1. Michigan Science Standards (MSS)
Open House 2018

2. Why New Standards? Science is how we understand the world around us!
Science and engineering knowledge transcends into many careers:
Technology
Business
Entertainment
To understand and solve many of the biggest issues and problems we face today we need to inspire more students to become engaged in science and engineering
Medical
Agricultural
Many others
Why New Standards?
(health, energy, security, environmental sustainability)

3. Equips all students with:
A high quality science education
A deep understanding of core ideas
Skills and competencies
Critical thinking
Problem solving
Communication
Collaboration
Aligns to:
Requirements for admission to post secondary education
A Strong Science Education is Essential for College and/or Career Readiness!

4. Michigan Science Standards (MSS) Adopted November 2015
The MSS are based on the NGSS
NGSS = Next Generation Science Standards
Emphasizes common practices (skills) that scientists use every day
Focuses on big content ideas
Integrates crosscutting concepts of science
Michigan Science Standards (MSS) Adopted November 2015
Phenomena based

5. Michigan Science Standards (MSS)
Perhaps show a list of 8 engineering practices and 7 crosscutting concepts as examples.

6. How Will This Affect My Child?
Michigan Science Standards are a shift from students “learning about” science concepts to students “figuring out” the science concepts.
How Will This Affect My Child?

7. What Can Students Expect?
Lessons begin with a phenomenon
Example: How can I smell things from a distance?
Independent and small group work
Students investigate, model and construct explanations of phenomenon
Whole class consensus discussions
Class discusses and “figures out” what they all agree on
Class decides on next steps
What Can Students Expect?

8. What Can Students Expect?
Teacher
Facilitates large group discussions
Monitors small group discussions
Encourages students to make their thinking public
Summary tables
Replace traditional review guides
It is an organized table of what students have “figured out”
Content might be the similar to the past
How students will interact with the content is different
What Can Students Expect?

9. What Can I Expect? Fewer: Daily lectures
Summative = 60%
Formative = 30%
Classwork = 10%
What Can I Expect?
Letter Grade
Grade Scale
Percentages A
3.66 – 4.00 A-
3.42 – 3.65
86 – 91 B+
3.18 – 3.41
80 – 85 B
2.90 – 3.17
73 – 79 B-
2.66 – 2.89
67 – 72 C+
2.42 – 2.65
61 – 66 C
2.14 – 2.41
54 – 60 C-
1.90 – 2.13
48 – 53 D+
1.66 – 1.89
42 – 47 D
1.38 – 1.65
35 – 41 D-
1.18 – 1.37
29 – 34 F
0.00 – 1.17
0 – 29
Fewer:
Daily lectures
Memorization of facts and vocabulary
Worksheet driven lessons that ask for recall

10. Initially, students may feel that, "my teacher is not giving me the answers."
Encourage:
Active participation in the problem solving process through discussion with peers
Perseverance
When helping your child with homework or school assignments:
Ask them to explain how they acquired an answer
Ask them to relate it to an activity conducted in class
Reinforce critical thinking skills at home
How Can I Help My Child?
Your child will gain confidence that it is okay to not know the answer right away. There will be opportunities to revise thinking during the journey of learning. Students will adapt to this style of instruction.

11. How Can I Help My Child? Attendance
The new standards rely heavily on investigations and discussions conducted during class time.
When students are absent from school they miss opportunities to learn.
Teachers can make students and parents aware of the learning targets they missed, but they cannot recreate the lesson that took place during class.
Please support your child by encouraging regular attendance.
How Can I Help My Child?

12. Know that we are focused on your child’s success
Know that we are focused on your child’s success. We thank you for your support!
Trust in this research-based process. Know that we are focused on your child's success.
Student + Parent + Teacher = Success