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What is Making Sense of SCIENCE? 

Making Sense of SCIENCE (MSS) offers an approach to teacher learning that combines in-depth science with a focus on classroom practice, literacy support, and pedagogical reasoning. The MSS courses prepare teachers for the new Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. MSS supports teacher educators, staff developers, curriculum specialists, and others who work with preservice and/or practicing science teachers to strengthen their content knowledge, pedagogical reasoning, and instructional skill. In short, MSS courses help teachers:
  • Learn major concepts of K–8 science
  • Examine how children make sense of those concepts
  • Analyze and improve their teaching practice
  • Learn ways to support science learning through literacy
__This approach develops teachers' expertise through inquiry-based science learning, collaborative discussion, and an extensive focus on reading, writing, and talking in science. The materials were developed at WestEd by the Understanding Science for Teaching™ project and published in partnership with the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA).
MSS is aligned with national and state standards, supports literacy needs, and focuses on core topics of K–8 earth, life, and physical science
Utilizing a trainer-of-trainer model, MSS builds local capacity to serve hundreds of teachers, over multiple years, with a single investment
MSS is based on research in the fields of adult learning, effective professional development, and cognitive psychology
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How is MSS different?

Both preservice and practicing K–8 teachers typically experience inadequate learning opportunities that focus solely on science content, leaving the connection to student learning unattended, or solely on classroom logistics and pedagogy, without opportunities to develop a deep understanding of the science. MSS professional development courses bridge this gap. Science and pedagogy are interwoven, giving teachers opportunities to not only investigate complex science as adult learners, but also to make the critical connections to their own classrooms necessary to teach students effectively.

How does MSS support learning?

Specialized materials and services support learning for both teachers and staff developers.  
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F A C I L I T A T I O N
A C A D E M I E S 
AND 
T E A C H E R
C O U R S E S
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M S S   W E B I N A R 
Going Deep to Go Far by Linking Science 
and Literacy Instruction
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Watch the archived webinar »
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_N E W   R E L E A S E S
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O R D E R   N O W !  »
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Course Topics

GRADES 6–8 TEACHER COURSES
• Energy AVAILABLE NOW!
• Force & Motion AVAILABLE NOW!
• Heredity & Selection 
• Matter AVAILABLE NOW!
• Plate Tectonics
• Weather & Climate
GRADES 3–5 TEACHER COURSES
• Earth Systems 
• Electric Circuits
• Organisms
GRADES K–2 TEACHER COURSES PROPOSED
• Balance & Weighing 
• Life Cycles
• Weather

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