This first unit was exciting to really start to dive in to the things we will be teaching, and get involved with what it looks like to teach science to 21st century students. This unit we talked about the Scientific Method, Process, and Literacy through lesson planning and teaching mock classes to one another. I enjoyed talking about study tools for students, such as making foldables, using technology, and all the new ways we can create lessons to be refreshed and exciting.

I also taught my own mock lesson this month, which I discussed how NGSS has a STEAM focus. We got to play with a lot of engineering, art, and technology by using different apps and websites such as WordGarden, Kahoot, and Kodable to practice coding.

These basic science skills truly will assist us in teaching students. These weeks really solidified a foundation for our own teaching, and our student’s learnings.

I agree so much with the Sage on the Stage article that talks about how lecturing truly isn’t the best way to hold the attention of students. This article mostly talks about undergraduate college students, and it is so true how painful courses are when they’re purely lectured. This goes on to include how students perform better when they’re in a course in which there is more interaction with one another, the content, and when students are likely to be called on to participate in the class. Kahoot, clickers, and virtual ways to allow students to interact with the class materials alongside the teaching and lecturing is also more likely to mirror the type of work and collaboration that will be expected of them in the workforce.