Amazing Math and Science Explorations
April 2023
After participating in the summer CRS training, I completely rearranged my teaching schedule to make sure we did science every week. I made Wednesdays ‘science day.’ Student attendance is up because no one wants to miss science, and I am more effective in bringing in the reading, writing, and math skills into science investigations…Science has been a bright spot this year for me and my students.
– OUSD 2nd/3rd grade teacher
Sometimes the ingredients to bring about change are simple: time, respect, and collaboration.
For teachers who participated in the CRS 2022 Summer Joyful Math and Science professional collaboration, these ingredients at the heart of the professional development experience transformed their teaching in the 2022-23 school year. They shared photos and examples of student work, demonstrating fully engaged students exploring and making meaningful connections between science concepts and their own lives.
And, now, many of those teachers are ready to serve as peer coaches for the 2023 summer Joyful Math & Science collaboration cohort!
Dozens of teachers from across multiple districts will have the opportunity to dig into math and science standards, develop and plan to implement new tools for students to use their math skills in exciting lessons as they explore light, energy, plant growth, or animal structures and functions. Funding from Impact100 East Bay is supporting this work.
To show students that they too have ideas and talents in science, teachers will explore storybooks and examples of notable scientists of color, women, and others under-represented in STEM fields. Broadening the “face of science” through meeting BASIS role models and reading about scientists of color, helps students to imagine their own futures in science.
I read the story, Mario and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet. It aligned perfectly with us celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. I had a student ask me if Mario was a real person and when I told him that he was he couldn’t believe that someone who spoke Spanish was a scientist. This book helped students see that they, too, can be scientists.
– Richmond 4th grade Teacher
Know a teacher who would like to attend? Share this Registration link.