I'm having a good old fashion study cram session for my National Board exams on Wednesday. I'm wondering what topics I'm forgetting to study. Could you help me out by leaving a comment letting me know what grade you teach and what major topics/themes you cover in science and social studies. Thanks bunches! I hope you are doing something way more fun than me.
Hi! I completed National Boards 2 years ago as a Generalist. Best of luck to you! Some that come to mind, physical education, health & nutrition, and elections/government. I teach a 1/2 split class.
ReplyDeleteSamantha
Ms.Smarty Pants
Oooh... yuck for you! :(
ReplyDeleteI teach first grade in KS, and we cover things like life cycles, earth materials (rocks and soil), liquids/solids, leaders/rules (presidents), timelines, Native American shelters, needs/wants... nothing too crazy, but it allows for a little bit of fun exploration!
Good luck - it's almost over!
1st-Plant/Animal Life Cycles
ReplyDeletePlanets, Objects in the Sky, Native Americans, States of Matter
Rules/Government, American Symbols, Holidays Around the World,
Fairy Tales/Fabels
Fables -GOOD LUCK!
ReplyDelete3rd grade - we focus on plant life cycles, animal classification, water cycle, states of matter & how it changes, energy, sound, and a BIG unit on outer space
ReplyDeleteIn Michigan, we study MICHIGAN in social studies. (3rd grade)
ReplyDeleteIn 1st grade in science its animals and their life cycles---butterflies , egg, etc.
2nd Grade Science: weather, plant life cycles, states of matter, sound
ReplyDeleteSocial Studies: US government (electing leaders, laws), economics (needs and wants, supply and demand, etc.), US history (explorers, American revolution)
Kindergarten SS: Holidays, Rules/How to be Good Citizen, American Symbols, Chronological Time words, Goods & Services
ReplyDeleteKindergarten SC:
Earth Science - Day and night sky, rocks and soils;
Physical Science - Use tools to measure and view, Physical Attributes as observed using the 5 senses, Composition of materials, Motion;
Life Science - Living/nonliving, Animals/PlantsParents, and offspring
Best of luck, sweetie!!
~Kimberlee~
Two Fulbright Hugs
Teacher TimeSavers
I teach K in Arkansas. We are using the Gates model for Common Core to build our units of study. Other things that I cover in science are:
ReplyDelete1. living systems
2. life cycles
3. ecosystems
4. matter: properties and changes
5. motion and forces
6. energy (we do recycling and safety in this unit)
7. earth and sky (think landforms and outer space)
The biggie in our state right now in social studies is economics. For kinder that is producers and consumers and wants and needs. We also do basic map skills, Arkansas history, government (well the act of voting and who the leadership is mayor, governor, president) and city, state, country, planet.
Good luck!!
I teach kindergarten in Missouri. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteScience: Matter/energy (physical properties, sorting, identifying materials; Force/motion (positional words, push/pull, magnets); Butterfly life cycle; seasons; weather; universe (sun, moon, stars); scientific inquiry; technology
Social Studies: rules/decision-making/voting; American symbols; Transportation; Changes over time; government leaders; Scarcity/opportunity cost/needs/wants; map/globe skills; Holidays; Jobs in community
I taught third grade for 19 years in Massachusetts.(i am in fourth) Social Studies was our state's history from Pilgrims to the Revolution. In Science, scientific method, water cycles and erosion, rock and minerals, chemical tests.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck!
3rd in Denver Public Schools = objects in the sky, electricity, life cycles, Denver history, Colorado history, justice.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
I teach Second
ReplyDeleteSCI: life cycles (butterlies), sound, matter and weather
SS: economics, communities, government, maps and globes
Tania
My Second Sense
Adding to "Jennifer/3rd grade" we teach changes to Earth, Soil (Weathering & Erosion), Resources (renewable, nonrenewable and inexhaustible). In social studies we do Communities, maps, immigration, heros in the community, inventors and economics.
ReplyDeleteI teach first and most of the things I teach have already been covered. I always taught Fire Safety when I taught kdg. My daughter finished 3rd this year and one of theings she studied that I didn't see mentioned was Food Chains.
ReplyDeleteKelly @I'm Not Your Grandpa, I'm your Teacher
I teach K in California. For social studies I teach community at school and our neighborhood community and workers, family. For science I teach plant and water cycle, butterfly life cycle, animal classification.
ReplyDeleteI teach kindergarten in Michigan. Our science themes are living things, the 5 senses, motion, and our earth. We don't have a social studies curriculum but we do talk a lot about our community. Hope that helps and good luck!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you've gotten some useful comments already, so I will just add good luck! Try not to stress too much! And know that you've got this!
ReplyDeleteGood luck on National Boards. I took mine last month. My best advice is to use what you know. You are a good teacher and use good strategies in your class. Use your personal experience to help you.
ReplyDeleteOnce Upon a Teaching Blog
I certified in 2005 as an Early Childhood Generalist. I found it helpful to think of what I saw hanging in the halls for other grades at my school. Also, think about what you talk about at professional development days.
ReplyDeleteWhat do think would be developmentally appropriate? How could you differentiate? Review the big ideas in your National Board packet- science standards, common core and you'll be over prepared!!! You'll be great!!!
Good luck on your exams! My fingers are crossed (or they will be when I'm finished typing). I teach 1st grade and in science we cover forms of matter, animal groups (mammals, insects, etc), how plants grow and what they need, and what we need and get from plants and animals.
ReplyDeleteHope that helps!
_Chrissy
First Grade Found Me
2nd in Tennessee
ReplyDeleteScience- ecosystems, adaptations, life cycles, offspring & traits/ heredity, moon phases, suns energy, changes in matter, earths materials, renewable & non renewable resources, soil types, magnets, gravity, seasons & weather . Good luck!
2nd grade in Iowa
ReplyDeleteScience - Insects; Solids and Liquids; Sand, Soil, and Silt (rocks, soil, sand, mixture)
Social Studies - communities, needs and wants, forms of government
Good luck!!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI teach second grade and these are the science topics we cover:
ReplyDeleteanimal adaptations/habitats
light energy
sound
sun/moon/planets
weather/clouds/water cycle
Social Studies:
Government
Changes over time (inventions...
Geography/map skills/landforms
economics/resources
Famous folk
I work with k -5 I am board certified. Plant cycle, rock cycle, water cycle, writing and reading in play, systems of body (skeletal, etc. hcarpenter
ReplyDeleteI taught k in Ohio
ReplyDeleteScience - life cycle, growth and change, plants, 5 senses, animals, seasons, weather
Social Studies - rules, authority figures, holidays, maps, goods and services, needs and wants
Good luck, I am sure you will do great.
Tricia
I teach 2nd in Oklahoma... Some topics that come to mind are planets/space, American symbols, plants, animals (classification, life cycles, habitats, etc.), water cycle, weather, landforms... I think everyone has covered everything else I can think of!!!
ReplyDelete3rd grade in Fl for Soc Studies we teach the 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Carribbean Islands. Major cities, industries, landforms, etc.
ReplyDeleteI teach 3rd grade in Texas. Here's what we cover in science: animals and habitats (life cyles, adaptations), solar system, magnets, mixtures/solutions, simple machine
ReplyDeleteI teach 2nd grade in Michigan. A lot that we teach was mentioned. We teach mapping and communities. In science we teach the water cycle and states of matter. We also teach the Core Democratic Values.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to study K-3 Math skills as well! Reread and know the NB standards so you can focus on their application to the teaching strategies you describe. Above all, answer the question asked and back it up with the standards to explain your reasoning.
ReplyDeleteI teach Kindergarten in Texas. In Science we cover insects, weather, seasons, living/nonliving things,space, matter, energy, & recycling. In Social Studies one of the big things we cover in ELA as well, is signs. We also cover shelter, traditions, community, alike/different, careers, & celebrations/holidays. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI teach 2nd grade in Georgia.
ReplyDeleteScience: matter, the sky (sun, moon, stars, rotation of Earth), weather, energy & motion, plant & animal life cycles
Social Studies: Our focus all year in on our state which includes government leaders (mayor, governor, president), capitals & capital buildings (Atlanta & Washington DC), life of Creek & Cherokee Indians, GA regions & rivers, and historical figures (James Oglethorpe, Tomochichi, Sequoyah, Mary Musgrove, Jackie Robinson, Martin Luther King Jr, and Jimmu Carter)
Hello! I'm sure you will do fine! I did the NB process in EC-Gen and I just renewed it last year. Our science and social studies units include sun/moon/stars, food chains and webs, plants, matter, the water cycle, geography, communities, National government, and economics. I teach third grade.
ReplyDeleteFYI: I love your pictures of classroom decor. I am going to retire after this year and I would really like to go out with a bang. I am thinking about using one of your themes but I just haven't decided which one yet!
Hi ~ I just took my assessment for EC-GEN last Thursday. Have you practiced typing out responses and timing yourself for 30 minutes? That is what helped me the most. Also, try to memorize the Level 4 rubrics for each AC exercise. I drew pictures to help me remember what a Level 4 response should look like. You can also study using Brainpop Jr. Just search "brainpop jr. login" and one usually comes up. Good luck!
ReplyDelete❀Bethany❀
Learning is a Journey
Polka Dot Parlor
I teach kinder in Texas!
ReplyDeleteScience: living vs. non, night & day, life cycle of plants and bugs, forces and motion, 5 senses, weather
Social Studies: Families, communities, traditions, state and national figures (Washington, Lincoln, etc.), holidays, authority figures, jobs & why people work, rules, sequencing events
And that's just off the top of my head...I'm sure I've missed some :(
Best of luck to you! I'm a NBCT in exceptional education, so I know how much time you have invested in this venture.
ReplyDeleteI teach PreK disabilities. For science, I do as much physical science as I can, and give the kids the chance to repeat the experiments as often as they'd like over the next weeks, even months. You can always expand on lessons as they are repeated. The major thing is let THEM do the experiments. Practice accommodates memory. Social studies lessons are conjoined with our Houghton Mifflin curriculum - community helpers, senses, etc.
When you are writing, assume you have an unlimited budget. Go for it. Plan B.I.G. List details rather then write them all out. . . remember, spelling and punctuation don't count (though you know you are presenting yourself as a professional). Get the ideas down. Put down as many resources as you can remember, like web sites. Also, know a few research references that you can mention. It proves you are professional and look for research-based sources.
Breathe!
Best of luck to you! I'm a NBCT in exceptional education, so I know how much time you have invested in this venture.
ReplyDeleteI teach PreK disabilities. For science, I do as much physical science as I can, and give the kids the chance to repeat the experiments as often as they'd like over the next weeks, even months. You can always expand on lessons as they are repeated. The major thing is let THEM do the experiments. Practice accommodates memory. Social studies lessons are conjoined with our Houghton Mifflin curriculum - community helpers, senses, etc.
When you are writing, assume you have an unlimited budget. Go for it. Plan B.I.G. List details rather then write them all out. . . remember, spelling and punctuation don't count (though you know you are presenting yourself as a professional). Get the ideas down. Put down as many resources as you can remember, like web sites. Also, know a few research references that you can mention. It proves you are professional and look for research-based sources.
Breathe!
I teach 1st grade in NJ and our Science & SS is out dated. We are receiving a new curriculum next school year. However the old curriculum dealt with lifecycles, ocean, community, recycling, matter, then and now.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to be at the end of your NB journey - I am coming up on my 10 year anniversary of National Boards! I know this seems silly, but as you prepare think about the space you'll be testing in..... Is this the computer based test? I'm thinking so. If the keyboard is something different than what you are used to it makes it challenging, so it's helpful to prepare for that. I just remember typing really fast and having scratch paper beside me. You are a great educator and communicator so I love the advice of "BREATHE"! Good luck!
ReplyDeletePatsi K in MN
www.abc123kindergarten.com
I teach 2nd grade and we cover communities, landforms, economics, sound, weather, life cycles.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Ashlee
Sweet Seconds
Hi-don't know if it is too late for this comment, but I just certified this past November (ec-gen) and one place I used to study was brainpopjr.com. I signed up for the 7 day trial and watched tons of the movies. It really did help! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI teach 3rd grade in Georgia. It may be too late for this, but....
ReplyDeleteScience- magnets, Georgia habitats (plants, animals), ecosystems, pollution and conservation, heat, rocks and minerals, erosion and weathering, and fossils.
Social Studies-Famous Americans (Paul Revere, Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, Mary M. Bethune, Lyndon B. Johnson, FDR, Eleanor Roosevelt, Cesar Chavez, and Thurgood Marshall), Economics, Government, Map Skills, and Ancient Greece/Democracy.