South San Francisco, CA November 20, 2023 by Peter Feng, SSFUSD
In honor of National STEM Day on November 8, the South San Francisco Unified School District (SSFUSD) celebrated its elementary school teachers for their efforts in implementing Twig Science, a newly adopted science curriculum aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
During the first year of implementation last year, the SSFUSD successfully provided NGSS-aligned instruction with Twig Science to approximately half of its elementary students. During the second year of implementation, teachers have been working hard to ensure that every student can access and engage in at least one unit of the Twig Science curriculum by the end of the 2023/2024 school year.
A Genentech grant supported the purchase of the curriculum, as well as providing a full-time Teacher on Special Assignment (ToSA) to support educators with implementation and an innovative approach that is giving teachers more time for learning and preparation needed for successful introduction.
As part of this new approach, the District has, for the first time, introduced a new approach for dedicated Physical Education (PE) instruction for all elementary students through a partnership with Legarza Sports. This pilot has been extremely popular with students who thoroughly enjoy the coaches, the myriad of activities they lead, and their constant positive messaging. Teachers have also appreciated the additional time for planning and collaboration.
Since the implementation of Legarza, teachers now have more time for planning and collaboration. The model gives first through fifth-grade teachers an extra 50 minutes twice a week, and kindergarten teachers an extra 50 minutes once a week. They can spend this time planning and prepping for science lessons with the support of the elementary science ToSA.
This unique partnership is supporting the District in achieving its vision of offering high-quality science education and fostering an expectation that all students can and will be successful in science, making it recognized as a destination for high-quality science education.
