ElementaryScience Curriculum Adoption

Board of Education MeetingMay 13, 2020

California Dept of Education Timeline

● Adopted California NGSS-Aligned Standards - 2013

● Adopted California Science Framework - 2016

● Administered California Science Test (CAST) - 2017

● Adopted State-approved curriculum - 2018

● ACOE led training on State-approved instructional

materials tools (TIME) - 2019

Timeline

March/April 2019

Science Curriculum Adoption process, plan, and timeline were shared with teachers and classified staff

March/April 2019

Prescreening of all state-adopted materialsEvaluated 11 programs using the State Adoption Toolkit

June 2019

Paper screening of two programsSelected Amplify Science to pilot in Fall 2019

May - Nov2019

Pilot Committee members selected, were trained, and taught Amplify Science pilot units

December 2019

Adoption Committee determined that we should NOT move forward with adopting Amplify Science

Timeline

January 2020

Adoption Committee completed paper screening of two additional programs

January 2020

Adoption Committee recommended Piloting Smithsonian: Science in the Classroom

Jan - March 2020

Pilot Committee trained on Smithsonian: Science in the Classroom, taught, and collected data on pilot unit

April 2020

Pilot Committee evaluated pilot unit based on lessons taught prior to school closure and unanimously recommended adopting Smithsonian: Science in the Classroom

April - May 2020

Instructional materials available for public preview virtually and Science Adoption Committee presents to the School Board

Adoption Committee & Pilot Teachers

Kindergarten - Diana Thomas

1st grade: Melina Rinehart, Helen Brown, Michelle Gary

2nd grade: Nancy Roscelli

3rd grade: Emily Wong, Joanie Sears

4th grade: Aileen Finney, Jennifer Kessler

5th grade: Tammy Medress, Ken Taylor, Tracy Broback

Administrators: Anne Dolid, Cheryl Wozniak

Overview of NGSS and 3-Dimensional Learning

Develop a District Lens: PUSD Curricular Priorities

● Grounded in meaningful, relevant, real world context - social justice & environmental issues

● Integration - curriculum & context● Access - differentiation, diverse learning styles and modalities (notebooks,

tech, group and individual work)● Built in rigorous (variety of DOK) formative and summative assessments with

ability to link to online data managers● Time constraints - K-5 ~120 min/wk, 6-8 ~250 min/wk● Vertical articulation in content● User friendly materials and prep● Teachable without supplementation● INSPIRING!!!

NGSS Toolkit for Instructional Materials Evaluation

Section 1:Develop a district lens (4 hours)

Section 2:Prescreen (20+ hours)

Section 3: Paperscreen (30+ hours)

Section 4: Pilot Materials

Section 5: Select and Recommend

Section 6: Implement

Review of Curricula: PrescreenDistrict lens3 Dimensions of NGSS StandardsStudent learning experiences Assessments

Individual analysisGroup analysisConsensus scoreDetermined which materials to Paperscreen

Curricula Prescreened without Advancing Scores

1. FOSS Next Generation2. CA Inspire Science - Different Environments3. Discovery Education - Science Techbook4. Twig Science5. National Geographic Exploring Science6. Building Blocks of Science7. Pearson- California Elevate8. TCI Bring Science Alive & CA Integrated Program9. California Dimensions - HMH Science

Curricula Prescreened with Advancing Scores

1. STEMscopes - CA-NGSS 3D2. Amplify3. Smithsonian- Science in the Classroom

Meets Questions/Concerns Reasons for Selection

STEMScopes Did not make it past Rubric 1: Foundations Not selected

Amplify Scored with all 5 Rubrics and found to be medium or high quality in regards to potential in all assessed areas.

Piloted and not recommended (see next slide)

Smithsonian- Science in the

Classroom

Scored with All 5 Rubrics and found to be medium or high quality in regards to potential in all assessed areas.

Piloted and recommended(see next slide)

Review of Curricula: Paperscreen

Rubric 1 – Foundations Rubric 2 – Student LearningRubric 3 – Monitoring Student Progress Rubric 4 – Teacher SupportRubric 5 – Program Evaluation (Optional)

Rubric 1: Paperscreen

Meets Strengths Limitations

Amplify

*No consensus

Grounded in a real world problemOverarching phenomenaStrong vocabulary developmentTechnologyLiteracy component

Lack of rich 3-dimensionalityTimeSlow PaceLimited hands on experiencesNot enough student discovery (lots of teacher explanations)

Smithsonian- Science in the

Classroom

High student engagementHands onVaried learning experiencesScience NotebooksTimeAppropriate Pace

Cost of consumablesLack of EP&Cs- teachers would need to overlay*Did not get to final unit assessments

Review of Curricula: Pilot

Recommendation: Smithsonian- Science in the Classroom

Parent EngagementOpportunities

Parent Feedback

Parent Feedback

Parent Comments

Questions about the curriculum

Objections about the curriculum

Board or Public Comments/Questions?

First review of science instructional materials

Second reading scheduled for May 27, 2020