Teachers attend workshops to brush up on Next Generation Science Standards.
Carolynn O'Connor, a science teacher from Sayreville War Memorial High School, and science teachers Marisa Castronova-Wos and Cheryl Zanzone from Robert R. Lazar Middle School in Montville do some investigative work. at the NJACE Science Education InstituteSAYREVILLE -- While their students are enjoying summer break, a group of 140 teachers from northern and central New Jersey are spending time in the classroom to prepare for the upcoming school year.
The K to 12 teachers are taking part in weeklong workshops sponsored by the NJACE Science Education Institute at Raritan Valley Community College to prepare them for the Next Generation Science Standards, a new research-based STEM (science, technology, energy and math) curriculum taking hold in the state.
The workshops are being led by Wil van der Veen, director of RVCC's NJACE Science Education Institute, and 17 teachers from the NGSS Teacher Leader Program, who help facilitate group discussions and provide teachers with the information and support they will need to help implement the new science curriculum at their respective schools.
Middle and high school teachers, who will begin teaching the curriculum this year, met July 25 to 29; elementary school teachers, who will begin implementing the program during the 2017-2018 school year, will meet next month.
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