A Leader's Guide to Science Curriculum Topic Study

Book excerpt: The Curriculum Topic Study (CTS) process, funded by the US National Science Foundation, helps teachers improve their practice by linking standards and research to content, curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Key to the core book Science Curriculum Topic Study, this resource helps science professional development leaders and teacher educators understand the CTS approach and how to design, lead, and apply CTS in a variety of settings that support teachers as learners. The authors provide everything needed to facililtate the CTS process, including: a solid foundation in the CTS framework; multiple designs for half-day and full-day workshops, professional learning communities, and one-on-one instructional coaching; facilitation, group processing, and materials management strategies; and a CD-ROM with handouts, PowerPoint slides, and templates. By bringing CTS into schools and other professional development settings, science leaders can enhance their teachers' knowlege of content, improve teaching practices, and have a positive impact on student learning.