Science Learning Guide; 7th & 8th

The Meliora School seeks a knowledgeable, engaging Science Learning Guide to teach seventh-grade life science and eighth-grade physical science. This educator will deliver rigorous, hands‑on instruction aligned with Georgia’s science standards and prepare eighth-grade learners to demonstrate proficiency on the Georgia Milestones Science End‑of‑Grade assessment.

New hires must have previous experience teaching physical science, including chemistry and physics concepts.

At Meliora, Learning Guides combine explicit instruction, scientific inquiry, personalized support, and mastery‑based assessment. The successful candidate will help learners understand scientific concepts, apply them to unfamiliar situations, and support explanations with evidence.

The Science Learning Guide will:

• Teach seventh-grade life science, including cells and body systems, heredity, classification, biological diversity, and ecosystems.
• Teach eighth-grade physical science, including properties of matter, physical and chemical changes, energy, forces and motion, waves, electricity, and magnetism.
• Unpack Georgia’s science standards into clear learning targets, lesson sequences, and measurable criteria for mastery.
• Plan instruction using the applicable GaDOE assessment guides, test blueprints, and achievement‑level descriptors.
• Maintain a pacing plan that provides time for initial instruction, investigations, reteaching, enrichment, and cumulative review.
• Use STEMscopes and supplemental resources to create coherent, standards‑aligned units.

The Science Learning Guide will:

• Prepare eighth-grade learners for the content knowledge and reasoning required by the Georgia Milestones science assessment.
• Design classroom assessments that reflect the rigor and application demands described in current GaDOE assessment resources.
• Teach learners to interpret scientific diagrams, models, tables, graphs, and investigation results.
• Help learners evaluate evidence, identify relationships, draw conclusions, and apply concepts in unfamiliar contexts.
• Build familiarity with the online assessment environment and applicable item formats using state‑approved practice resources.
• Analyze assessment results by standard to identify misconceptions and determine which learners need additional instruction.
• Provide targeted small‑group support and reassessment opportunities throughout the year.
• Establish and monitor individual growth and proficiency goals with school leadership.
• Communicate progress toward grade‑level mastery clearly to learners and families.

The Science Learning Guide will:

• Facilitate regular investigations that require learners to ask questions, make predictions, identify variables, collect data, and explain results.
• Teach learners to distinguish observations from inferences and support scientific claims with relevant evidence.
• Integrate measurement, graphing, proportional reasoning, and appropriate calculations into science instruction.
• Use models, demonstrations, simulations, and engineering challenges to make abstract concepts accessible.
• Establish and enforce laboratory safety procedures.
• Maintain organized materials and equipment and plan investigations appropriate to available facilities and learner needs.

The Science Learning Guide will:

• Use daily checks for understanding to adjust instruction.
• Maintain accurate records of progress toward specific science standards.
• Provide clear, actionable feedback and structured opportunities for revision and reassessment.
• Deliver small‑group reteaching and meaningful extensions for learners who demonstrate mastery.
• Implement IEP and Section 504 supports…