Concept Development During Science and Beyond

Today’s episode of Teaching with CLASS® is led by guest host Emily Simon. In today’s conversation, you’ll hear from Lexi Alexander, an applied developmental psychologist who specializes in early learning. She has extensive experience, both as a classroom teacher and mother herself, as well as having co-led the Early Science Initiative, a system of professional learning and family engagement focused on using early science as a driver of high-quality teaching and learning, over the past 10 years. Listen to the episode to learn more about concept development during science and why it shouldn’t be confined to science-specific blocks of the day. In this episode you’ll learn about the power of surrendering power and control over thinking to children, building on children’s innate curiosity, and implementing concept development across the day. Topics Discussed in This Episode [00:00:21] Today’s guest host, Emily Simon, and guest Lexi Alexander [00:01:25] What teachers are already doing in class to support concept development [00:03:55] How to start giving children control [00:06:23] How teachers can leverage and build on innate curiosity for concept development [00:11:10] How to support science learning and concept development across the day, not just during specific times of the day [00:16:35] How to give children space to think and come up with answers themselves [00:19:12] Planning specific science blocks that are developmentally appropriate and encourage critical thinking [00:22:22] How it looks to your own power and control to children [00:26:30] Key takeaways from this episode: curiosity, shifting focus on how you view the world, embody what it means to be a scientist Resources Emily Simon Lexi Alexander