Grades 6-12

Jenny Nord - Secondary Science Curriculum Coordinator

Email: jnord5257@columbus.k12.oh.us
Website: https://www.ccsoh.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=2577
Location: 3700 South High Street, Columbus, OH, USA
Phone: (380) 997-0466
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColumbusCitySchools/

Within the world of education and particularly as educational leaders, we have failed to simplify what student engagement looks like, and it is impossible to define or articulate what student engagement looks like if we cannot clearly articulate what critical thinking is and looks like in a classroom. Because, simply, without critical thought, there is no engagement.

So, in order to explain critical thought, a teacher or a leader must familiarize themselves with these tried and true taxonomies. Easy, right? Yes, sort of. The issue is not understanding what critical thought is; it is the ability to integrate it into the classrooms. In order to do so, there are a four key steps every educator must take.

PLANNING

• Integrating critical thought/rigor into a lesson does not happen by chance, it happens by design. Planning for critical thought and engagement is much different from planning for a traditional lesson. In order to plan for kids to think critically, you have to provide a base of knowledge and excellent prompts to allow them to explore their own thinking in order to analyze, evaluate, or synthesize information.
  
• SIDE NOTE – Bloom’s verbs are a great way to start when writing objectives, but true planning will take you deeper than this.
  

QUESTIONING

• If the questions and prompts given in a classroom have correct answers or if the teacher ends up answering their own questions, the lesson will lack critical thought and rigor.
  
• Script five questions forcing higher-order thought prior to every lesson. Experienced teachers may not feel they need this, but it helps to create an effective habit.
  

ASSESSING

• If lessons are rigorous and assessments are not, students will do well on their assessments, and that may not be an accurate representation of the knowledge and skills they have mastered. If lessons are easy and assessments are rigorous, the exact opposite will happen. When deciding to increase critical thought, it must happen in all three phases of the game: planning, instruction, and assessment.
  

TALK TIME / CONTROL

• To increase rigor, the teacher must DO LESS. This feels counterintuitive but is accurate. Rigorous lessons involving tons of critical thought must allow for students to work on their own, collaborate with peers, and connect their ideas. This cannot happen in a silent room except for the teacher talking. In order to increase rigor, decrease talk time and become comfortable with less control. Asking questions and giving prompts that lead to no true correct answer also means less control. This is a tough ask for some teachers. Explained differently, if you assign one assignment and get 30 very similar products, you have most likely assigned a low-rigor recipe. If you assign one assignment and get multiple varied products, then the students have had a chance to think deeply, and you have successfully integrated critical thought into your classroom.

(taken partially from: https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-eight-instructional-strategies-for-promoting-critical-thinking/2021/03)

Franklin Soil and Water Conservation: you may have to open these on your personal computer at home

-Splendid Soil SWIFTlet

-Splendid Soil Coloring Page

-Soil Super Heroes SWIFTlet

-Soil Super Heroes Coloring Page

-Soil Tunnel Video

-Exploring Soil Organisms Video

-Soil Erosion Simulator Video

-World Soil Day 2020 Recorded Presentation

-We're also available to come into your classroom for an in-person or virtual soil learning experience. Please contact us for availability.

PBS Learning Media:

-They have 241 simulations for science: https://wosu.pbslearningmedia.org/search/?q=simulation

-7th grade teachers...Why Do We Have Seasons lessons: https://wosu.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/npls13.sci.ess.seasons/why-seasons/

-Bringing the Universe to America's Classrooms: https://wosu.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/universe/home/

Learning Undefeated:

-Labs and At-Home Science Videos: https://www.learningundefeated.org/distancelearning/

Ditch that Textbook:

-15 Ideas for Digital End-of-Semester Projects: https://ditchthattextbook.com/10-ideas-for-digital-end-of-semester-final-projects/

-10 Low-Prep Activities for Class Tomorrow: https://ditchthattextbook.com/10-low-prep-high-return-activities-for-class-tomorrow/

-3 Brain Dump Templates:

• This simple Jamboard template gives students space to dump what they've learned on a Jamboard frame with sticky notes.
  
• This Google Slides brain dump template was shared online by educator Meredith Akers. It includes a great 30 seconds / 1 minute / 2 minutes protocol to get lots of student ideas!
  
• This Google Form brain dump template was shared online by educator Debbie Campbell. It's a quick way to gather students' brain dumps so you can see what they remember.
  

-30 Fun Sites for Students with Free Time on their Hands: https://ditchthattextbook.com/10-sites-for-students-with-free-time-on-their-hands/

Carolina Biological:

-Pig dissection instructions and videos: https://tinyurl.com/mt2m9vpn

Ohio Energy Project:

-Careers in Energy recorded virtual fieldtrips: https://ohioenergy.org/educators/careers-in-energy

Here is what we are looking at to assist you with getting comfortable and confident with your new platforms as well as training you in best practices:

Getting Started: If you were unable to attend one of the many PDs to get you started or it has just been too long ago, there are recordings and documents to assist you in the Implementations Resources folder found in the CLT folder. If this is your situation, please do take the time to go through these prior to the January 18th District PD Day. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XV76a8aZJ6Wfja9_evBzMhDM7Qzn5U1u?usp=sharing

January 18th: This PD will focus on literacy. We will have sessions offered (except APES) that will take you deeper than the original PDs about your platforms. You must attend one of the platform PDs (1.0 hour in the morning or afternoon) and at least one literacy session. Be sure to check out the Literacy folder in the Canvas Course as there will be different speakers that might interest you. If you have open time with no other choices that interest you, there will be on-demand PDs offered in both the science section and the literacy section of the Canvas course. Your literacy choice could be an on-demand session. No one should be spending the entire day in on-demand sessions, however. Please submit questions to Jenny Nord ASAP that you might have about your platform so that our vendors can tailor the session to your needs. Our goal is to empower you!

March 9th: This PD will focus on pedagogy. We are looking for teachers who want to present either 50 minute or 105 minute sessions with some form of pedagogy that is being employed successfully and creatively in your classrooms. If interested, please let Jenny Nord know.

Coaching: We are working with HMH, McGraw-Hill, and Savvas to provide coaching opportunities, hopefully during the school day, for you to have a smaller group session to assist you. These will begin after January 18th. The goal is that by the end of the year, you feel comfortable and confident with your platform and are able to use it with fidelity.

Education Week:

-How to Make Science more Relevant for Students of Color: https://tinyurl.com/2dx8m3kt

-6 Challenges for Science Educators: https://tinyurl.com/5c92n59j

-How Teachers Can Make Better Decisions: 7 Tips from the Experts: https://tinyurl.com/ycxyvyxt

-Teachers Can Help Marginalized Students Recognize their Strengths: https://tinyurl.com/mrf9h9dn

-1500 Decisions a Day! How Teachers Cope with a Dizzying Array of Questions: https://tinyurl.com/4mw97phj

-Important Lessons from Students: https://tinyurl.com/2p9ezm4a

Outdoor education can continue in the winter months.

Don't miss the Spruce Run Nature Center newsletter: https://www.smore.com/8qd3h-spruce-run-nature-center

Office of Teaching and Learning (614-365-5727) is located at 3700 S. High St.

Leslie Kelly , Executive Director, Teaching and Learning

Brian Morton, Director of Secondary Curriculum

Katy Myers, Secondary Curriculum Supervisor

Heather Allen, K-5 Coordinator, hallen704@columbus.k12.oh.us

Jennifer Nord, 6-12 Science Coordinator, jnord5257@columbus.k12.oh.us

Geri Granger, K-12 Spruce Run Coordinator, ggranger9556@columbus.k12.oh.us