I want to introduce myself and tell you why I have created NGSS Earth and Space Science Resources. First a little bit about myself. I have 20 years of teaching experience spread out between high school and middle school science classes. I started my career as a special education teacher in South Texas teaching science and math to students with learning disabilities. After teaching nearly 3 years in Texas I moved back home to Minnesota. There I found my home in Saint Paul Public Schools teaching science. Throughout my time in SPPS I have experience 7th, 8th, and 9th-grade science classroom. I have taught newcomers from countries such as Thailand, Somalia, Kenya, Burma/Myanmar, and countless others. I have a passion to teach science so it is accessible and understandable to everyone.
I also love creating lessons, units, and courses. I see curriculum writing as a puzzle. We are all limited in the amount of time we have to teach and what we are expected to teach. I believe that a well-crafted curriculum can maximize the time we have with students to get the most of them and teach them the essential knowledge and skills they need in life.
I created this page primarily to share the lessons I have created over the last 20 years as well as highlight great lessons I have discovered. Having taught life, Earth, and physical science I continue to be disappointed in the quality of resources available for Earth and Space science compared to the other disaplines. I am also disappointed at how poorly they are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. It is my mission to provide a go-to spot of high-quality lessons and units for teachers to use in their middle school and high school classrooms.
I want to introduce myself and tell you why I have created NGSS Earth and Space Science Resources. First a little bit about myself. I have 20 years of teaching experience spread out between high school and middle school science classes. I started my career as a special education teacher in South Texas teaching science and math to students with learning disabilities. After teaching nearly 3 years in Texas I moved back home to Minnesota. There I found my home in Saint Paul Public Schools teaching science. Throughout my time in SPPS I have experience 7th, 8th, and 9th-grade science classroom. I have taught newcomers from countries such as Thailand, Somalia, Kenya, Burma/Myanmar, and countless others. I have a passion to teach science so it is accessible and understandable to everyone.
I also love creating lessons, units, and courses. I see curriculum writing as a puzzle. We are all limited in the amount of time we have to teach and what we are expected to teach. I believe that a well-crafted curriculum can maximize the time we have with students to get the most of them and teach them the essential knowledge and skills they need in life.
I created this page primarily to share the lessons I have created over the last 20 years as well as highlight great lessons I have discovered. Having taught life, Earth, and physical science I continue to be disappointed in the quality of resources available for Earth and Space science compared to the other disaplines. I am also disappointed at how poorly they are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. It is my mission to provide a go-to spot of high-quality lessons and units for teachers to use in their middle school and high school classrooms.
Thank you for the work you are completing and sharing. As you know, resources are starting to evolve and quite slowly for high school. I look forward to any updates to the high school unit as I am teaching a new class (for me) this fall at a small school and would love to integrate your curriculum. Thanks.. Karl Topper