A Leader's Guide to Science Curriculum Topic Study by Mundry, Susan E.; Keeley, Page D.; Landel, Carolyn J. (Jean);

Short description:

From professional development designs to handouts and PowerPoint slides, this guide has everything science leaders need to facilitate CTS and improve science teaching in schools.

Long description:

"Engaging science teachers at all levels with important ideas relating to both the content and how they can help students learn the content is critical to promoting effective instruction. This leaders' guide will help us use CTS even more effectively ourselves, and help us prepare new cadres of professional development providers who will engage current and future teachers with state and national resources to improve science instruction and student learning."
—George Nelson, Former Director, Project 2061, AAAS
Director, Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education, Western Washington University

"Knowing all the science standards and the science educational research about learning science for each of those standards is challenging for anyone. This book illustrates effective professional development models for using Curriculum Topic Study with science teachers and is a must-have, particularly if you're a professional developer in science education."
—Francis Eberle, Executive Director
National Science Teachers Association

Use this powerful professional development approach to improve teacher understanding of K–12 science teaching and learning!

The Curriculum Topic Study (CTS) process, funded by the National Science Foundation, helps teachers improve their practice by linking standards and research to content, curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

Keyed to the core book Science Curriculum Topic Study, this resource helps science professional development leaders and teacher educators understand the CTS approach and how to design, lead, and apply CTS in a variety of settings that support teachers as learners. The authors provide everything needed to facilitate the CTS process, including:

• A solid foundation in the CTS framework
• Multiple designs for half-day and full-day workshops, professional learning communities, and one-on-one instructional coaching
• Facilitation, group processing, and materials management strategies
• A CD-ROM with handouts, PowerPoint slides, and templates

By bringing CTS into schools and other professional development settings, science leaders can enhance their teachers' knowledge of content, improve teaching practices, and have a positive impact on student learning!

Table of Contents:

Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
1. Introduction to A Leader's Guide
Advice for Using This Leader's Guide
Underlying Beliefs
The Need for a Common Professional Knowledge Base
CTS Makes the Knowledge Base Accessible
Building Professional Community
Observations and Voices From the Field
Professional Development Designs Are Enhanced Through CTS
CTS Use by Collaborative School Teams
CTS Use in Preservice Education
CTS Enhances Science Education Leadership
The Language of CTS
2. Introduction to Curriculum Topic Study for Leaders
What Is CTS?
What CTS Is Not
CTS and Science Literacy
Key Points About Standards and Research on Learning
Using CTS to Lead Professional Learning
CTS Resources and Tools
From Generic Tools to Content-Specific Tools
3. Considerations for Designing and Leading Curriculum Topic Study
CTS and the Principles of Effective Professional Development
CTS Learning Cycle
Facilitation Tips and Strategies
Acquiring and Managing Materials
Developing Norms for Collaborative Work
CTS Group Norms
Options for Organizing and Discussing Readings
CTS Recommended Reading and Summarizing Strategies
Reporting Out Strategies
Reflection on CTS
Summarizing Findings
Strategy for Addressing the Issue of Time and Difficulty
Next Steps
4. Tools, Resources, and Designs for Leading Introductory Sessions on Curriculum Topic Study
Make Your Own CTS Introductory Session
Essential Facilitator Preparation
Module A1: Introduction to CTS Using K-12 Snapshots, Facilitation Guide
Module A2: Introduction to CTS Resource Scenarios?Models, Facilitation Guide
Module A3: Full-Day Introduction to CTS Resource Scenarios and Snapshots, Facilitation Guide
Options for Introducing the CTS Resource Books
Developing Your Own Snapshots and Resource Scenarios
Next Steps After CTS Introductions
5. Leading Full Topic Studies
Introduction to Full Topic Studies
Module B1: "Experimental Design" Facilitation Guide
Module B2: "Evidence and Explanation" Facilitation Guide
Module B3: "Earth, Moon, and Sun System" Facilitation Guide
Module B4: "Conservation of Matter" Facilitation Guide
Module B5: "Atoms and Molecules" Facilitation Guide
Module B6: "Photosynthesis and Respiration" Facilitation Guide
Module B7: "Life Cycles (K-4)" Facilitation Guide
Additional Suggestions for Designing and Leading Full Topic Studies
Developing Your Own Half-Day Topic Study
Combining Topics
Cautions and Next Steps
6. Using CTS in a Content, Curricular, Instructional, or Assessment Context
Introduction to CTS Context Applications
CTS and Science Content Knowledge
CTS and Science Curriculum
CTS and Science Instructions
CTS and Science Assessment
Module: Developing CTS Assessment Probes
Performance Assessment Tasks
CTS Performance Assessment Task Design and Teacher Learning
A CTS Process for Developing Performance Tasks
CTS Performance Task Development Tools
Introducing the CTS Performance Assessment Task Application
Developing Their Own Performance Task
Other Examples of Context Applications of CTS
7. Embedding CTS Within Professional Development Strategies
Why Use CTS Within Other Professional Development Strategies?
CTS and Professional Learning Communities
CTS Professional Development Strategy Application 1: Study Groups
CTS Professional Development Strategy Application 2: Collaborative Inquiry Into Examining Student Thinking (CIEST)
CTS Professional Development Strategy Application 3: CTS Video Demonstration Lesson (VDL)
CTS Professional Development Strategy Application 4: CTS Integrated Lesson Study
CTS Professional Development Strategy Application 5: CTS Action Research
CTS Professional Development Strategy Application 6: CTS Seminars
CTS Professional Development Strategy Application 7: CTS Mentoring and Coaching
A Final Word
References
Index