Greetings Fellow Science Educators!
Next week I will be attending the PARCC Educator Leader Cadre (Chicago). As you know, our students are scheduled to take the PARCC assessments for mathematics and English Language Arts in 2014-2015. While these assessments will not serve as our science assessments, the PARCC English Language Arts test will assess student literacy skills and abilities.
As such, students may be asked to analyze an informational piece of text over a topic in science. With that in mind I would love the opportunity to answer any questions you may have pertaining to the PARCC assessments.
We’ve set up a survey so we can collect some of the questions you might have. Please see the link below.
PARCC Survey
The Teaching Channel:
I often watch videos on The Teaching Channel to see what strategies teachers are using in their classrooms and I stumbled upon the video below. The video showcases a science teacher’s use of the 5E instructional model in a 5th grade classroom.
If you have an opportunity to meet with fellow science teachers in your school/district I encourage you to utilize the video as a discussion topic for your professional learning communities (PLC).
Physical Change Lesson
Reflection Questions for Science PLC:
1. How does this instructional model encourage student engagement?
2. How does this instructional model align to effective teaching practices?
3. How would you utilize strategies from this lesson in your own classroom?
Educator Opportunities:
REAC3H Summit: March 26th
Free Professional Development! Join me as we explore Common Core Literacy in Science with model lessons and teaching strategies that align to Oklahoma C3 Science Standards and Literacy. This session will be different than the regional trainings I’ve been conducting around the state. There are only 100 spots for science teachers that are saved just for you! Register soon! Visit http://reac3hnetwork.eventbrite.com/ to register. See attached flyer.
Vision 2020 Conference and Proposal Requests
This is going to be a great conference for us. Science and STEM will have a great block of sessions. Save the data for JULY 9-11. Read more at http://www.ok.gov/sde/vision2020.
Also, if you are doing good things, we need great presenters. Proposals are due April 1 Proposal Requests
Oklahoma State Department of Education Common Core Regional Meetings:
- Weatherford for Elementary Teachers (March 29) 12:30-4:00 pm
- Weatherford for Secondary Teachers (March 29) 8:00-11:30 am
- Woodward for Elementary Teachers (April 5) 12:30-4:00 pm
- Woodward for Secondary Teachers (April 5) 8:00-11:30 am
Register for all Regional Meetings at: http://osde-regionalmeetings.eventbrite.com/
Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
Read about it here .
Nominations period is open! Nomination Deadline is April 1, 2013.
Start considering great 7-12 science teachers now!
University of Oklahoma College of Engineering Research Experience for Teacher (RET) Program: June 17th – July 26th
The RET provides high school math and science teachers the opportunity to actively work with OU engineering faculty on engineering research. You will use this hands-on experience to develop authentic inquiry-based math and/or science curriculum that you will implement during the 2013-2014 academic year. The RET provides a total stipend of $4000 for participation in the year-long program. Nominal travel funds are available to those with demonstrated need.
For more information on the RET program, including possible engineering research topics, summer workshops, lesson plans previously developed, etc., please visit our RET website at
http://www.ou.edu/content/coe/centers/Researchteachers/home.html.
Attached is the program flyer and application form. Please email your completed application form along with the required documents to chenling@ou.edu. If you have any questions, please contact Chen Ling at chenling@ou.edu or 405.996.8453 (phone), 405.325.7555(fax).
Environmental Education Week Webinar: Thursday February 28th 7:00 pm
Using Technology to Investigate the Outdoors
See more
Ag in the Classroom Garden Grants Available: Deadline March 15th
Ag in the Classroom is offering $500 garden grants to Oklahoma educators. For more information including an application go to www.agclassroom.org/ok
The Environmentor: 3rd Issue
http://www.okcu.edu/environmentor/
Accountability & Assessment Resources:
Accountability & Assessment Resources page for the SDE website has been updated.
Science Teachers will find the resources listed below on the SDE website by clicking on this link.
http://www.ok.gov/sde/accountability-assessment-resources
- Science Standard Flip Charts | Grade 5 (pdf) | Grade 8 (pdf)| EOI Biology I Content and Process (pdf)
- Science Depth-of-Knowledge Transition Chart, 2010-2013 (pdf)
- Science Formula pages | Grade 8 (pdf) |
Next Generation Science Standards Resources:
- Take a look at the short video developed by Matt Krehbiel, Science Education Program Consultant for the Kansas State Department of Education, that will help you to navigate the Next Generation Science Standards website and the Achieve survey.
- Learn more and sign up for one of these upcoming NSTA webinars on Engineering Practices in NGSS (1/15); Using the NGSS Practices in the Elementary Grades (1/29); or Making Connections Between NGSS and Common Core Math and ELA (2/12).
- Watch Montana teacher of the year Paul Anderson’s comprehensive video series on NGSS.
- Take a peek at one of the eight webinars presented earlier this fall that focused on the Scientific and Engineering Practices described in A Framework for K–12 Science Education.
- Read and download NSTA’s growing collection of monthly journal articles exploring the Framework. Articles examine the practices, crosscutting concepts, connections to common core, and more. Watch for upcoming articles on the core ideas by Rodger Bybee, Joe Krajcik, and Michael Wysession.
Stay Connected:
Follow me on Twitter: @tiffanyneill Facebook: #OKSci Hashtags: #oksde #OKSci #OKSTEM Sign Up for a Twitter account: https://twitter.com/OKSci Recources:
Classroom Strategies: http://www.scoop.it/t/oksci-classroom-strategies
Website Resources Elementary: http://bit.ly/OSDE-SciElemLinks
Website Resources Secondary: http://bit.ly/OSDE-SecScienceLinks
Accessing Archived Science Messages:
You can access Archived Science Messages I’ve sent out since March via the Oklahoma Science Teachers Association (OSTA) website. Scroll down to see previous posts.
Science Listserv:
Please encourage others to register for the science listserv and pass along the following registration link:
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have!
-Tiffany