RESOURCES

Our full collection of timely, relevant, and practical resources for the science classroom.

Ep104 – Proficiency Scales Explained! (Using Parallel Parking)

Handouts are available below. Big Idea What’s the difference between emerging and developing on a proficiency scale? What’s the difference between proficient and extending? If you’re having difficulty figuring this out, here’s how I’ve explained it to my students – using the analogy of parking. Episode Notes Here are a few big ideas from the…

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Ep103 – A More Organic Way to Teach CER

Handouts are available below. Big Idea How can we teach CER in a more organic way? When we teach CER, I used to go over what a claim is, what evidence is, and what reasoning is and how that differs from evidence. Then, we’d work through some examples. This works, but I think it can…

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Ep102 – What Standards Do I Assess in Standards-Based Grading?

Handouts are available below. Big Idea What learning standards do we assess when using Standards-Based Grading? It can’t be every line item on the NGSS – that would take.a lot of time (consider making a proficiency scale for each line item). It would be more efficient to assess standards that represent the broad skills we’re…

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Ep101 – Where Grading with Points Goes Wrong

Handouts are available below.   Big Idea Those who support using points (as opposed to proficiency scales) to report student learning always seem to argue that using points is a more accurate. However, this isn’t completely true. Unfortunately, points may give a result, but may not offer clear guidance as to what went wrong or…

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Ep100 – Why I don’t Need to Cover EVERY topic in the science curriculum

Handouts are available below.   Big Idea Is it okay to cut out topics out of the curriculum? I think it’s okay not to get to every topic in the curriculum – but, that means what I will cover needs cover all the standards (and also creates deep learning opportunities for students too).   Episode…

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Ep99 – Creating a More Efficient Standards-Based Grade Book

Handouts are available below.   Big Idea How do we set up a Standards-Based grade book that reflects the standards but isn’t time consuming to assess and report on? Answer: form categories that combine similar or overlapping standards.   Episode Notes Here are a couple of big ideas from the video: A Standards-Based Grading marks…

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Ep98 – How Traditional Grading is Less Accurate Than Standards-Based Grading

Handouts are available below.   Big Idea In the world of assessment, just because teachers assess standards using rubrics and not content using traditional grading methods (ie. points scored on a test) doesn’t make Standards-Based Grading (SBG) any less effective. In fact, SBG is meant to assess things that traditional grading doesn’t typically address –…

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Ep97 – Using Science Wordles as a Bellringer and Vocab Review

Handouts are available below.   Big Idea Ever thought of using wordles in the classroom? They’re great for helping students review key terms and vocabulary for a chapter. I’ve used them as a bellringer to review key terms, and kids have enjoyed them a lot.    Episode Notes Here are a couple of big ideas…

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Ep96 – Do We Use Bell Curves in Standards-Based Grading?

Handouts are available below.   Big Idea Are you concerned that students will just automatically achieve proficient when using Standards-Based Grading? Recently, one teacher asked if I used a bell curve when I’m using SBG so that not every student is proficient. No, I don’t use bell curves; instead, I ensure SBG is rigorous.   …

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Ep95 – End-of-Year Skills Tests Are NOT Standards-Based Grading

Handouts are available below. Big Idea Do you “do” Standards-Based Grading by giving an end-of-year science skills test? I’ve heard of some departments who are doing that. Truth is, end-of-year skills tests aren’t Standards-Based Grading.    Episode Notes Here are a couple of big ideas on how end-of-year skills tests aren’t Standards-Gased Grading: In SBG,…

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