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Using Technology to Fuel Inquiry for Students

Birds, Butterflies, Bees, and More: Citizen Science Projects for Classrooms 

Read Like A Scientist:  Reading Strategies For The Secondary Science Classroom 
(reading CEUS available)

Birds, Butterflies, Bees, and More: Citizen Science Projects for Classrooms

Dr. Michele Koomen, Dr. Rob Blair, Katie-Lyn Bunney,
Sarada Saramaswan, Sarah Weaver

Verizon Center Reception Hall

Citizen science provides an effective way to  connect youth to nature and engage them in science and environmental learning!  Learn how you can use research in your indoor and outdoor classroom.

Come to learn about how you can use citizen science in your classroom, and win exciting door prizes!  This interactive session will spotlight citizen science projects that are ideally suited for youth.  We’ll s=describes six projects (focused on butterflies, bees, birds, streams, dragonflies, and phenology) that we use during an intensive summer professional development for K-12 teachers.  Then we’ll summarize ways in which the projects facilitated science and environment education, and how disciplinary literacy is embedded within projects.  All participants will have an opportunity to choose a citizen science project, practice collecting data, and build on their data to design a mini research project.  If you like what you learn, we invite you to join us for an extended two week version of the workshop in summer 2014!

Read Like A Scientist:  Reading Strategies For The Secondary Science Classroom
Verizon Room 243

Download John's Presentation

This session will examine some of the research and best practice in adolescent reading development and its possible applications to the secondary science classroom.  Research in adolescent literacy is booming and there is much to offer the content area classroom teacher.  During this interactive session we will explore strategies and practices that encourage and develop:

• Close reading of text
• Effective annotation techniques
• Vocabulary development
• Alternative texts
• Motivation and Engagement

CLOCK HOURS:  3.0 Minnesota clock hours will be made available.  This sessions is designed to meet the state requirement for Reading Preparation and/or Accommodations, Modifications and Adaptations of Curriculum, Materials and Instruction.

About the presenter:  Jon Kahle is the Literacy Specialist at Eden Prairie High School and adjunct faculty at Hamline University.  Jon has taught secondary English and reading for 24 years and is interested in adolescent literacy development and its impact on content area classrooms.  He is a member of the Minnesota Reading Association, the Secondary Reading Interest Council, and the Minnesota Council of Teachers of English.