Elementary Professional Learning
The resources provided here were developed in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) as part of the Massachusetts OpenSciEd Field Test. For more information about the field test, please visit the MA DESE OpenSciEd webpage.
This section contains Curriculum-Based Professional Learning (CBPL) resources that will support schools and districts as they prepare teachers and other building-based staff to implement Unit 1 from the OpenSciEd elementary curriculum.
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There are several approaches to delivering high-quality CBPL experiences to educators. This article provides insights and suggestions from Massachusetts districts that participated in the OpenSciEd field test for how effective CBPL could look.
Unit 1 Launch - Grade Band Group Professional Learning Materials
In partnership with OpenSciEd and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), we developed Grade Band Group OpenSciEd Elementary Unit 1 Professional Learning. The purpose of this PL is to provide schools/districts with learning experiences, resources, and support toward the development of in-district capacity for the successful implementation of science high quality instructional materials (HQIM), like OpenSciEd Elementary.
The Grade Band Group PL provides participants with the opportunity to experience a unit together, called the common experience, as well as the opportunity to dig into specific grade level units. Participants develop a deep understanding of the OpenSciEd instructional model, routines, and procedures as they explore multiple units.
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This PL structure allows schools and districts to provide professional learning to multiple teachers in different grades at once while limiting the needed number of facilitators. It also allows teachers to gain experience with more than one unit, which can be beneficial should teachers need to change grade level teaching assignments.
The Grade Band Group option is designed to be delivered in 2-hour chunks, or sessions, of time in order to provides flexibility in delivery. There are 6 sessions altogether which makes 12 total hours of time.
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Delivery Examples:
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3 sessions per day over the course of 2 days (6 hours per day)
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2 sessions per day over the course of 3 days (4 hours per day)
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​1 session each week over the course of 6 weeks (2 hours per week)
Unit 1 Launch - Optional Materials​
Support for facilitators as they develop an understanding of the recommended PL design elements.
Optional support sessions to use with teachers as they implement Unit 1 of OpenSciEd elementary.
Longer introductory option to include AP lesson breakdown and guidance for registering on the OSE website.
Optional planning and implementation support session to use with teachers after the Unit 1 PL.
Unit 1 Onboarding - Grade Level Specific Materials
Grade Level Specific Onboarding materials were designed to support teachers who have prior experience using OpenSciEd curriculum, at any level K-12, or work in schools where OpenSciEd has already been adopted. The purpose of this professional learning is to introduce teachers to Unit 1 of a specific grade level so they develop an understanding of the embedded instructional moves and scope of the unit. This option is not intended for teachers who have no prior OpenSciEd or storyline experience.
Grade-Level Specific Onboarding Options
Option 1: This 6.5 hour session is designed to be experienced in a single day. Teachers will develop an understanding of the OpenSciEd Instructional Model as well as Unit 1 for their chosen grade level
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Option 2: This 8 hour session is designed in 4 separate 2 hour sessions, which can be done in a single day or over the course of several days. Participants experience an Anchoring Phenomenon Lesson in a mixed grade level group and then separate out into grade level specific groups for the remainder of their time.
Other Professional Learning Resources
These leader-focused resources and professional leaning were curated to support district and building level leaders as they navigate OpenSciEd implementation in their schools and districts.
These resources are designed for use by Instructional Coaches and/or other leaders as they support teams of teachers implementing OpenSciEd.
This Unit 2 Launch Professional Learning is a 1 day/6 hour event designed to introduce Unit 2 to teachers who have already attended the Unit 1 Grade Band PL and have taught an OpenSciEd elementary unit.
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Find elementary implementation resources using the link below: