Discussion

Discussions

People learn by struggling with ideas, and socially - discussions, including argumentation from evidence, are key to getting students to think about what they are learning and form concepts.

• The Neuroscience Behind Productive Struggle (Edutopia)

• CalAcademy - Talk Strategies with Notebooks - great ideas for promoting discussion while using student journals (aka notebooks)

• Teaching the way students learn, using the Learning Cycle

• Asking the right QUESTIONS to encourage interest, exploration, concept formation, application, and reflection

• Facilitating productive DISCUSSIONS where students can explore their observations and questions, hash out their ideas with peers, and learn to make arguments from evidence

• JOURNALING with students for deeper observations, application, and reflection of learning

• Making EXPLANATIONS from EVIDENCE

• Using positive MANAGEMENT methods to keep groups engaged

• Connecting to/Creating a Sense of Place - with acknowledgment and appreciation for all that this means. Lessons should be directly connected to the local environment and will be more relevant to students in that way

• Aligning instruction with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

• Integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with scientific ecological understanding by including and honoring Indigenous perspectives, inviting Native guest speakers, docents, or student volunteers, and a visit to the cultural center if possible