In this episode, Eugene and Matt talk about classroom strategies that can help move instruction toward NGSS. For example, how do sentence frames, vocabulary, and hands-on activities look in Matt’s ideal classroom? They also talk about hard  to have environmental conversations, and how to navigate those through a science lens.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Eugene and Matt's suggestion for responses to climate skeptical arguments
  • https://skepticalscience.com/
• Matt's resources on the carbon footprint of food
  • His favorite resource: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10669-015-9577-y
    • that has the best data in Table 4 of the electronic supplement: https://static-content.springer.com/esm/art%3A10.1007%2Fs10669-015-9577-y/MediaObjects/10669_2015_9577_MOESM1_ESM.docx
  • He found out about this paper from this news article: https://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2015/1215/Eating-lettuce-is-three-times-worse-for-climate-than-bacon-say-scientists?cmpid=FB
    • Its headline was so misleading that he wrote a letter to the editor that was published: https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Readers-Respond/2015/1226/Readers-write-screening-before-gun-ownership-vegetarian-diets-are-greener
  • A much more kid-friendly view of food carbon footprints: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46459714
  • A more advanced view that lets you dig into the different parts of the lifecycle: http://www.foodemissions.com/foodemissions/Calculator.aspx
    • Though to make this one really work, you need to convert serving size into pounds.

In this episode, Eugene and Matt talk about climate change, how it appears in the NGSS, and how youth leaders like Greta Thunberg can provide inspiration for great science engagement and inquiry.   

In this episode, Matt discusses the connection between student achievement and teaching, and how teachers can make progress with NGSS. They then dive into one of the standards, and Matt takes us on a tour of how he would approach teaching this standard. As usual, Eugene and Matt also discuss the environment, and how to help students and teachers find credible information about topics like climate change.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Teachers Grapple with Climate Change: 'A Pretty Scary Topic'
  • https://www.tampabay.com/education/teachers-grapple-with-climate-change-a-pretty-scary-topic-20190515/

In this episode, Eugene and Matt talk about assessment—formative, summative, performance and other types. Matt suggests that it doesn’t matter what you call the stuff, it’s how it’s used by teachers that is important. They also have a very good discussion about the science and engineering practice—planning and carrying out investigations, and how the planning part is so important.

In this episode, Matt talks about his writing experience with the 2016 California Science Framework and his suggestions for favorite chapters for teachers. In addition to a discussion about the California Science Test, Matt also discusses what he sees are the main reasons why teachers find teaching climate change to be a difficult task.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Eight Ways To Teach Climate Change In Almost Any Classroom
  • https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/53505/eight-ways-to-teach-climate-change-in-almost-any-classroom

In this episode, Matt talks about Asking Questions and Patterns, and how to use these key practices and concepts in the classroom. He also shares his ideas on one of the key instructional shifts that NGSS encourages—flipping the lesson upside down. Eugene and Matt also talk about recent changes in Arctic sea ice, and why such subjects are perfect companions to an NGSS classroom.

In our first episode, Eugene and Matt get started by looking at some of the basics of NGSS, how Matt got involved, and then delving into 3D instruction.  Also, hear about what Matt suggests is needed to do CPR with your course—community, proximity, and relevance.