January Focus on Implementing the Kentucky Academic Standards for Science
New Science Modules
Two new professional learning modules are available to aid educators in successfully implementing the Kentucky Academic Standards for Science: "Phenomena for Instruction" and "Three-Dimensional Tasks."
"Phenomena for Instruction" provides a process for identifying phenomena that could be used to anchor a unit of instruction that supports three-dimensional student learning. It is divided into five sections and is designed to be administered in 45-minute professional learning community (PLC) sessions.
"Three-Dimensional Tasks" is designed to provide educators with tools to further their understanding of dimensionality through the analysis and development of tasks used for instruction and assessment. The module is divided into two sessions that may be utilized independently of one another.
Both modules include an at a glance overview, a facilitator’s guide and PowerPoint slides. They can be found on the Science Professional Learning Modules webpage on KYstandards.org.
‘Literacy in Science’ Webcast Tomorrow, Jan. 23 at 9 a.m. ET
The "Literacy in Science" webcast will take place 9 a.m. ET Jan. 23. This webcast will focus on literacy in science -- what it is, what it looks like and why it is important.
You can access the live webcasts by going to the KDE Media Portal and clicking on the EdCast Video icon at the bottom of the page. The livestream will be on the “Home” tab. You can get your questions answered during the webcasts using GoSoapBox with the access code: KAS.
An archive of the webcast and slides will be made available on the Standards Webcast webpage shortly after the original air date.
Embedding Literacy Practices in Science Module
Each month, the standards team will release one digital professional learning opportunity that will help participants dive deeper into the Kentucky Academic Standards for that month’s focus content area.
The "Embedding Literacy Practices in Science" Digital Professional Learning Opportunity will be released on Jan. 30 and will include materials that can be used by a PLC to begin discussions in identifying and being more intentional in embedding literacy practices in science instruction. Guidance from the Kentucky Department of Education science consultant will be provided in a recorded video.
 New Resource: Breaking Down a Standard Protocols
How can you ensure alignment of instruction and assessment to the intended depth of the standards? New resources are available to guide teachers through a process for utilizing the components within the Kentucky Academic Standards documents to gain greater clarity in what the standards are asking students to know and be able to do in order to meet grade-level expectations. Breaking Down a Standard resources are available for reading and writing, mathematics and science.
The protocols are located on the Breaking Down a Standard Resources webpage on KYstandards.org.
 Clarity for Learning Book Study Plan Now Available
Initially designed by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) professional learning coordinators during the fall of 2019 and implemented with educators from across the state, the "Clarity for Learning" book study was extremely successful, so we packaged the plan in a form you can use to facilitate your own group.
"The Clarity for Learning" Book Study Plan and Resources focuses on how teachers gain clarity through constructing learning intentions and success criteria aligned to the standards that allow students to identify where they are going, how they are progressing and where they will go next. It focuses on answering two critical questions:
- How can clarity improve teaching and learning?
- How does clarity serve as the foundation for other powerful, evidence-based practices?
In addition to the text, other resources used during the study are included to deepen participant understanding of the five components of clarity and to take into account different perspectives from other leading educators.
The plan can be modified to set a pace and emphasis that is appropriate for your group. Using a Google classroom environment to encourage reflection and group discussion worked well for KDE, but using notebooks and face-to-face collaboration time may work better for your group.
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