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Science Workshops
We are excited to announce our professional development offerings! Click the titles to find a description and registration information. For more information about any of these workshops, e-mail us at science@esc4.net.
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Teaching Academic Vocabulary in Science
Learn more about this workshop in the video interview below.
- October 12, 2021 (Virtual Zoom session)
Incorporating Interactive Notebooks in the Science Classroom
October 15, 2021Inject new life into your instruction with interactive notebooks. Discover ways to help students in a diverse classroom build literacy skills, background knowledge, and develop ownership of learning. Spark student discourse, teach concepts, and improve problem-solving skills. Identify best practices that provide ways for implementation, management, and assessment of interactive notebooks in a science classroom. Participants will receive a copy of Gateways to Science Companion Guide: Interactive Notebooks at this make-and-take session. Learn more and register here.
Literacy in Science
October 26, 2021
Do your students struggle when you ask them to read or write in your science classroom? Participate in research based literacy strategies designed to promote reading and writing in the science classroom. Newly gained skills and strategies can make an immediate impact towards closing achievement gaps in classrooms on campuses requiring improvement. Participants will receive a copy of Gateways to Science Companion Guide: Literacy. Learn more and register here.
Fostering STEM Thinking in the Classroom
November 2, 2021 (Face-to-face session at Region 4 Conference Center) | 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.STEM is a way of thinking, and STEM skills promote habits of mind that prepare students for college, career, and life. Explore STEM practices such as design thinking, reverse engineering, and making. Learn practical ideas for implementation of STEM practices and making in the classroom. Learn more and register here.
Effective Questioning in the Science Classroom
December 8, 2021 | 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (Virtual Zoom meeting)
Explore research-based questioning strategies designed to promote student engagement and higher-level thinking. Create a cognitive scaffold for questioning to involve students in critical thinking skills. Participants will design questions that correlate with the rigor levels outlined in the TEKS. Learn more and register here.
STEMulating Design Challenges in Science, Grades K-5
November 4–5, 2021 | 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (Face-to-face session at Region 4 Conference Center)
Explore ways to implement TEKS-aligned design challenges in your science classroom. Experience using the engineering design process to address design challenges in order to support student growth and success in your classroom and beyond. Participants will receive one printed copy and digital access to either STEMulating Design Challenges in Science for Grades K-2 or STEMulating Design Challenges in Science for Grades 3-5. Learn more and register here.
STAAR Review to Go for Science
8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (Face-to-face session at Region 4 Conference Center)
Explore portable science activities to review science concepts addressed by Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). These activities also support TEKS assessed on STAAR. Participants will receive materials to create a set of review activities used in the session, a copy of STAAR Review to Go: Science Grade 4 or 5 and a license for digital access.
- Grade 4 - November 16, 2021
- Grade 5, Volume 1 - January 20, 2021
Supporting ALL Learners in Science, Grades K-5
December 2, 2021 | 8:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. (Virtual Session)
Experience and explore strategies designed to remove barriers and make science accessible for all. Practice using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to adjust and improve lessons to make science engaging, real, and relevant. Learn more and register here.
Developing Scientific Explanations in Elementary Science
January 13, 2022 | 8:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. (Virtual Session)
Discover instructional strategies to support science literacy and meaningful discourse in elementary science. Develop, write, and communicate scientific explanations as you explore a claim, evidence, and reasoning (CER) task. Learn how to evaluate scientific explanations during rebuttal (argumentation) and then how to create your own CER tasks. Learn more and register here.
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Break Out! Creating Escape Games for the Science Classroom
- November 4, 2021 | 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. (Virtual Session)
STEMulating Design Challenges in Science, Grades 6-8
October 27–28, 2021 | 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (Face-to-face session at Region 4 Conference Center)
Explore ways to implement TEKS-aligned design challenges in a middle school science classroom. Experience using the engineering design process to address design challenges that support student growth and success in the classroom and beyond. Participants will receive a copy of STEMulating Design Challenges in Science, Grades 6-8 as well as a license for digital access. Learn more and register here.
Supporting Struggling Learners in Middle School Science
November 17, 2021 | 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (Virtual Session)
Middle schoolers have a short attention span but are intensely curious. They may be logical one minute and emotional the next. Experience and learn strategies to reach even the most resistant middle school learner with proven practices to remove barriers and make science accessible to all. Practice using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to adjust and improve lessons to make science engaging, real, and relevant not just for today but for the future. Incorporate the English Language Learning Proficiencies (ELPS) seamlessly to support kids who are learning science content as well as English. It’s all about the experience, so make it a great one. Learn more and register here.
STAAR Review to Go for Grade 8 Science (Volumes 1 and 2) in a Virtual Environment
Virtually explore science activities to review science concepts assessed on STAAR Grade 8 Science. Participants will receive one copy each of STAAR Review to Go: Science, Grade 8 Volumes 1 and 2, and one license for digital access to each book. We will also discuss and demonstrate how the activities in these books can be converted to work in a virtual environment.
- December 2, 2021 | 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Virtual Zoom Session)
STEM Literacy
Define and discuss STEM literacy and its importance. Explore strategies that can be used before, during, and after reading that allow for independent and collaborative student work. Examine how to safely research on the Internet using various search engines and tools to curate information. Complete the course by putting new skills into practice. Learn more and register here.