices together to guide student learning. Resources Referenced: >> NSTA Matrix for Science and Engineering Practices Learn more... >> Check out Nicole's blog and resources at iExploreScience ! >> Check out Erin's blog and resources at SadlerScience ! >> Enroll in the free, 4...

In this episode, Nicole VanTassel from iExploreScience chats with Ohio teacher Mindy Cottrell about her experience at the NSTA Area Conference in Cincinnati in November of 2019.  They discuss how to prepare for a teaching conference, how to make the most of your time there, and how to reduce the overwhelm you might feel by the time you leave! If you're planning to attend NSTA Boston in April...

In this episode, Nicole and Erin discuss how you might use objectives -- or why you might choose NOT to -- in your NGSS classroom. Resources Referenced: >> NGSS Evidence Statements >> Using Evidence Statements To Write Objectives Learn more... >> Check out Nicole's blog and resources at iExploreScience ! >> Check out Erin's blog and resources at SadlerScience ! &g...

In this episode, Erin talks to Brendan Fitch from Inner Orbit about crafting three dimensional formative assessments for your NGSS classroom. Resources Referenced: >> Inner Orbit >> RocketLit >> Contact Brendan Finch >> NGSS Evidence Statements >> Using Evidence Statements To Write Objectives >> NGSS Progressions By Grade: Disciplinary Core Ideas >> NGSS P...

In this episode, Nicole VanTassel from iExploreScience chats with New York teacher Christine Missert about her experience implementing the NGSS.  They discuss how to take students from engaging hands-on learning to the minds-on thinking that the new standards demand. Resources Referenced: >> Christine Missert on Instagram >> Teaching Science In 3D Podcast on Instagram Learn more... &gt...

In this week's episode, we explore the listener question, "How do I increase student independence in my classroom?" There are so many ways that we can help students take control of their own learning, but we can't expect it to happen overnight.  These tips will help you ease that transition. Resources Referenced: 7 Ways to Increase Student Autonomy in Your Classroom   Super Sim...

In this episode, Nicole and Erin discuss strategies to meet the needs of all students, particularly English Language Learners and students with IEPs. Unsurprisingly, many strategies dubbed effective for diverse student populations actually benefit ALL students.  Check out some of their best ideas in today's episode. Resources Referenced: Learn more... >> Check out Nicole's blog and...

In this episode, Erin talks with high school teacher Vanessa Wentzloff about standards-based grading in the NGSS classroom. Other Episodes to Check Out:  How to prevent cheating on assessments Resources Referenced: >> Out Of The Box STEM on Instagram >> Blog: Out Of The Box STEM >> Grading From The Inside Out >> Formative Assessments and Standards Based Grading Learn more.....

In this episode, Nicole VanTassel from iExploreScience shares an exclusive training on teaching vocabulary in your NGSS classroom - staying true to exploration and discovery while still supporting vocabulary acquisition. Check out the full episode recap here. Resources Referenced: >> Explore To Aha! Academy Learn more... >> Check out Nicole's blog and resources at iExploreScience...

In this episode, Nicole talks with high school teacher Mariah Ramos about her experience as she transitioned to the NGSS and transformed her classroom. They discuss impacts on student learning, the challenges she faced and how she overcame them, and the reality that transitioning to the NGSS is a journey.  They also spend some time discussing how Mariah might outline her next NGSS unit -- a proces...

In this episode, Erin Sadler of Sadler Science and Nicole VanTassel of iExploreScience chat about using student questions to build storylines. Erin is a master at this, so she is going to share the highlights of a presentation she delivered on this topic at the California Science Teachers Association conference last fall. To see the full episode recap, click here .  Resources Referenced: >>...

In this episode, we are getting back into the swing of things and answering our listener's questions! Erin Sadler of Sadler Science and Nicole VanTassel of iExploreScience chat about their fall conference highlights and address a few questions about finding and using NGSS-aligned curriculum. To read the full episode recap, click here .    Resources Referenced: >> OpenSciEd >> Stan...

In this short solo episode, Nicole VanTassel of iExploreScience takes a closer look at incorporating discovery into your NGSS classroom.  Building from the fundamentals in Episode 10 How You Can Teach For Student Discovery, this episode outlines several activity formats that work well to engage students in exploration and discovery. Resources Referenced: >> Episode 10: How You Can Teach For...

Learn how to build a storyline to guide your students in the discovery of content in your classroom. Before you listen, you might want to listen to * Episode 7: How You Can Incorporate Phenomena * Episode 12: How the NGSS Will Change Your Content Example year-long storylines from the California Framework: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/sc/cf/cascienceframework2016.asp From Sadler Science: Using Evidenc...

In this episode, Nicole VanTassel of iExploreScience talks with Dana Skillman - an NGSS teacher and member of the Science Teacher Tribe - about the importance of building strong relationships in your NGSS classroom.  Get the scoop on why it's important -- and more importantly, how to do it -- from a teacher-expert in this episode.  Resources Referenced: >> Dana Skillman on Instagram &gt...

 In this quick solo episode, Nicole VanTassel of iExploreScience outlines the big content shifts you can expect to see with your transition to the NGSS.  What are you supposed to teach? How are you supposed to know? Where can you go to find answers and clarification? Get your questions answered in this podcast episode.  Resources Referenced: >> NGSS For Middle and High School Science Teacher...

Erin Sadler of Sadler Science talks to Juli Cannon (Juli Cannon Science) about 3-dimensional assessment strategies and instructional shifts with the NGSS.   Resources Referenced: >> Juli Cannon Science >> Juli Cannon on TeachersPayTeachers >> K-12 Science Framework >> NSTA Disciplinary Core Ideas Matrix >> NSTA Science and Engineering Practices Matrix >> NSTA Cr...

In this episode, we dive into some strategies you can use to help your students truly DISCOVER the content and move away from "teaching as telling." Resources Referenced: >> NGSS For Middle and High School Science Teachers Facebook Group >> Using The Evidence Statements (Sadler Science Blog) >> Supporting Students Transition To The NGSS (iExploreScience Blog) Learn more...

In this episode, Nicole interviews Sarah from Happy Teacher Heart about being brave with the NGSS. What does that mean? Sarah shares her experience piloting the new standards and the pushback she received from colleagues who weren't comfortable with changing things up.  Sarah describes an activity that gets to the heart of what the NGSS means and outlines a few ways she uses YouTube to introd...

 In this episode, Erin interviews Nicole on her (second) favorite topic - the 5E Model and how she uses it in her NGSS-aligned lessons and units. Resources Referenced: >> What I See, What It Means Data Analysis Freebie >> NSTA Science and Engineering Practices Matrix Learn more... >> Check out Nicole's blog and resources at iExploreScience ! >> Check out Erin's bl...

Using phenomena to relate content to your student's lives is an important shift when creating an NGSS aligned classroom.  In this episode, Erin discusses the importance of phenomena, how to relate phenomena to the content and the lives of your students and the difference between anchoring and investigative level phenomena.  Resources Referenced: Blog Posts: >> Simple Phenomena >>...

In this episode, Erin and Nicole discuss a different way to think about the Science and Engineering Practices -- by considering them as part of categories to help students discover, make sense of, and critique ideas and concepts.  Then, they dive into a few ways you can quickly incorporate the SEPs into your daily instruction. Resources Referenced: >> NSTA Science and Engineering Practices M...