Students at Hopkinton High School working on building an outdoor VEX field after school. Their teacher, Doug Scott, says, "So far the most impressive thing about returning to school has been the cooperation demonstrated by the students. They have been very helpful in understanding and abiding by the COVID policies needed in a hands-on space like an engineering shop. This cooperation has led to students already producing CAD renderings, 3D printed projects and nearly completed robots."
Have a highlight you would like to share? Please email jennifer.l.sauriol@mass.gov
We would love to feature the work that you, your school and students are doing!
STEM Week
Mass STEM week is October 19 – 23, the theme for this year is See Yourself in STEM. The focus is increasing access to STEM programs so that traditionally underrepresented groups - women, people of color, low income individuals, culturally diverse learners and people with non-traditional abilities – can see themselves represented in STEM fields. For a list of regional STEM networks and schedule of events across the state click here
Future Goals - EVERFI & Bruins Event
Join the Boston Bruins and EVERFI during Massachusetts STEM Week (October 19-23). The Bruins and EVERFI will be hosting a series of interactive STEM Workshops for students, in which we will explore key STEM concepts from class and apply them to the game of hockey. In order to receive the zoom link and access to one or more of the workshops from the Bruins, you simply register here, select as many dates as possible, and claim your free tickets.
To get the most out of the experience for your students, get your class started with one of the Bruins online STEM lessons, Hockey Scholar. Please reach out to Cara Hart (chart@everfi.com) or Zachary Rowe (zrowe@everfi.com) with any questions.
Share Examples of Remote Teaching Practices that are Working Well
The Center for Instructional Support is inviting teachers, coaches and administrators to share examples of remote teaching practice that worked well this spring, summer or fall. We are looking for videos, instructional materials, lesson plans, family communication and engagement...
This fall, the Science and Technology/Engineering team is offering a virtual professional development series for teachers and leaders to experience the high leverage instructional routines in the OpenSciEd program:
Anchoring Phenomenon Routine – 11/5, 3-5PM
Investigation Routine – 11/17, 3-5PM
Putting the Pieces Together Routine – 12/1, 3-5PM
Problematizing Routine – 12/15, 3-5PM
Each session will unpack the routine, address the equity-based elements of the routine, highlight the classroom assessment opportunities, and address how the Navigation Routine can enhance coherence between the routines.
Space will be limited. Please take our interest survey to stay in the loop! Reach out to Hillary Paul Metcalf (Hillary.PaulMetcalf@mass.gov) with any questions.
Illustrative Mathematics Video Lessons on PBS Broadcast TV
GBH & DESE are excited to announce that select Illustrative Mathematics video lessons, developed through a partnership between SchoolKit and the Louisiana Department of Education, will be broadcast on TV during GBH’s The WORLD At-Home Learning Block (schedule posted here). Each of the selected videos is less than 30 minutes and features 1-2 lessons delivered by a certified teacher using the high quality instructional program Illustrative Mathematics. These national broadcasts will begin on October 20th and will focus on a new lesson from grade 6, 7, 8, or Algebra 1 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with repeat lessons on Fridays, always from 12pm-2pm. A Massachusetts alignment document will be available shortly as well as guidance on how to use these lessons. While this initiative is targeted to support those without broadband internet access, all videos are currently available to stream via SchoolKit’s webpage.
CSTA New England Conference
The 4th Annual Computer Science Teachers Association New England Regional Conference, Working Together to Strengthen Computer Science Education. This year's theme is "Equitable Remote Learning." Sat. October 24th - 11-5:30 - ($25 for members/$40 for non-members) Check it out here
WIDA eSummit
Free WIDA eSummit virtual learning opportunity for all Massachusetts educators, from ESL to all other content! This WIDA event will be held between October 12-30, 2020 so mark your calendars! Details can be found at: https://wida.wisc.edu/esummit
Center for Instructional Support Program Catalog
DESE welcomes educators from across the state to participate in our 2020-2021 network and workshop offerings. These offerings are designed to support educators to advance teaching and learning across the Commonwealth. We are calling on classroom leaders, school leaders, and district leaders to join us and collaborate across districts to learn, to test and refine tools and strategies, and to innovate.
OPPORTUNITIES
Opportunity for High Schools to Implement Science+C Pathway
DESE has partnered with Education Development Center (EDC), with support from the National Science Foundation, to bring the Science+C Pathway to Massachusetts high schools. The pathway embeds computing skills within biology, chemistry, and physics classes and is customizable for remote, hybrid, and in-person settings. Neither students nor teachers need previous computer science experience. Participating science teachers will receive free, year-long professional development and a stipend.
Students will learn and use NetLogo, a free computer modeling environment, to work with models that they can decode, analyze, and use to conduct virtual experiments. Student materials will be provided online in Google Classroom. Learn more at scienceplusc.org and express interest here. Space is limited.
Science and Technology/Engineering District Leaders Network
In partnership with MSELA, the STE District Leaders Network (STEDLN) supports PreK-12 STE district leaders, coordinators, or their designee to engage in discussions relevant to their role as STE leaders within their districts; build their knowledge and capacity to support educators in adapting and implementing remote learning, equity-based assessments, and instructional routines exemplified in high quality instructional materials; and continue to expand their own professional network by collaborating with other district leaders. Optional working groups will collaborate towards solutions to common challenges. Registration includes the following ways to participate:
5 Virtual PD Sessions 10/14, 12/8, 2/10, 4/13, and 5/26 from 9am-12pm including resources and strategies for addressing equity in STE, especially in response to the variable conditions in 20-21.
Virtual Working Groups after virtual PD sessions from 12-3 (or alternate times) to collaborate on solving a common challenge in the 20-21 year (e.g., remote learning guides K-5, PD module for virtually having students engage in the Practices). Working Groups will share their outcomes with the network at the May PD Session.
Monthly Virtual Meet Ups on the first Thursday of each month from 2-3 to network and collaborate openly
The Math Leaders Network (MLN) supports PreK-12 math district leaders, coordinators, or designee to engage in discussions responsive to their role as leaders. This year, registration for the MLN will include 3 different ways to participate:
5 full morning PD sessions that meet 9am-12:30pm (10/21, 12/15, 2/23, 4/27, 6/10) – all sessions in 20-21 will meet virtually
MLN PD sessions will include resources and strategies to address the needs of all learners in response to 2020-21 learning conditions.
Bi-weekly Meet Ups - informal updates and collaborative sharing with a focus on networking and addressing current needs of leaders
Virtual Working Groups - topic-specific initiatives that leverage small group interaction and building the capacity of leaders to address their district needs collectively
Register here to receive updates and meeting links or contact Stephen.Garschina-Bobrow@mass.gov with any questions.
MTEL committee recruitment
The DESE and Evaluation Systems group of Pearson are currently seeking Massachusetts educators to participate in Item Review Committees for the Massachusetts Test for Teacher Licensure (MTEL) program.
We will be holding Item Review Committees for the development of the following tests:
General Science (middle school) - October 8th and 9th
Physics - October 15th and 16th
Elementary Mathematics - October 20th and 21st
Digital Literacy and Computer Science - October 26th and 27th
Technology/Engineering - October 29th and 30th
Item Review Committee members will review, approve, and/or revise the draft test items as necessary. Committees will meet in October and each committee will take place virtually over the course of at least two days.
Your engagement as a member of a committee would help to shape the experience of all novice teachers in the state in your field as they prepare to enter our classrooms. It is because of the role, scale and impact that MTEL has in the profession, that the Department of Elementary and Secondary of Education is committed to interrogating and improving or changing these assessments - from development to implementation. Participating in an MTEL committee would help to inform these improvements and changes. Past committee members have called the work interesting and important.
How You Can Get Involved
Learn more—Visit the Massachusetts Educator Recruitment website to learn more about educator involvement in the test development process, eligibility criteria, and benefits of participation.
Apply—Click here to complete an application for consideration for committee participation.
Nominate—Click here to submit your nominations of colleagues who may be interested in participating.
Share—Forward this information to other educators/colleagues.
OpenSciEd has released multidisciplinary COVID-19 & Health Equity units for grades 3-5 and high school. The COVID-19 pandemic is a clear example of how science and society are connected, and these units explore how different communities are impacted by the virus through the lens of historical inequities in society. The elementary units include integrated social-emotional learning and supports for teachers and families in addressing these emotional topics. The HS materials can be appropriate for science, social studies, and health courses. Epidemiologists, public health experts, equity and antiracist education experts, community groups, as well as social-emotional learning experts contributed to the material development. K-2 unit available on September 30th and middle school in January 2021. Sign up for the webinars to learn more about the units!
No-Cost, DESE-Approved Screener and Diagnostic Assessments
In an effort to help educators better understand their students’ academic needs in the 2020-2021 school year, DESE requested proposals from assessment companies for no cost screening and/or diagnostic assessments. The Department has currently approved the following assessments and will update this list on a rolling basis through the end of the calendar year.
Currently, there are three vendors on the list:
Istation: Indicators of Progress: Mathematics preK-8, Reading PreK-8, and Spanish literacy preK-5 for Spanish language educators to assess in Spanish
Riverside Insights: Iowa Flex: Mathematics 2-8 and ELA 4-8
Advanced Assessment: LinkIt!: K-12 ELA and Mathematics; HS: Algebra I, II and Geometry; HS: English I, II, III
The bid solicitation seeking vendors to provide assessments at no-cost to districts remains open for submissions until noon on Tuesday, December 1. Visit the DESE website for additional
IMPORTANT DATES
Fri. October 9th - Last day to register for: Mathematical Meaning Making: Collaborating for EquityCLICK HERE TO REGISTER
