Macy Blum's Blog

 1. How can you apply what you've learned to your teaching in the future?  In my future teaching, I can apply Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) by guiding students to explain concepts like the eight characteristics of living things. For example, when discussing whether viruses are alive, students can make a claim (“Viruses are not alive”), provide evidence (they can't reproduce independently), and explain their reasoning (reproduction is a key characteristic of living things). Additionally, I can incorporate the eight characteristics in inquiry-based activities, like asking students to classify objects as living or non-living based on these traits. This will foster critical thinking, engagement, and deeper understanding of biology. Understanding seed germination can be a powerful tool for teaching because it provides a hands-on, visual way to engage students in learning about biology, ecology, and the scientific method. This inquiry-based learning encourages critical th...

1. What did you learn this week?       This week I learned about the NGSS and Engineering Practices. I learned that these are important because the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices provide a framework for building the essential skills that will serve students throughout their lives, in both professional and personal contexts.  2. How can I apply what I've learned to my teaching in the future?      Incorporating the nGSS Science and Engineering Practices into my teaching can significantly enhance student engagement and learning. Rather than focusing solely on memorization, I can promote inquiry-based learning by encouraging students to ask questions and explore scientific concepts through hands-on activities. I can also encourage students to analyze data and use evidence to support claims. By focusing on the process of learning - through questioning, designing, analyzing, and refining - I can help students become critical thinkers and pr...