Teacher Professional Learning

Teacher
Professional
Learning

 

Connecting Learning to Life

 

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Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

Piloting and Asynchronous Course Opportunities for Localizing Amplify Science  

 

For 4th, 5th, & 6th Grade Amplify Science Units  |Specifics on our Localizing Science page 

Community-Centered Climate Action Course 

 

A four-session course for 3-5 Grade Teachers | Coming in January 2025 

Localizing Science Working Group

 

OpenSciEd and Amplify Science Educators | Applications will open for the 2025-26 school year in February 2025

Supporting Equitable and Engaging Science Learning

Starting from a student’s experiences and community makes science meaningful and increases engagement while helping students understand how global issues like climate change are present and addressable in their lives. Our professional learning includes ready-to-use activities, strategies, and peer-to-peer conversations supporting connecting students’ funds of knowledge, families, and communities. Making those connections supports equity and increases student engagement.

Environmental Education Professional Development for teachers outside with IslandWood

“This course has made me realize, first and foremost, about the inequities and injustices in science education. I now realize I must be much more intentional in providing instruction that is accessible to all students and to be sure their voices, stories, perspectives and background knowledge are heard, considered in the planning of my curriculum and instruction and that they have equitable access to all curriculum.”

– Professional Development Course Participant

Teacher Working Group

Localizing OpenSciEd and Amplify Science 

 

IslandWood, Northwest ESD, and Olympic ESD have put together experienced K-12 teachers, TOSAs and District Science Leads to be a part of a year-long working group that will develop materials to support local connections in national OpenSciEd and Amplify Science units. 

 

On August 12th, 2024, we began the third year of working with 21 educators from our region to create new localizing guides for 8 different science units.  

 

We will open applications for the 2024-25 Localizing Science Working Group in January 2025.  

 

Learn more

Impacting Students

Learn more about the impact of our teacher professional learning work by watching these two videos!

“I would recommend Islandwood as partners in developing science units because of their focus and expertise in bringing in local phenomena, connecting with science standards, and the wealth of resources they provide.

Their emphasis on hands-on, outdoor learning experiences engage all students and help them see themselves as scientists who can make their own claims using evidence in their environment to support their ideas. Students are not just engaged during the lesson or unit, but develop a curiosity about the world around them and the changes they observe to become lifelong learners who see the world through the lens of a scientist .

This is not a one and done experience, but carries the learning throughout the year. It got me thinking about how I can use students’ home environments to help them discover natural phenomena and develop their own scientific questions to explore and research based on what they are curious about.”

– Chantal F., Teacher, Emerald Heights Elementary School

OUR IMPACT

INCREASING CLIMATE LITERACY.

 

91% of teachers reported feeling more prepared to incorporate climate science into their teaching after participating in our professional development, up from just 41% prior to participation.

SUPPORTING JUST AND EQUITABLE EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS.

 

96% of teachers reported increased confidence in their ability to support equitable and just science education, up from 46%.

WHEN STUDENTS SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN THEIR EDUCATION, THEY THRIVE.

 

After participating in our professional development workshops, 96% percent of teachers reported an increased ability to connect to their students’ interests and identities, up from just 56% before. Learning that connects to students’ lives fosters deeper engagement, honors multiple ways of knowing, and helps students synthesize information better.

30+ SCHOOL DISTRICTS. 100+ SCHOOLS. 300+ TEACHERS. 8,000+ STUDENTS.

 

Each year, our teacher professional development courses create an exponential ripple of positive change and care for the environment.

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