AERO Critical Areas
A NESA WEBINAR SERIES
WITH
ERMA ANDERSON · NAOMI WOOLSEY · CHRIS CHARNITSKI
SIX WEBINARS BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 6, 2020
3:00-4:00pm (GMT+3)
FOR ENTIRE SCHOOL FACULTIES
THIS EVENT HAS PASSED
Project AERO has identified Critical Areas for Mathematics (K-5 and 6-12), English/Language Arts (K-5), and Science (K-5 and 6-8). This webinar series will assist teachers with planning and instruction for the current school year. Join these sessions for help navigating these particularly challenging times.
Webinar Dates
AERO Math, Grades K-5 | Thurs, September 24 | 3-4pm (Athens GMT+3) |
AERO English/Language Arts, Grades K-5, PART 1 | Mon, September 28 | 3-4pm (Athens GMT+3) |
AERO Science, Grades 6-8 | Tues, September 29 | 3-4pm (Athens GMT+3) |
AERO Math, Grades 6-12 | Thurs, October 1 | 3-4pm (Athens GMT+3) |
AERO English/Language Arts K-5, PART 2 | Mon, October 5 | 3-4pm (Athens GMT+3) |
AERO Science, Grades K-5 | Tues, October 6 | 3-4pm (Athens GMT+3) |
About the Webinars
Using Formative Assessment Data to Accelerate Learning in Mathematics
Presented by ERMA ANDERSON
Grades K-5: September 24, 2020 | 3:00-4:00pm (Athens GMT+3)
Grades 6-12: October 1, 2020 | 3:00-4:00pm (Athens GMT+3)
It is through formative assessment, interactive talk, ongoing dialogue, rich, formative questioning, and careful listening and reading teachers can assess what kinds of scaffolds are appropriate and how much scaffolding is appropriate to address unfinished learning and accelerate student learning.
Participants will:
- Unpack how key assessments provide visibility and clarity into each student’s needs (even remotely);
- Enable teachers to align targeted supports, monitor progress, and make in-the-moment decisions that accelerate learning and growth.
AERO English/Language Arts Critical Areas in Grades K-5
Presented by NAOMI WOOLSEY
PART 1: September 28, 2020 | 3:00-4:00pm (GMT+3)
PART 2: October 5, 2020 | 3:00-4:00pm (GMT+3)
Project AERO has identified Critical Areas for English/Language Arts in Grades K-5. During these two, one-hour webinars, the emphasis will be on assisting teachers with planning and instruction for the current school year.
Part 1 Session Outcomes - September 28:
- Review the structure and key elements of the AERO English/Language Arts Framework (2015);
- Practice unpacking standards in the Framework;
- Understand the rationale and process for developing the Critical Areas document for school year 2020-2021.
Part 2 Session Outcomes - October 5:
- Review the E/LA Critical Areas document for Grades K-5;
- Understand how the clusters will facilitate the development of four units per grade level or give teachers the tools to assess the merits of existing units;
- Review the vetted resources identified for each unit cluster.
AERO Middle School Science Critical Areas
Presented by CHRIS CHARNITSKI
September 29, 2020 | 3:00-4:00pm (GMT+3)
Project AERO has put forward guidance for Middle School Science Educators to help them navigate these particularly challenging times. During this one-hour webinar (overview plus time for questions) we hope to accomplish the following:
- Review the structure of the standards and key conceptual shifts presented in A Framework for K-12 Science Education;
- Tour the AERO Science Critical Areas and understand how they aim to support MS educators in developing meaningful learning experiences for their students (this year and into the future);
- Consider some ways Middle School Educators might bring the vision of the Framework and the AERO Science Standards to a virtual learning environment.
Project AERO Science PD for Grades K-5: From Standards to Instruction - Where do we start?
Presented by CHRIS CHARNITSKI
October 6, 2020 | 3:00-4:00pm (GMT+3)
Educators who understand the AERO science standards and the conceptual shifts that accompany them often struggle to bring the elements of this vision to their classrooms - and struggle even more to assess the standards and confidently report student progress in science. This webinar introduces steps that grade level teams (K-5) can take to begin to translate their sets of standards into meaningful classroom experiences and assessment.
In this one-hour session, participants will work through the following aspects of storyline and assessment development for Grades K-5:
- organizing standards to focus instruction and assessment;
- arriving at effective and engaging anchoring phenomena and driving questions;
- understanding the key aspects of three-dimensional assessment in this new paradigm;
- exploring resources and example assessments to guide us in assessment development.
Target Audience: School grade level teams (K-5) or individuals who are currently engaging students with the AERO Science Standards and want to better understand how standards can be used to identify phenomena and develop assessment.
About the Presenters

Science & Mathematics Consultant, including with the U.S. State Department's Office of Overseas Schools
ERMA ANDERSON
Erma Anderson is a former high school physics and mathematics teacher and Albert Einstein Distinguished Fellow in the US Senate. She was a Senior Program Officer with the National Research Council assisting in the development of the National Science Education Standards and a Christa McAuliffe Fellow with the National Foundation for the Improvement of Education.
She has worked with the National Science Teachers Association on several projects including the Mentoring Initiative e-Mentoring for Student Success (eMSS), development of sciLINKS (www.sciLINKS.org), and Project Manager of Scope, Sequence and Coordination of Secondary School Science.

Consultant and Curriculum Writer
Project AERO
NAOMI WOOLSEY
Naomi Woolsey served as AERO Project Director from 2006-2017, and continues her affiliation with AERO as a consultant and curriculum writer. Most recently, she worked on developing the Guidance for 2020-2021 in Social Studies and English/Language Arts.
Naomi’s experience as an educational leader spans three continents: she served as a school principal at the American Community School of Athens, the International School of Bangkok, the International School of Luxembourg, and Washington International School.

Co-facilitator
NGSS Introduction for Educators; AERO Summer Institute
CHRIS CHARNITSKI
Chris Charnitski works with schools and educators around the world helping them understand, develop and implement curriculum aligned to the vision of science education presented in A Framework for K-12 Science Education. He spent 20 years as a science educator at schools in Fairfax County VA, Ecuador, Myanmar and Oman.
Chris co-facilitates the NGSS Introduction for Educators at the AERO Summer Institute in Virginia and at the AERO NESA Spring Educators Conference. He is a National Board-certified teacher and most recently worked with the non-profit Achieve organization, authors of the NGSS, on their Science Peer Review Panel.
Registration Fees
Fees quoted are per school, and include unlimited educator attendance for ALL 6 webinars.
All fees quoted are in US Dollars (USD).
An invoice will be sent following registration.
- NESA Member School: $100/school
- NESA Affiliate School: $100/school
- Non-Member School: $200/school
Please review the Cancellation Notice before registering.
Registration has closed.