Our Instructional model
The Amplify Science Alabama program is rooted in the proven, research-based pedagogy of Do, Talk, Read, Write, Visualize. Here’s how each element works:
DO
First-hand investigations are an important part of any science classroom, and Amplify Science Alabama has students getting hands-on in every unit, from building models of protein molecules to experimenting with electrical systems.
TALK
Student-to-student discourse and full class discussions are an integral part of the program. Students are provided with numerous opportunities to engage in meaningful oral scientific argumentation, all while fostering a collaborative classroom environment.
READ
Students read scientific articles, focusing their reading activities on searching for evidence related to their investigation, and importantly, on asking and recording questions as they read through fascinating texts on 21st-century topics.
WRITE
Following real-world practices, students write scientific arguments based on evidence they’ve collected, making clear their reasoning about how a given piece of evidence connects to one of several claims.
VISUALIZE
By manipulating digital simulations and using modeling tools to craft visualizations of their thinking— just as real scientists and engineers do—students take their learning far beyond the confines of what they can physically see in the classroom in an exciting and authentic way.
Supporting resources
To review the digital program, visit learning.amplify.com.
Click Login with Amplify, and use the following credentials:
Teacher view
- Username: t1.bama@demo.tryamplify.net
- Password: Amplify1-bama
Additional Materials to support your review:
Scientific Literacy
Literacy-rich science instruction
Scope and sequence
GRADE
UNITS
Kindergarten
- Needs of Plants and Animals
- Pushes and Pulls
- Sunlight and Water
Grade 1
- Animal and Plant Defenses
- Light and Sound
- Spinning Earth
Grade 2
- Plant and Animal Relationships
- Properties of Materials
- Changing Landforms
Grade 3
- Balancing Forces
- Inheritance and Traits
- Environments and Survival
- Weather and Climate
Grade 4
- Energy Conversions
- Vision and Light
- Earth’s Features
- Waves, Energy, and Information
Grade 5
- Patterns of Earth and Sky
- Modeling Matter
- The Earth System
- Ecosystem Restoration
GRADES K-5
Grade K: Pushes and Pulls
Grade 1: Animal and Plant Defenses
Grade 2: Properties of Materials
Grade 3: Balancing Forces
Grade 4: Investigating Wavelength
Grade 5: Introducing Food Science
Hands On Investigations
Hands-on Investigations
Hands-on learning is an essential part of Amplify Science Alabama, and is integrated into every unit. Students actively participate in science, acting like scientists and engineers as they gather evidence, think critically, solve problems, and develop and defend claims about the world around them. Every unit includes hands-on investigations which are critical to achieving the unit’s learning goals.
Amplify offers hands-on material kits as well as the option to use AMSTI Kit Resources for many of the student investigations.
Digital Experience
Digital student experience
Students access the digital simulations and modeling tools, as well as lesson activities and assessments, through the digital student experience. Students can interact with the digital student experience as they:
- Conduct hands-on investigations
- Engage in active reading and writing activities
- Participate in discussions
- Record observations
- Craft end-of-unit scientific arguments
Alabama Teacher’s Guides
Available digitally and in print, the Teacher’s Guides contain all of the information teachers need to facilitate classroom instruction, including:
- Classroom Slides
- Detailed lesson plans
- Unit and chapter overview documentation
- Differentiation strategies
- Standards alignments
- In-context professional development
Looking for help?
Powerful (and free!) pedagogical support
Amplify provides a unique kind of support you won’t find from other publishers. We have developed an educational support team of former teachers and administrators who provide pedagogical support for every Amplify curriculum, assessment, and intervention program. This service is completely free for all educators who are using our programs and includes:
- Guidance for developing lesson plans and intervention plans
- Information on where to locate standards and other planning materials
- Recommendations and tips for day-to-day teaching with Amplify programs
- Support with administering and interpreting assessment data and more
To reach our pedagogical team, use our live chat within your program, call (800) 823-1969, or email edsupport@amplify.com
Timely technical and program support
Our technical and program support is included and available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, through a variety of channels, including a live chat program that enables teachers to get immediate help in the middle of the school day.
For your most urgent questions:
- Use our live chat within your program
- Call our toll-free number: (800) 823-1969
For less urgent questions:
AL CKLA Review K-3
Alabama's review of Amplify CKLA
Inspiring the next generation of Alabama scientists, engineers, and curious citizens
mCLASS Alabama
Amplify’s mCLASS® assessments are truly the gold standard in assessments. On this site, you’ll find powerful data-collection tools that can inform your instruction in literacy and math!
Alabama mCLASS Edition Webinar
Click here to view the Alabama mCLASS Edition Webinar.
Hear from educators like you
Hear from teachers, administrators, and students across the country who are using mCLASS in their classrooms right now.
About the program
mCLASS offers teacher-administered assessment, intervention, and personalized instruction for grades K–6. Know exactly how to monitor and support every student in your classroom with features like:
- Precise one-minute measures based on over three decades of predictive data.
- Universal and dyslexia screening in one tool.
- Instruction that highlights observed patterns and recommends activities.
- Robust reports for teachers, specialists, administrators, and parents.
Resources to support your review
Download the resources below before you review the program to better understand the program structure, components, digital resources, and more.
- Self-guided walkthrough
- Program guide [PDF]
- Reporting guide [PDF]
- Dyslexia toolkit [PDF]
Dyslexia screening: Catch at-risk students early
Early intervention is critical. With mCLASS, educators can provide universal and dyslexia screening through a single powerful tool—no additional assessment system required.
Download our dyslexia toolkit to learn more.
Assessment measurement videos
mCLASS’s teacher-administered assessment provides for streamlined data collection, emphasizing measures of the most important skills. The measures are administered in the manner that is most appropriate for the developmental stage of the child as well as the skills being assessed.
Phonemic Segmentation Fluency (PSF)
The student produces sounds to isolate first sounds or to segment sounds in spoken words.
Word Reading Fluency (WRF)
Standardized, individually administered assessment that provides a measure of Alphabetic Principle and Reading Fluency skills. The student reads individual words, printed on a sheet of paper, aloud for one minute.
Oral Reading Fluency (ORF)
Students are tasked with verbally repeating what they hear, and thus teachers have deeper diagnostic data about their oral language abilities and errors.
mCLASS Math: Get more answers with our math assessment program.
mCLASS® Math is a math assessment program that uncovers students’ mathematical reasoning and measures fundamental skills to build student success. Universal screening and progress monitoring with diagnostic interviews provide a rich view of at-risk students and gauge the effectiveness of math instruction.
Resource to support your review
Download the resources below before you review the program to better understand the program structure, components, digital resources, and more.
Request a demo
If you’d like to review the full program or speak to a product expert for more information, fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch.
Empowering diverse learners in math, starring Keri Brown
Meet Our Guest(s):
Keri Brown
Keri Brown is an experienced K–2 educator, national presenter, and curriculum author from Alabama. She has taught both kindergarten and first grade and has also supported students through K–2 intervention. With over 17 years in education, Keri is passionate about using research-based practices, hands-on learning, and meaningful tech to support young learners. She loves helping fellow teachers through practical strategies they can use right away. You can find her sharing ideas on her website and Instagram.
Meet our host, Ana Torres.
Ana has been an educator for 30 years, working in both the K–8 and higher education sectors. She served as an administrator and instructor at various public and private colleges and universities and as a bilingual and dual language teacher, dual language math and reading interventionist, dual language instructional coach, assistant principal, and principal in K–8 schools. Ana is currently the Senior Biliteracy and Multilingual Product Specialist at Amplify, and delivers literacy and biliteracy presentations across the nation. Ana’s passion and advocacy for biliteracy and support for all students from all walks of life has led her to educate leaders, teachers, and parents about the positive impact of bilingualism and biliteracy in our world.
Meet our Classroom Insider, Eric Cross.
Eric Cross is a middle school science teacher who hopes to someday be a lifelong educator, like the guests on Beyond My Years! In each episode, Eric connects with host Ana Torres to discuss her guests’ best insights, gleaned from their long and rewarding careers in the classroom. Then, Eric talks about bringing some of their wisdom into his current classroom and busy life.
Quotes
“We start small with just talking to them, helping them figure out how to have a conversation about math. They can talk about everything else, but we have to teach them how to talk about math. We have to give them the words, give them the tools.”
“There's only so many ways you can teach the same thing. When I was teaching addition, there's only so many ways I could do it. But if that's their goal and that's what we're working on, I’ve got to try to come up with a hundred different ways to teach addition until they have mastered addition. And so you get very creative.”
“When [I] see the light bulb come on in a kid, I'm like, ‘Ah, this is why I teach.'”
“It's impactful to spend that little extra time saying, ‘Let me build some relationships and show these babies how to be students in my classroom.'”
“Predictable routines really help students feel safe, because they know what's going to happen.”
“When things are consistent and repeated, [students] know what to expect and it's not as big of a cognitive lift for them to do it. Each time eventually gets easier and you can get into the deeper learning.”
“That human aspect, that dependability, that consistency is a big, big barrier for students when they don't feel like it's there. When we can create that by creating these routines, learning happens deeper and faster.”
“Explaining requires you to juggle information in your working memory and then turn it into language.”