1. Ava D. Rosales, Ph. D. Presented by May 18, 2011
Miami-Dade County Public Schools Division of Mathematics, Science and Advanced Academic Programs Science Department Chairperson’s Dialogue Ramping-up Teaching and Learning #4
Presented by
Ava D. Rosales, Ph. D.
Instructional Supervisor
May 18, 2011
Miami Dade College, Kendall Campus

2. Welcome and Introductions
Agenda Overview
District Updates
Instructional Strategies and Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS) Resources
Miami Dade College
Sharing Activity:
On the Chart Paper, make three columns
NGSSS Awareness
NGSSS Support
NGSSS Needs
Complete the Chart
Share-out in auditorium main session

3. Norms Participate Actively Ask questions Learn by doing
Set your own learning into action
______________________________
Bathroom and Electronic Devices

4. Agenda

5. Goals for the Session
Reflect on professional development provided to support NGSSS transition and teaching and learning
Examine the use of data with an “explicit- reflective” approach
Share issues/concerns and solutions/strategies regarding student achievement with the NGSSS
Explore available resources: District, Institutes of Higher Education, and State

6. Mapping the NGSSS Benchmarks
Using the FCAT 2.0 Test Item Specifications, identify the implications for the following clusters:
Nature of Science
Earth and Space Science
Physical Science
Life Science

7. District Updates The Year in Review and What’s new for 2011 - 2012

9. Work in progress

12. Mapping the Benchmarks
Grade 6
Curriculum has foundational benchmarks
L – hierarchy of life, cells, body systems
Not repeated beyond grade-level
E – weather, climate and atmosphere
P – forces and change in motion, speed
Grade 7
Curriculum has foundational benchmarks
E – Earth’s evolution, plate tectonics, layers of Earth
P – Radiant Energy
Not repeated beyond grade-level
E – Earth structures
P – energy transfer, transformations,
L – evolution, heredity, interdependence of living things

13. Comments from Classroom Teachers
Moving from hands-on to minds-on
Addressing the “explain” in the 5Es
Sixth and seventh grade crunched for time at end of year with all the field trips
Administrative support in implementing NGSSS (i.e., grade level placement)
Assessments administered and not scanned
Real-world connections for content retention
Everyone on same track
Change and change for teachers’ thinking

14. Available District Assessments
Grade 8: Interim Assessments (2011 – 2012: under design)
Grades 6 and 7: Resource Tests (found in Edusoft Benchmark Exams

15. FCAT 2.0 Assessed Benchmarks

16. Historical Benchmark Analysis http://curriculum. dadeschools

17. Average Percent Correct

19. Pacing Guides by Quarter in Learning Village

20. General Science Strategies Shared with Principals
Encourage teachers to actively improve their science content knowledge to become proficient in their grade-level NGSSS.
Monitor the implementation of inquiry based, hands-on activities/labs addressing the necessary benchmarks.
Monitor the use of scientific writing (e.g., Power Writing/Lab Reports, Conclusion writing, Current Events, etc.)
Monitor the implementation of HOTS and questioning strategies.
After each assessment (monthly or interim), conduct data disaggregation of test results to identify benchmarks with unsatisfactory and satisfactory performance. Identify students’ performance within those categories and develop differentiated instruction activities to address the different needs through remediation and enrichment activities. Also conduct mini-assessments and utilize results to drive instruction.
Encourage students to participate in science fair activities, SECME, and other types of science competitions.
Teachers should maintain a dated Essential lab log. Conduct at least two hands-on activities per week (Elementary)
Conduct data chats at all levels. Administrators with teachers and teachers with students and with parents, when possible.

21. Building Teacher Content Knowledge
Annenberg Media - Learner.org
Discovery
Science podcasts
JASON Science
NSTA library and professional development ($ - membership)
College courses ($$, some free)

22. Middle School Science Strategies
Schedule grade 8 students taking Earth/Space Science Honors and/or Biology Honors into the same homerooms /advisement periods for review of the FCAT 2.0 Annually Assessed benchmarks.
Incorporate advisement period activities to help students develop appropriate social and academic coping skills.
Monitor the implementation of reading informational text and writing in science.
Monitor the implementation of Formative Assessment Probes and higher-order questioning/discussions.
Monitor teacher collaboration for vertical and horizontal alignment of instruction.
Fair Game Principle in FCAT 2.0 (6-8)
Schedule grade 8 students taking Earth/Space Science Honors and/or Biology Honors into the same homerooms to engage in hands-on/interactive activities for review of the FCAT 2.0 Annually Assessed benchmarks that are not directly aligned with the honors courses.
Incorporate advisement period activities to help students develop appropriate social and academic coping skills to assist with the seamless transition between elementary and high school years and reduce interruption of core class time with chronic behavior modification issues..
Monitor the implementation of writing and the reading of informational text in science. Incorporating Power Writing Scientific Conclusions for writing and CRISS strategies to read textbooks
Conduct inquiry-based, hands-on, laboratory activities minimally once a week
Monitor the implementation of Formative Assessment Probes in classes to uncover student misconceptions in science. Page Keeley probes have been aligned in the District Pacing Guides and are available electronically to all middle schools and K – 8 Centers (grades 6 – 8)
Encourage teachers to actively improve their science content knowledge through college science courses, learner.org, JASON Science, Discovery Science –all grade level science teachers must have in depth content knowledge of their NHSSS subject matter-cannot rely on grade 9 to teach all benchmarks in preparation for FCAT 2.0

23. Interim Assessments Pending 2011 – 2012
Grades 5, 8 and Biology
Baseline, Fall and Winter
Parallel test format – all benchmarks assessed each test

24. FCAT 2.0 Updates Baseline 2011 – 2012
Test Item Specifications available
All FCAT 2.0 items written to the Standards
Comprehensive assessment based on benchmarks from grades 6 – 8
Benchmarks of similar content grouped together
All benchmark groupings are annually assessed (AA)
All items will be multiple choice

25. FCAT 2.0 Updates (cont’d) Reference Sheets
Items requiring an equation will have the equation included with the item: a reference sheet is not needed and will not be provided
A periodic table and a calculator will be provided.

26. FCAT 2.0 Updates (cont’d)
Sample test materials will be written to the 2008 Standards
FCAT Explorer and Florida Achieves will be revised and aligned to the Standards
Reporting Categories
Nature of Science – 19%
Earth and Space Science – 27%
Physical Science – 27%
Life Science – 27%

27. FCAT 2.0 Updates (cont’d) Length of test: 60 – 66 questions
Administration time, achievement levels, and cut scores have not been finalized
Achievement Level Descriptions will be written in August 2011
Standard setting to determine cut scores for achievement levels will be held in Fall 2012

28. Senate Bill 4 Implementation http://www.fldoe.org/BII/sb4i.asp
Technical Assistance Paper: Final2.pdf
Sample content:
A. MIDDLE GRADES PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

29. New: Success Measures Website http://www.fldoe.org/successmeasures/
Success Measures Pathway Tool is a good resource for parents, teachers and students
Provides a clear understanding of the materials students are expected to learn and the new state assessments designed to measure that learning.

30. Resources Curriculum and Instruction
Instructional Technology (Examview Item Bank)
Florida Department of Education
FCAT Resources -
Florida Standards and Course Descriptions
Florida PROMiSE
Gizmos

31. Follow-up
Completion of the Action Plan document accompanied with sign-in sheet and agenda from science department meeting indicating that the information was shared back at the school site
School Mail Code: 9628
Attn.: Dr. Ava D. Rosales

32. Where the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards Can Take Our Students
Broadcom Masters

33. Dr. Ava D. Rosales, Instructional Supervisor
SECME Coordinator