In order to ensure that elementary science is on the minds of district improvement teams, it is very tempting to add goals and strategies for Phenomenal Science as a whole. This is especially problematic for Michigan schools, as it requires districts to enter Phenomenal Science as a district “strategy” in the MiStrategy Bank.
Phenomenal Science is many things, but it is not a school improvement “strategy” when taken as a whole. That would be like saying you are going to get better at basketball by playing better basketball. It is true but unhelpful. Phenomenal Science does contain many principles and strategies that would be appropriate to add. The good news is that there is already a list of Phenomenal Science Principles and Strategies you can look at as a guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cIBSQT3BMoXEo-ZbST3Y7FsTBmhQ7CfPLvyg7xH9FRA/edit The second and third pages are full of instructional strategies you could consider adding as a Strategy in MICIP. Focusing improvement on these strategies is like saying you are going to get better at basketball by doing drills for dribbling, practicing free throws, and playing 1 on 1 with a coach. Curriculum shifts are important, but not the top priority. If you want to see improvement in student achievement in all subjects (and science in particular), you need to keep the focus on shifting instructional strategies. This is true no matter how long you have been using Phenomenal Science.
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AuthorPhenomenal Science Leadership Team Archives
February 2022
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