Science is a social endeavor! Gain strategies to transform your classroom into a community of learners in which students and teachers actively try to make sense of the natural and built worlds.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leave this session with strategies for developing classroom norms in collaboration with your students.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Soriano (NSTA: Jersey City, NJ)

Science education has a key role to play in supporting a just transition to the climate crisis. Participants will learn about 20 priority areas associated with climate and environmental justice—and explore educational approaches, resources, and groups related to these areas.

TAKEAWAYS:
Working towards climate justice involves a multifaceted set of issues and priorities. Teachers will identify which priority areas relate to their goals and context and learn about related resources. A climate justice framework will help teachers learn about different dimensions of climate justice.

SPEAKERS:
Philip Bell (University of Washington: Seattle, WA), Kelsie Fowler (University of Washington: Seattle, WA), Deb Morrison (University of Washington: Salt Spring Island, BC), Nancy Price (University of Washington: Seattle, WA)

Teachers spend about 7-12 hours per week searching for & creating instructional materials. In this session we’ll hear from teachers about how using vetted, high quality materials as a starting point opened up new possibilities and helped them to be the teacher they always wanted to be.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using high-quality instructional materials in your classroom can shift your role as teacher from "creator" to "innovator" and allow more time for supporting students and improving outcomes.

SPEAKERS:
Erika Palys (OpenSciEd: Palatine, IL), Matt Krehbiel (OpenSciEd: Derwood, MD)

Claims regarding NGSS alignment are prevalent in science materials. This session will focus on how to identify phenomena, problems, and sensemaking in K-12 lessons and materials, to support participants to make informed decisions on using and adapting materials to best meet students' needs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain an understanding of the characteristics of phenomena/problems and sensemaking opportunities and how to identify them in materials. With example lessons, they will use tools to evaluate materials for NGSS-aligned instruction in order to effectively identify aspects of quality.

SPEAKERS:
Shannon Wachowski (EdReports.org: Lander, WY)

Student discourse needs to be carefully orchestrated to provide teachers with meaningful information about all students. We will share a discourse routine as a powerful formative assessment tool that simultaneously supports students’ science sensemaking and expansion of their linguistic toolkit.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience a Collect and Display discourse routine as learners and acquire strategies for integrating it into any instructional sequence to elicit and support 3D sensemaking and expand students’ linguistic repertoires.

SPEAKERS:
Jill Wertheim (WestEd: Takoma Park, MD), Lauren Stoll (Director of Professional Learning: Santa Barbara, CA)

Experience the impact of science instruction that directly engages and affirms the student scientists in your classroom. Learn how to ground daily lessons in meaningful community issues without overhauling your curriculum. Enable all students to advocate and create changes in their community.

TAKEAWAYS:
We'll share two strategies for grounding lessons in relevant contexts: (1) Anchor the lesson in a question and (2) Connect daily lessons to meaningful community issues using a three-step process. Participants practice both strategies and leave with an adapted meaningful lesson.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Harrell (UnboundEd: West Orange, NJ), Amber Woods (UnboundEd: Glen Burnie, MD)

An NGSS classroom promises Science for All, but sometimes students have different needs. See how classroom teachers build a culture of choice, create differentiated literacy and assessment products, and help students meet differentiated goals for 3D learning within an inclusive classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with ideas and routines for fostering a differentiated classroom culture, samples of high-quality, scaffolded guides for scientific readings and assessments, and strategies to allow students to set their own goals for meeting or exceeding standards.

SPEAKERS:
Barbara McIntyre (Michigan Technological University: Midland, MI), Chris Geerer (Mi-STAR: Rochester, MI)

In this interactive workshop, participants will learn about creating a culture and instructional strategies to support all students and the assets they bring into the classroom through science sensemaking discourse and notebooking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will first experience an anchor from OpenSciEd 6.4 unit to create their model to describe their thinking in a notebook and then use the discussion diamond to come to a consensus and revise. Educators will review different student samples and discuss how these support all students' ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Christy Krenek (Santa Fe Public Schools: Santa Fe, NM)

In this interactive lesson, participants become health advocates, analyzing and interpreting scientific research to propose effective solutions for barriers to prenatal care access.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this interactive session, participants will use scientific research to uncover how socioeconomic factors and policies impact healthcare while developing a deeper appreciation for the intersection of science and society and the role of scientific knowledge in addressing societal needs.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Burkart (Estrella Mountain Community College: Avondale, AZ)

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

Energize your science classroom and foster deep scientific thinking! Through exemplar activities and teacher moves, discover actionable strategies for fostering a classroom culture that celebrates student thinking, promotes risk taking, and cultivates student growth.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Cross (Albert Einstein Academy Middle School: SPRING VALLEY, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Classroom communities make sense of what’s being investigated through discussions; it’s key to ensuring all students’ ideas are shared and valued. This session focuses on discussion types used to help draw out student ideas, negotiate and refine them, and support communicating in scientific ways.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Klaft (Granger Middle School: Aurora, IL), Tracy Marmolejo (Activate Learning: Richardson, TX)

Wondering how to customize your curriculum to help more students share and build on others’ ideas? Using examples from OpenSciEd as a context, we’ll share tools & strategies for customizing curriculum to elevate student voice and perspective. Come ready to work! 90 minute session

TAKEAWAYS:
If curriculum enactment pairs great materials with support for teachers to make those materials even better, amazing things can happen. Customizing curriculum to encourage student voice repositions students as knowledge makers and support their science identity and motivation and values.

SPEAKERS:
Austin Moore (Boston College: Watertown, MA), Matt Krehbiel (OpenSciEd: Derwood, MD), Erika Palys (OpenSciEd: Palatine, IL), Renee Affolter (OpenSciEd: Montpelier, VT)

Far too often, equity efforts are relegated to the sidelines instead of being embedded in core curriculum leadership tasks. Join us to consider how anchoring science leadership in equity principles can remove barriers to science teaching and learning through curriculum implementation efforts.

TAKEAWAYS:
The implementation of HQIM can lead to more equitable systems when barriers to equity are confronted and removed. The process of confronting barriers includes collaborating for justice, taking small actions to learn, and continual reflection and revision of implementation plans based on data.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Gomez Zwiep (BSCS Science Learning: Long Beach, CA), Jenine Cotton-Proby (BSCS Science Learning: Waldorf, MD), Janna Mahfoud (BSCS Science Learning: Laveen, AZ)

Take a deep dive into the practice of developing and using models! We’ll explore how creating and using models help students build science ideas and can support students’ in developing and writing explanations. Experience the power of building science ideas together as part of a learning community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Developing models individually, in groups and as a class makes all students essential members of the knowledge-building community.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Rademaker (NSTA: Freeport, IL)

Trauma affects a significant portion of the student population and can manifest in various ways. This session focuses on the application of trauma-informed practices within the science classroom and its potential to enhance student engagement, facilitate learning, and promote emotional resilience.

TAKEAWAYS:
Drawing upon research and practical strategies, this session aims to equip educators with the knowledge and tools necessary to create safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments that empower students to thrive academically and emotionally.

SPEAKERS:
Cheryl Robertson (University of Tennessee, Knoxvile: Knoxville, TN)

Creating Regionally Relevant Lessons engage students on a personal level allowing for greater insight into where they fit and their role in their community as well as how they can impact the world around them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with plenty of ideas of how to connect what they're teaching in the classroom to their own local resources and, how bundling performance expectations can be a great way to start!

SPEAKERS:
Teresa Rockwood (Kendall Hunt Publishing Co.: Austin, TX)

Educating students in science and engineering requires awareness of our practices and beliefs. What tools exist to keep these reflections in mind throughout the year? Learn about protocols that focus on classroom conditions for student belonging, identity development, and scientific sensemaking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will deepen their understanding of learning conditions necessary for student identity development, safety, engagement, and scientific sense-making. Participants will experience a ready-to-use reflective protocol to guide strategic planning for cultivating these learning conditions.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Stults (Loyola University Chicago: Chicago, IL), Kayla Cherry (Loyola University Chicago: Chicago, IL)

Climate literacy and data literacy go hand-in-hand. Variability in data often throws our students off. To truly understand the causes and effects of climate change, students must be adept at cutting across the noise in complex data to look for climate signals.

TAKEAWAYS:
Enhance your students' ability to analyze and interpret variable climate data effectively by implementing strategies to get students to focus on trends instead of individual data points.

SPEAKERS:
Jocelyn Foran (Tuva)

Educators of all levels will learn how to create equitable STEM opportunities for girls of urban backgrounds. In addition, suggestions will be given on how ensure that urban girls sustain an interest in STEM which will results in them choosing STEM related college/university majors and careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the importance of representation and how to reverse the narrative when it comes to teaching STEM to African American girls.

SPEAKERS:
Carla Neely (Warrensville Heights Middle School: Lyndhurst, OH)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Learn how to enhance students’ overall communication in and out of the science classroom throughout their learning. Delve deeper into topics that include listening using classroom norms, strategies that help students with short response, and how to enhance students’ use of CER.

SPEAKERS:
Ellen Mintz (Activate Learning: Charleston, SC)

Sponsoring Company: Great Minds

Come along as we undergo a rigorous student experience to work through a complex investigation. Throughout the course of the session, participants will discover the importance of fostering an environment that encourages challenge where students can struggle in a safe space.

SPEAKERS:
Koi Beard (Great Minds: Washington, DC), Nicole Harvey (Zachary High School: Zachary, LA)

Talk is fundamental to learning. This workshop engages participants in a variety of talk strategies specifically designed for improving classroom equity while engaging in STEM learning experiences. Many supporting resources are shared that teachers can learn from and directly use with students.

TAKEAWAYS:
The goal of this session is to support teachers in understanding how best to meet the needs of all learners by starting from where students are at and drawing on their intuitive ideas and real world experiences to inform instruction. All strategies are framed as equitable 3D formative assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Deb Morrison (University of Washington: Salt Spring Island, BC), Kelsie Fowler (University of Washington: Seattle, WA)

Explore how leaders can use the new BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning (AIL) instructional model to support teachers in creating learning experiences that motivate students with significant, real world phenomena and problems! Learn how AIL cycles of inquiry and sensemaking culminate in student agency!

TAKEAWAYS:
The research-based BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model succeeds the 5Es and forms the basis for high-quality instructional materials. Leaders can leverage this model to support teachers in creating a student centered classroom that provides effective teaching and learning for all.

SPEAKERS:
Cynthia Gay (BSCS Science Learning: Steamboat Springs, CO)

What is the connection between coherent instructional sequences from the students’ perspective and equitable access to science learning? Learn how coherent storyline units support students’ genuine engagement and perseverance as they work to explain a complex phenomenon over the course of a unit.

TAKEAWAYS:
Storyline unit Instructional routines provide a coherent path from students’ questions about a phenomenon to the explanation or model of that phenomenon.

SPEAKERS:
Holly Hereau (NSTA: Lake Angelus, MI)

You have a coherent phenomenon-based learning plan for your students, and midway through, you get sick or jury duty - now what?!? This session will highlight approaches to substitute plans that are flexible, easy to implement, and support student learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
When students are tasked with sensemaking and figuring out day in and day out, it is easier to have that happen without the teacher present. Utilizing a quality curriculum that supports student coherence and phenomenon-based learning is the best tool to make that a reality.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Delaney (OpenSciEd: San Carlos, CA), Matt Krehbiel (OpenSciEd: Derwood, MD)

The Learning Progression Model is a flexible, equitable assessment strategy to provide descriptive feedback, set goals, evaluate teaching, and report achievement. Attendees leave knowing how they can implement this in their classrooms even in a traditional grades school.

TAKEAWAYS:
Understand how the Learning Progression Model keeps students engaged and accountable, how learning progressions are used to develop/assess skills and knowledge aligned with NGSS, and how to integrate this approach into the traditional grading system.

SPEAKERS:
Elise Naramore (Pascack Hills High School: Saddle River, NJ)

Explore STEM enrichment through a STEM Innovation Fair, delving into its goals, structure, and impact on fostering creativity and scientific inquiry among K-12 students. Participants discover how the Fair empowers students to be change-makers and ignites a passion for STEM education and careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave equipped with the knowledge and tools to spearhead their own innovation fairs within their school districts, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and community engagement among students while cultivating a culture of innovation for future generations.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Dillon (Indianapolis Public Schools: Cicero, IN)

During this interactive hour long hybrid between a professional development and research presentation participants will learn about and ideate on how to make STEM learning spaces more equitable through simple changes to classroom organization.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with strategies and resources on how to organize and decorate their classrooms to promote equity and belonging in STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Molly Novelli (PhD student: Cedar Park, TX)

Explore a unit of instruction developed in partnership with researchers from UC San Diego. From experiencing and analyzing the unit, you will identify design principles that promote specific pedagogical routines for teachers. You will leave with specific strategies for collaborating with researche

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience science curriculum design principles based on equity design centered instructional frameworks. Learn and apply a protocol for partnering with researchers to generate curriculum resources that support both teacher and student learning.

SPEAKERS:
Alec Barron (UC San Diego)

We will explore expansive ways we can notice students’ sensemaking assets and use those ideas to engage students in deeper learning. This session supports educators who are exploring modification or creation of instructional materials to better serve all students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore the expanded ways of communicating and negotiating meaning children use as they engage in sensemaking at all ages. Work with us as we share ways to becoming more attuned to the multiple ways children engage in meaning making

SPEAKERS:
Mary Starr (Michigan Mathematics and Science Leadership Network: Plymouth, MI), Miranda Fitzgerald (University of North Carolina Charlotte: Mint Hill, NC)

Sponsoring Company: Great Minds

Join us as we discover ways to prepare for collaborative conversations with strategies like targeted questioning, talk moves, and instructional routines. In this session, we will also practice applying these strategies to promote effective science discourse in a three-dimensional classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kristi Madden (Success Lead: Iowa, LA), Nicole Harvey (Zachary High School: Zachary, LA)

Discover how VR can transform the way you teach & your students learn. In this session, you'll explore the benefits of incorporating VR into your classroom, including: increased student engagement, improved retention of complex concepts, and opportunities for immersive experiential learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Integrating VR into the science classroom can create immersive and engaging learning experiences that deepen students' understanding of scientific concepts and foster their creativity and curiosity. This leads to better engagement and improved performances on formal and informal assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Lakiesha Domingue (Elementary Science Teacher/ Facilitator: Addis, LA)

After a year of diving into the implementation of the OpenSciEd curriculum, learn about our experience. We will share reflections on the experience in implementing OpenSciEd through a curriculum-based professional learning model to foster collective efficacy and curriculum implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn pros and cons, and strategies for a “ripping off the Band-Aid” approach to curriculum implementation, including analysis of curriculum-based professional learning for student and teacher growth; partnership and coaching for ongoing implementation support.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Wlodarczyk (Capitol Region Education Council: Wethersfield, CT), Julie Christianson (CREC Magnet Schools: Hartford, CT)

3-dimensional transfer task assessments require students to apply learning to related phenomena, demonstrate deep levels of understanding, and engage in new learning. Learn how to tailor existing transfer tasks and support students in completing them from 2 teachers who do this in their classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will examine revised and customized transfer task assessments, effective strategies and supports, and hear student testimonials to help guide and assist their students through the often challenging transfer task assessment process.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Bolduc (Ellington Middle School: South Windsor, CT)

This session will center on cohorts of educators who participated in a series of learning cycles. It will showcase the purpose and outcomes of the learning cycles, which empower teachers to refine their pedagogical approaches to directly address the diverse needs of their students.

TAKEAWAYS:
By implementing learning cycle protocols, teachers refine their pedagogical approaches to better meet the diverse needs of their students. Data collection and reflection processes further enhance instructional strategies, leading to continuous improvement and informed decision-making.

SPEAKERS:
Taissa Lau (Chicago Public Schools: Chicago, IL)

Culturally responsive teaching practices are essential in science. You will leave this workshop with NGSS based lessons to help students make sense of identity mapping and positionality in the classroom. Come and design models where identities are atoms and collective identities are molecules.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will experience a set of identity based and NGSS aligned lessons that can be implemented upon return home.

SPEAKERS:
Autumn Burton (The Pike School: Portland, ME), Kathleen Boucher-Lavigne (Pike School: Andover, MA)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Learn how Scientists Circles support equitable and meaningful classroom discussions. Create opportunities in your lessons in which all students’ thinking, experiences, and ideas for further exploration can be leveraged for building a culture where students are positioned as knowers and thinkers.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Klaft (Granger Middle School: Aurora, IL), Tracy Marmolejo (Activate Learning: Richardson, TX)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Empower your high school students to unlock the secrets of enzyme specificity through hands-on biotech design challenges

SPEAKERS:
Mark Arnholt (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

Sponsoring Company: LEGO Education

LEGO® Education offers hands-on learning for all abilities and language backgrounds, promoting collaboration, communication, and STEM skills through play. Discover how our solutions empower every K-8 learner to succeed in science and engineering, regardless of language differences.

Climate change is here. Come explore ways to teach about this that intersect with issues of justice and provide action for the future. This workshop will support educators in all grades and contexts, including those who can’t even say “climate change”!

TAKEAWAYS:
Strategies for engaging in climate change and climate justice learning appropriate to grade band NGSS standards, climate and energy literacy standards, and for both school and community based learning contexts.

SPEAKERS:
Deb Morrison (University of Washington: Salt Spring Island, BC), Philip Bell (University of Washington: Seattle, WA), Kelsie Fowler (University of Washington: Seattle, WA)

The Framework and NGSS called for phenomena-based 3D learning experiences for all students. Unpack WHY this is so important and HOW to make it a reality in your classroom. Take away phenomena and storylines to try in your classroom and strategies for making every student look forward to your class.

TAKEAWAYS:
The shift to phenomena-based 3D learning brings the student to the center of the learning and uses their life experiences and approaches to sensemaking to drive the learning.

SPEAKERS:
Matt Krehbiel (OpenSciEd: Derwood, MD)

Looking for ways to enhance a high-quality curriculum? This session provides teacher-tested strategies that can be used to augment a curriculum without adding more to a teacher’s plate. Come experience these practical, engaging strategies that help bring a curriculum to life!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in a variety of classroom-tested strategies that can expand the menu of options for student-centered learning while covering the same material required within the curriculum used to teach standards.

SPEAKERS:
Missy Wooley (Louisiana Tech University: Ruston, LA), Cathi Cox-Boniol (Louisiana Tech University: Ruston, LA)

This session will introduce teachers to a variety of note-booking techniques that will increase student engagement and excitement for learning. Students will take pride in their notebooks and therefore increase the level of effort they put into their work.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will provide teachers and administrators with various strategies to differentiate learning for English Language Learners, Special Education Students, and General Education Students, and accurately assess student learning through note-booking by tracking student thinking/understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Darren Wells (Mather Elementary School: Dorchester, MA), Karen Ziminski (EMK Academy for Health Careers: Boston, MA)

The session will cover culturally sustaining pedagogy and how to implement relevant teaching strategies within the science classroom to increase science identity in the urban classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to leverage pedagogy to help your students actualize themselves as scientists in the urban science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Tasha Jordan (Riverview Gardens School District: Saint Louis, MO)

Want to better understand your standards? In this session, we walk through the process of breaking down a standard using a learning progression protocol. This will result in teachers involved having an intensive understanding of their standards and a list of scaffolded student "skill" statements.

TAKEAWAYS:
A process and resources for walking through the process from standards/big ideas through scaffolded student skill statements.

SPEAKERS:
Delsey Olds (Tolleson Union High School District: Phoenix, AZ)

This session will provide a conceptual framework for transdisciplinary learning and share a template for designing project-based learning tasks, in which students assume a role to create a product for an authentic audience and in response to a real-life question or problem.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn how to create a transdisciplinary task that can be tailored to meet diverse students' interests and needs, utilized in practice with students, and shared with colleagues in their school building.

SPEAKERS:
Stefanie Holloway (Greater Oregon STEM Hub: La Grande, OR)

All students have the right to develop a deep understanding of how the world works in ways that support their personal goals and the interests of their community. Come explore how instruction can more equitably support science learning that is consequential to your students and their communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will develop an understanding of an equity project framework for science education for supporting professional learning and implementation projects. They will learn how open education resources (http://stemteachingtools.org/) can help them develop equitable approaches to science teaching.

SPEAKERS:
Philip Bell (University of Washington: Seattle, WA), Michal Robinson (Alabama State Department of Education: Hoover, AL)

This immersive and engaging workshop is designed to empower and cultivate teacher leaders in science education. It will provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to become effective leaders in their schools and communities, driving positive change in science education.

TAKEAWAYS:
One key takeaway related to leadership in science is the importance of raising awareness of implicit bias in science education. Implicit bias refers to the unconscious attitudes and stereotypes that influence our perceptions and actions, often leading to inequities in educational settings.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Kay Williams (KEDE Educational Business, LLC: Woodstock, GA)

Grading that supports student sensemaking doesn't have to keep you at school all night. Learn approaches to grading that prioritize 3D sensemaking and utilize technology, collaboration, and existing resources so you have can your evenings back.

TAKEAWAYS:
The process of giving feedback and assigning grades is easier when there are strong materials and assessments to build from and technology can help make it faster without decreasing effectiveness for students.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Delaney (OpenSciEd: San Carlos, CA), Matt Krehbiel (OpenSciEd: Derwood, MD)

Do you struggle to help your English Language Learners (ELL) engage with and understand your science lessons? If so, please join us to explore specific, practical strategies that you can use immediately to assist your ELL students.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to apply various strategies for Scientific Literacy, such as using, Language Objectives, graphic organizers, and color-coding key vocabulary to any science unit.

SPEAKERS:
Sydnie Chouery (Science Teacher: Silverdale, WA), Mikayla Kagey (Central Kitsap Middle School: Silverdale, WA)

Come learn about a research project you can implement with your middle school students. This is a way to highlight marginalized groups in STEM while teaching students about research & communication. I will provide the framework & some amazing resources, including ways to reach out to scientists.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will learn the ways to start a project like this in your classroom. You will leave with a pile of resources & ideas to help you kick off a project researching women in STEM with your students.

SPEAKERS:
Marjorie Vereen (The Town School: New York, NY)

Join us for a hands-on workshop to learn how Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids free, standards-aligned curriculum materials support upper elementary, middle, and high school students learn about mitigating lead in water.

TAKEAWAYS:
Lead in water is a problem that disproportionally affects children and low-income communities of color. Come away with free standards-aligned, transdisciplinary curriculum materials that s help students in upper elementary, middle, and high school understand the problem and potential solutions.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Allen (Instructional Specialist: Research Triangle Park, NC), Dr. Whitney White (RTI International: Research Triangle Park, NC)

Learn how to craft content language objectives (CLOs) that seamlessly blend the 3D of NGSS with the four elements of a language objective, providing insight into structuring targeted support.

TAKEAWAYS:
CLOs are a practical solution to the pressing challenge of addressing language proficiency as students access and engage with complex scientific concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Jean Rowe (DSST Public Schools: Denver, CO)

Immersing educators in a locally relevant context is a powerful way to foster professional learning, enhance curriculum, and boost student engagement. This session will present successful examples of immersive professional learning that have impacted hundreds of educators across the country.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the benefits of immersive and place-based learning and how it can bring the sensemaking process to life. We will explore how immersive professional learning can surface local phenomena that can be leveraged to support curricular modifications and enhance relevance.

SPEAKERS:
Rick Henningfeld (Vivayic, Inc.), Craig Rebich (Relevant Classroom: Lawrenceburg, IN), Brian Beierle (Relevant Classroom, a Division of Vivayic, Inc.: Wauwatosa, WI)

Learn about the Justice-Centered Ambitious Science Teaching framework and practices teachers have developed to be responsive to students' cultures and communities, recognize and build upon expansive forms of student meaning-making, and committed to naming and disrupting injustice in society.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about teaching practices aimed at building a welcoming, joyful, and critical community, planning that is meaningful for youth and advocates for justice, elicits local stories and uses interpretive power, and nurtures revisions of scientific thinking with diverse and local expertise.

SPEAKERS:
April Luehmann (University of Rochester: Rochester, NY), Molly Wilson (Warner School of Education and Human Development), Priya Pugh , Todd Campbell (University of Connecticut: N. Franklin, CT), James Kostka (Warner School: New York, NY), Katrina Robinson (Penfield High School: Rochester, NY), Christina Riccardo (IslandWood: SEATTLE, WA)

The NSTA Sensemaking Tool can support teachers shifting their instruction to create opportunities for student sensemaking. Gain experience using the tool to identify “look and listen fors” in classroom observations and to facilitate productive discussions about successes and overcoming challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use the NSTA Sensemaking Tool for classroom observations and providing feedback.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Soriano (NSTA: Jersey City, NJ)

This session will explore a process for creating NGSS aligned IEP science goals using the Science & Engineering Practices. Attendees will be presented with a prototype tool for collecting data, writing goals, and monitoring progress that has been created for use across Chicago Public Schools.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will explore a process for writing science IEP goals that goes beyond simply recreating math and literacy based goals.

SPEAKERS:
Amy Brady (Dept. of STEM, CPS Bridgeport: Chicago, IL), Joseph Seabloom (Chicago Public Schools: Chicago, IL)

Grading for Understanding is a standards-aligned assessment practice that provides greater clarity to teachers, students, and parents. Using the Grading for Understanding, teachers can provide more valuable feedback to students and focus on assessing current understanding of science standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how Grading for Understanding reduces biases in grading and supports growth mindsets and hope for students to succeed in science.

SPEAKERS:
Tyler Miller (Teacher: Tulsa, OK), Jennifer Miller (Tulsa Public Schools: Tulsa, OK)

Sponsoring Company: Kognity

Join Kognity for an impactful session dedicated to empowering historically underserved populations in the field of science. We will explore strategies and initiatives aimed at promoting inclusivity and equity in science education.

SPEAKERS:
Grace Boersma (Kognity: Stockholm, Sweden)

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

Discover research-based strategies to effectively differentiate STEM instruction for diverse learners, and foster a positive classroom culture that celebrates neurodiversity as an asset. Engage in interactive activities and leave with tools to create inclusive learning environments for all.

SPEAKERS:
Gregory Trieste (STEM Program Specialist: Irving, TX)

Sponsoring Company: LEGO Education

LEGO® Education offers hands-on learning for all abilities and language backgrounds, promoting collaboration, communication, and STEM skills through play. Discover how our solutions empower every K-8 learner to succeed in science and engineering, regardless of language differences.

Empower your teaching with Scientist Circles! Discover research-backed strategies to foster collaborative learning, critical thinking skills and ignite curiosity in the classroom. Engage in hands-on-activities, share best practices and leave empowered to implement Scientist Circles effectively.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave equipped with proven methods and practical implementation tips to enhance student engagement and communication skills in the middle school classroom. Elevate your classroom experience and inspire lifelong learners.

SPEAKERS:
Ann Guglielmo (Taunton Public Schools: Taunton, MA), Tonya Brainsky (OSE Massachusetts Community: Rehoboth, MA)

Students will be presented with the question if racism is a disease. What is racism? What is a disease? What did you discover?

TAKEAWAYS:
Does racism affect the human body?

SPEAKERS:
Andrea Baxter (Stem Facilitator: Goshen, AL)

Wondering how to reach your neurodivergent students? Come listen to a teacher who is neurodivergent herself provide information on the innerworkings of the ASD and ADHD mind in relation to the classroom. Learn simple ways to create a classroom environment that is equitable for all brains!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with information on the mind of students with ASD and ADHD. Teachers will acquire simple, low cost ways of making their classroom environment more accessible to neurodivergent students.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Goodwin (Olive Branch H.S.: Southaven, MS)

Advancing equity and increasing accessibility for all students in assessment is a key aspect of the vision for science education. Analyze example assessments with the newly developed culturally responsive framework for alignment to multiple equity goals.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use culturally relevant design principles to evaluate and adapt three-dimensional assessment tasks to meet the needs of the students in your classroom and support them in developing cultural competence.

SPEAKERS:
Kelley Turner (Winchester Public Schools: Winchester, VA), Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Grayslake, IL), Sara Cooper (Contextus: Lincoln, NE)

NSTA’s suite of instructional coaching tools support teachers, coaches and leaders in making the best use of instructional coaching cycles to support students’ sensemaking in the classroom. Become familiar with all of our OER coaching tools and try a few out a few in this session!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to use NSTA’s suite of instructional coaching tools to support instructional coaching cycles in your school/district.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Soriano (NSTA: Jersey City, NJ)

Engaging students in phenomenon-based 3D science learning is challenging; when students are absent, it can feel impossible. In this session, participants will take away strategies for supporting absent students in staying engaged in learning when they miss classroom instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will take away strategies for supporting absent students in staying engaged in learning when they miss classroom instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Matt Krehbiel (OpenSciEd: Derwood, MD), Sarah Delaney (OpenSciEd: San Carlos, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

Dive into a nuanced integration of science, literacy, and language strategies that benefit all students, notably multilingual learners. Explore how NGSS-designed learning sequences coupled with the Science of Reading enhance learning outcomes for all.

SPEAKERS:
Alestra Menendez (Amplify: Fairfield, CA)

Learn how to use the NSTA Student Work Analysis tool and protocol to evaluate students’ three-dimensional learning. We’ll focus our discussions on what counts as evidence of students’ ownership of targeted elements of the three dimensions and how to use collected student data to inform instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to evaluate students’ three-dimensional learning using the NSTA Student Work Analysis tool and protocol.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Soriano (NSTA: Jersey City, NJ)

3-dimensional transfer task assessments require students to apply learning to related phenomena, demonstrate deep levels of understanding, and engage in new learning. Learn how to tailor existing transfer tasks and support students in completing them from 2 teachers who do this in their classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will examine revised and customized transfer task assessments, effective strategies and supports, and hear student testimonials to help guide and assist their students through the often challenging transfer task assessment process.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Bolduc (Ellington Middle School: South Windsor, CT), Amy Hetherington-Coy (Teacher: Ellington, CT)

Learn how students have revolutionized cultrually and linguistically sustaining teaching and learning in Denver Public Schools. Engage with student stories, research, and district leaders to understand how one district is changing the narrative of how to select high quality instructional materials.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with knowledge and resources to determine what science instructional materials are culturally and linguistically sustaining.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Johnston (Denver Public Schools: Denver, CO), Matthew Christiansen (Oceanside High School #7: Oceanside, NY)

Join our discussion on equitable science education, integrating sense-making pillars into culturally and linguistically sustaining practices. Engage with phenomena, student ideas, and disciplinary core ideas for meaningful learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
We offer a glimpse of science classrooms that are engaged in authentic, culturally sustainable experiences that foster sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Johanna Esparza (Assistant Professor of Practice: Brownsville, TX), Miriam Ortiz (Assistant Professor of Practice: San Benito, TX), Uma Ganesan (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley: Brownsville, TX), Zulema Williams (Assistant Professor of Practice: Brownsville, TX), Patricia Ramirez (UTRGV)

Sponsoring Company: UnboundEd

We have future leaders in our classrooms. To cultivate their genius, we need to help them make connections between science and pressing challenges in their world. We’ll show you ways to make it happen. Take home ideas, materials, and resources to equip your students to be the change!

SPEAKERS:
Amber Woods (UnboundEd: Glen Burnie, MD), Jessica Harrell (UnboundEd: West Orange, NJ)

How do we teach Tier 3 science vocabulary to students with limited English (or no English) and encourage success? We will share multiple strategies for teaching Tier 3 Academic Science vocabulary, as well as modalities that incorporate visual aids, manipulatives, and kinesthetic activities to engage.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with: Tier 3 strategies for teaching science; visual and kinesthetic activities to engage ALL students; and forms of assessment for ALL levels of English Language Learners.

SPEAKERS:
Karen Ziminski (EMK Academy for Health Careers: Boston, MA)

How can science learning experiences help students develop ecological caring approaches to the living world? Come explore educational approaches to multispecies justice with us! Expanding how students connect to and care for the living world around them is vital at this time of climate crisis.

TAKEAWAYS:
People’s relationships to nature are culturally and historically rooted and are embedded in approaches to science teaching and learning. Science can be used to guide ecological caring responses and support the thriving of species.

SPEAKERS:
Philip Bell (University of Washington: Seattle, WA), Nancy Price (University of Washington: Seattle, WA), Kelsie Fowler (University of Washington: Seattle, WA)

Lead professional learning for your colleagues, school or district using NSTA's Professional Learning Units (PLUs)! These PLUs are designed to deepen educators’ understanding of three-dimensional teaching to help boost all students’ science learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Lead your professional learning community’s learning using NSTA PLUs.

SPEAKERS:
Zoe Evans (Bremen City Schools: Carrollton, GA), Kristin Rademaker (NSTA: Freeport, IL)

NOAA's Science on a Sphere team will demo an AI chatbot using Large Language Models to enhance access. This chatbot recommends datasets based on teachers' needs, aligns them with goals, and suggests classroom applications. Discussion will address democratizing access vs. perpetuating disparities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Large Language Models are great tools to find correlations between large pools of content, thus its use as a virtual assistant could greatly improve access to large data and visualization content and while minimizing time and effort for this task.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Hackathorn (NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory: Boulder, CO), Juan Pablo Hurtado Padilla (NOAA Office of Education: Silver Spring, MD)

Pulling off an awesome field trip seems like a daunting task - but what better way is there to expose students to phenomena and have them think like scientists? With a few ground rules in mind, let's go places!

TAKEAWAYS:
Ideas and strategies for putting together a meaningful and tear-free trip for your students.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Swiatkowski (Alverta B. Gray Schultz Middle School: Lindenhurst, NY)

In anticipation of the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) science results, join us to learn more about our new composite variable for measuring student socioeconomic status (SES) and how it can be used to uncover connections between SES and student achievement on NAEP.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will better understand the previous variables used to measure SES and how the recommendations provide new insights into student achievement in the upcoming 2024 NAEP Science release.

SPEAKERS:
Markus Broer (Managing Researcher: Washington, DC)

ScienceSaves (www.sciencesaves.org) promotes the fact that science makes life healthier and easier. Our FREE lessons teach graphing, data analysis, engineering practices, etc. They include teacher notes, standards, rubrics, and lesson plans. Check out our $15,000 scholarship for high school seniors.

TAKEAWAYS:
Too often, our students view science as a cold, calculated endeavor. We have lessons that show how a diverse array of scientists have given humanity amazing innovations, like open-heart surgery, CRISPR, and seatbelts. Our goal is for students to see themselves as future scientists.

SPEAKERS:
Melanie Trecek-King (Thinking Is Power: Franklin, MA)

Chunking texts from various sources allows teachers to decrease the amount of teacher-centric time and increase student-centric time. Students will also measurably grow in their science literacy skills as their increase their fluency with purposeful practice.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn simple strategies to add chunking to their lesson as a substitution for lecture. In addition, they will take away some understanding the role of literacy and student success in a science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Hamilton (Southland Center CCS: Columbus, OH)

Host a STEM Fair promoting student-centered learning with equitable access to resources and a focus on the scientific method or engineering design process. Students investigate topics that interest them as part of the curriculum, culminating in an all-school celebration of student research.

TAKEAWAYS:
A school based STEM Fair allows students to engage in a four year scaffolded series of research projects ensuring that all have the same access to resources and time to experiment at school. The culminating fair offers students authentic feedback and celebrates their research.

SPEAKERS:
Nichole Lazor (Hathaway Brown School: Shaker Heights, OH), Kelly Wilson (Hathaway Brown School: Shaker Heights, OH)

Accurately assessing students’ scientific thinking without language ability getting in the way is a challenge. This session will share exemplar three-dimensional assessments for middle school science and provide practical tips for updating your existing assessments for all learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with 3D assessments and grading rubrics ready for their middle school classrooms, as well as research-based strategies for adapting their existing assessments for struggling readers and English Learners.

SPEAKERS:
Linda Malkin (University of Wisconsin-Madison: Middleton, WI), Katrina Pommerening (Outreach Specialist: Madison, WI)

In this session, attendees will discuss perhaps unseen sides of assessment and learn how to use them to boost confidence and motivate students. Join us for strategies on how to make minor changes for big effect in your classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
Walk away with strategies that allow students to share their input, share what they know, and share in the wealth that can be assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Amber Richards (Chatsworth Elementary School: Chatsworth, GA)

I developed a cancer biology unit with the University of Chicago, enriching middle schoolers' understanding through hands-on labs. Results exceeded expectations, indicating successful intellectual growth. Presentation includes a dance activity on mitosis and scaffolded scientific writing.

TAKEAWAYS:
During the presentation, participants will engage in a dance activity, focusing on mitosis and cellular reproduction, which are core themes in cancer biology. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to examine student work and learn specific scaffolding techniques.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Dixon (Chicago Public Schools: Chicago, IL)

Students bring amazing intellectual resources to make sense of science phenomena based on their personal and community experiences—including language, perspectives, gestures, and knowledge, interests, and values. Come learn how to notice and leverage those intellectual gifts in your teaching!

TAKEAWAYS:
Culturally responsive education supports student sensemaking and learning in science. Inclusive science strategies help teachers learn to see and leverage students’ diverse sense-making resources. These methods help us create and adapt curriculum that is equitable and centered on justice.

SPEAKERS:
Philip Bell (University of Washington: Seattle, WA), Nancy Price (University of Washington: Seattle, WA)

Students often struggle with connecting STEM concepts to their everyday experiences such as deciding on healthy food options in the cafeteria. Teachers will participate in a model lesson incorporating STEM and social justice pedagogy ultimately advocating for their stance on an issue.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn to merge STEM with social justice in teaching, empowering students to critically assess the complexities of healthy eating and school nutrition through diverse perspectives including health experts, students, parents, and food vendors.

SPEAKERS:
Augusto Macalalag, Jr. (Arcadia University: Wyncote, PA), Joseph Johnson (Mercyhurst University: Erie, PA), Dylan Fedell (Palisades High School: Kintnersville, PA)

Join Girls Who Code for strategies and tools on how to a) recruit and retain girls and BIPOC students in STEM, b) design inclusive holistic programs that build life skills, c) keep your curricula relevant with emerging tech and ai, and d) access free resources for 3-12th graders of all genders.

TAKEAWAYS:
Join Girls Who Code for strategies and tools on how to a) recruit and retain girls and BIPOC students in STEM, b) design inclusive holistic programs that build life skills, c) keep your curricula relevant with emerging tech and ai, and d) access free resources for 3-12th graders of all genders.

SPEAKERS:
Kibret Yebetit (Girls Who Code: New York, NY)

Join us to master the art of leading interactive and impactful workshops with facilitation checklists and planning templates.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will use a facilitation checklist and planning template to plan, deliver, and receive feedback on a mock professional learning activity for disseminating best practices for NGSS instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Kayla Cherry (Loyola University Chicago: Chicago, IL), Sarah Stults (Loyola University Chicago: Chicago, IL)

During this hands-on workshop, participants will work with a 26 year veteran science teacher to delve into the impact of using a daily predictable learning routine to help students hone executive functioning skills like goal setting, time and task management, accountability, and self-regulation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Each participant will receive an Organized Binder Student Bundle. This content-agnostic program models a predictable learning routine for students but it also integrates easily into a teacher's existing curriculum, with tools and strategies that can be implemented the very next class session.

SPEAKERS:
Eva Behr (Los Angeles Unified School District: Los Angeles, CA)

Students bring a range of intellectual resources—based on their unique life experiences—into the classroom as they learn science. These resources can be considered different “facets” of thinking. Teachers explore a protocol for identifying and attending to facets through formative assessments.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will help participants: analyze cognitive formative assessment responses to surface the range of student thinking about science topics and concepts, guide instruction based on that diversity of student ideas, and design formative assessment tasks to support equitable 3D instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Philip Bell (University of Washington: Seattle, WA), Tiffany Neill (OpenSciEd: New York, NY)

Starting with empathy, we can create inclusive learning environments rooted in people’s needs. Learn how human-centered design principles can be applied to create meaningful, engaging, and effective learning experiences for educators and students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave this session equipped with human-centered design strategies and tools to guide their PLCs and to design impactful learning experiences for their students.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Beierle (Relevant Classroom, a Division of Vivayic, Inc.: Wauwatosa, WI)

This session will give participants the opportunity to interactively and collaboratively engage in a sampling of simple activities to promote explicit instruction in the nature of science.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. It is important to explicitly teach the nature of science to students; 2. The nature of science should be presented in an accessible way to all students; and 3. Attendees will walk away with activities they can use in their class immediately to teach the NOS.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Moore (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN)

Come learn about a research project you can implement with your middle school students. This is a way to highlight marginalized groups in STEM while teaching students about research & communication. I will provide the framework & some amazing resources, including ways to reach out to scientists.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will learn the ways to start a project like this in your classroom. You will leave with a pile of resources & ideas to help you kick off a project researching women in STEM with your students.

SPEAKERS:
Marjorie Vereen (The Town School: New York, NY)

Discuss strategies to help students with neurodiversity, including ADHD and dyslexia, thrive in a general education middle school science classroom. In addition, learn how to best communicate concerns with their parents’ while making them feel supported and part of the team.

TAKEAWAYS:
Based on the concern, learn a variety of strategies to support your student. For example, the student with dyslexia is struggling on quizzes. Simple accommodations could include reading the test aloud to them, providing a word bank with more challenging words or changing the font size and spacing.

SPEAKERS:
Kaitlyn Johnson (Middle School Science Lead Teacher: San Jose, CA)

Embark on an exploration of teacher recognition of NGSS Standards, where insights to refine science education practices, fostering deeper student engagement and enriched learning experiences. Join us to discover actionable strategies for enhancing pedagogy and igniting a passion for science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Gain actionable insights into teacher perceptions of NGSS Standards and discover targeted strategies for improving science education practices

SPEAKERS:
Stephanie Tracey (Graduate Student: Clemson, SC)

In NYC, a nonprofit offers Science education for underserved communities, integrating Spanish language. They engage students in hands-on activities through afterschool programs, fostering cultural pride and preparing them for future careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Science education combined with Spanish language instruction in NYC's out-of-school programs for underserved communities boosts academic achievement and cultural pride, preparing students for future success in STEM fields.

SPEAKERS:
Luz Angelica Velasco Vela (BioBus: new york, NY)

Guiding instruction based on the assessment of student’s developing proficiencies is a key feature of powerful learning experiences. This session focuses how to design assessments that gauge student understanding of justice-related phenomena and topics that are deeply consequential.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about a detailed 9-step process for conceiving, developing, testing, refining, and using 3D science assessments focused on social justice phenomena and topics. Open education resources that support this assessment development process will also be shared. #NSFfunded

SPEAKERS:
William Penuel (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO), Philip Bell (University of Washington: Seattle, WA)

Video shorts (Reels, TikTok, etc.) are one of the best ways to reach today's youth. In this workshop we will share how we have used this technology to create mini-lessons and how your students can use it as a UDL multiple measures assessment. These methods can be used for middle school and up.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with the knowledge and confidence to create video shorts for use in instruction and assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Julia Lewis (STEM Communications Specialist: Sylva, NC), Matthew Cass (Physics and Astronomy Instructor: Sylva, NC)