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Colleen,
I am one of those older teachers with 20+ years of experience. I started out doing hands on science because I am truly passionate and curious about how things work! Regardless if it is life science or physical science, I have to figure out how it works, how things are connected, and how can I share that with my students. I feel your frustration. Recently, for 3 years, I was a STEM Master Teacher and traveled on a rotation through 4-5 schools (PreK-5). It took quite some time to establish relationships with the teachers. In order to make a break through with some of the teachers, I modeled lessons. I bought materials if they didn't have them at the school. I would model the lesson for the first session, then they would co-teach with me, and if there were a 3rd section, they taught the same lesson. I made sure I broke the content down to a very basic component and gave the teachers a list of 'look fors' while I was teaching that would help them with the flow of the lesson. I did not front load lessons. I would start with a demonstration, video, or question. A huge part of the teachers' fear was, not having all the answers. I told them, students should have questions that are not answered by the teacher.
I'm a Lead Teacher now and handle science curriculum. There is a huge disconnect with science in my district. There is zero professional development for elementary teachers. I've had success one on one with teachers but it's taken a long time. I have to say, age is not the variable here, lack of content knowledge, lack of professional development, and lack of ever seeing an engaging science lesson in action is the trifecta for failure to teach a 5E, NGSS, hands on science lesson.
Can you sit down and plan out a week with your teachers?
btw- have you checked out [email protected]
There are lessons and resources there organized by science strands and grade levels.
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