News
The February STATellite is the Biggest Issue Ever!
- Engage Your Students with Smart Phones
- Get Up to Date by Flipping Your Classroom: Social Media-Style
- Use Bulletin Boards and Acronyms
- ...and more!
STAT SPEAKS OUT ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate Change a "Hot Topic" for Texas
STAT President Ross Ann Hill speaks out in a KUT News interview regarding teaching climate change in Texas schools. TESTA representative Gail Gant was also interviewed for this short piece.
Commissioner Defers 15% STAAR Grading Policy for One Year
Submitted by STAT on Tue, 02/21/2012 - 09:38Press Release from the TEA Website:
AUSTIN 2.17.2012 – Commissioner of Education Robert Scott announced today that is he deferring implementation of the new 15 percent grading requirement connected to the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness end-of-course examinations.
He took this action after receiving input from parents, educators and State Board of Education members, as well as statutory clarification from state leaders.
He issued the following statement:
“Based on my conversations with the Governor's Office and clarification of legislative intent from the House and Senate, I am modifying the Texas Education Agency’s House Bill 3 Transition Plan. The modification gives public school districts and charter schools the ability to defer implementation of the statutory provision that requires performance on an end-of-course assessment to count as 15 percent of a student’s final course grade. The modification applies only to the 15 percent grading requirement in Chapter 39 of the Texas Education Code, and will affect only the 2011-2012 school year. For this school year, the ultimate decision whether to include end-of-course exam scores as part of course grades will be determined locally by school districts and charter schools.
"The law still requires students that are first entering the ninth grade in the 2011-2012 school year to achieve a cumulative score on the end-of-course assessments to complete their graduation requirements. Districts and charters choosing to defer implementation of the 15 percent requirement for the 2011-2012 school year will only need to notify TEA of that decision. Districts and charter schools will receive instructions from the agency regarding this policy change next week.
"I remain committed to rigorous public school accountability, and to implementing the reforms in Senate Bill 1031 from the 80th Legislative Session and House Bill 3 from the 81st Legislative Session. The new assessment system will be better for students and educators, and will better ensure Texas students are ready for postsecondary success.”
The Proposal Site for CAST 2012 is Now Open!
Get a jump on CAST- submit your best proposals for hands-on activities and presentations today!
The proposals site is open from February 15 - May 7, 2012.
Click here to get started!
Need help getting started? This year, when the "submit" button is clicked, your proposal is sent to the committee for review. Download our draft proposal forms to help you plan your proposals:
If you have any questions about your proposals or log-in information, please contact us at stat@bizaustin.rr.com.
Obama Announces Funding for Science Teachers; Plus: Professional Development Opportunities
Submitted by STAT on Thu, 02/09/2012 - 10:54Obama Announces Funding for Science and Math Teachers
View the Original Article Here.
The White House announced Tuesday a series of new grants for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teachers and programs.
According to a White House release, Obama will request $80 million in his budget proposal to be released on Feb. 13 for a competitive grant program for STEM teacher preparation programs. Obama also plans to devote a portion of the $300 million Teacher Incentive Fund specifically toward state and local efforts to improve pay, evaluations and professional development for STEM teachers.
“When students excel in math and science, they help America compete for the jobs and industries of the future,” Obama said in a statement. He called for the United States to produce 100,000 effective STEM teachers in the next decade. The White House also announced that private organizations, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will donate $22 million to supplement those efforts.
The president's budget will include a $100 million investment by the Nation Science Foundation to improve undergraduate postsecondary programs focused on STEM fields. In his budget, Obama will also outline a partnership between the foundation and the U.S. Department of Education, with $30 million in funding from each, to scale up "evidence-based approaches to improve student learning at K-12 and undergraduate levels," according to the White House.
The Education Department will also continue to emphasize STEM efforts in future applications for Race To The Top funding, according to the administration
Teachers for Global Classrooms (TGC) Courses
IREX is excited to announce the new application cycle for Teachers for Global Classrooms (TGC)! TGC is a professional development opportunity for middle and high school teachers from the United States, with the goal of providing teachers with the skills and experience to promote global education in their classrooms and schools. The Teachers for Global Classrooms Program (TGC) features an online course aimed at globalizing U.S. classrooms, two Global Education Symposia, and international travel. Participants are selected through a national, open competition. TGC is a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) administered by IREX (the International Research & Exchanges Board). Please see the program page on the IREX website for further information: www.irex.org/tgc
If you or your colleagues have any questions about this new application cycle, please contact tgc@irex.org.
Announcement: 2012 CDC Science Ambassador Workshop
CDC’s Scientific Education and Professional Development Program Office is pleased to announce the 2012 CDC Science Ambassador Workshop — an opportunity for middle and high school science educators to share in a dynamic learning experience. The workshop will be held at CDC headquarters in Atlanta from July 16 through July 20, 2012. We are now accepting portfolios for consideration.
Overview
CDC Science Ambassador Workshop links public health science to classroom instruction. This is an excellent opportunity for science educators to work closely with CDC scientists during an intensive 5-day workshop to bring new and innovative science and public health materials to the classroom.
This workshop features a variety of sessions on public health topics, and educators will work in teams with CDC scientists to create engaging lesson plans. These lesson plans not only meet National Science Education standards, but also challenge students to think about science in new ways, and to apply science to current health and safety issues. Once the lesson plans have been published on CDC’s Science Ambassador Workshop website, educators across the United States and internationally may implement them in their classrooms.
Eligibility
To be considered for participation, educators are encouraged to submit the following information to the Science Ambassador Workshop contact at the email address listed below:
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- Two letters of support (principal and science department chair)
- A personal statement explaining why you are interested in the program, your expectations, and how you plan to use the workshop lesson plans (500 word limit)
- Sample of a lesson plan you have developed
- Copy of current teaching certificate
Educators will be responsible for travel and lodging expenses for the workshop. Those who complete and meet the expectations of the workshop will earn three (3) Professional Learning Units. This is a competitive program and space is limited — 16 educators will be selected for participation.
Please share this information, early, with any of your colleagues who may be interested. Deadline for submission is Friday, March 30, 2012. Those selected for participation will be notified by April 27, 2012.
Website and Contact Information
CDC Science Ambassador Workshop website
Esther Shisoka, MPH
iwv4@cdc.gov
(404) 498-6359
Texas Science Standards Receive a "C" Grade from the Fordham Institute
TEXAS SCIENCE STANDARDS RECEIVE A "C" GRADE FROM THE FORDHAM INSTITUTE | |
According to the Austin American Statesman, Texas received a failing grade for its science standards in 2005. This year, standards received a "C," which is average among other states. At the Houston Chron, arguments for the score being weak and positive are both presented. What do you think about the C score? Is it average or unacceptable? Let us know by commenting on Facebook or adding your opinion in the comments on www.statweb.org! Read more about the grading at My San Antonio. | |
NEW STUDY FOCUSES ON SCIENCE TEACHER SHORTAGE AND RETENTION | |
The Sid W. Richardson Foundation Forum has just released a report this week entitled 51 Math and Science Teachers in Texas: Motivating, Preparing, Supporting, and Retaining Math and Science Teachers in Texas High Schools. The report is a result of 5 years of interviews and meetings with a select group of math and science high school teachers located in four of the fastest-growing sectors of Texas. It chronicles the teachers' negative and positive experiences over 5 years of teaching. This report is available for PDF Download Here. | |
SUBMIT TEACHING ARTICLES FOR THE FEBRUARY STATELLITE NEWSLETTER! | |
There's still time to submit your best teaching tips, tricks, or lesson plans for the February STATellite. Just as teachers learn from each other at CAST, we'd like to offer a way for us to learn from each other throughout the new year. | |
Urgent: Adoption of New Science Instructional Materials - Action Needed
Do you want new science instructional materials?
Do you need up-to-date science content to teach students?
STAT (Science Teachers Association of Texas) President-Elect Sharon Kamas will be present at the upcoming The State Board of Education (SBOE) meeting on January 26th. See more details here.
During this meeting, the future adoption of instructional materials will be discussed. STAT has been fighting to get Science instructional materials at the top of the SBOE's adoption cycle. Some of our textbooks are between 8-14 years old: the time for action is now!
The new Science TEKS need to be supported by new instructional materials. If STAAR is based on our new Science TEKS, then we need new instructional materials to match these new Science TEKS.
Please take a moment and send an email to your State Board of Education member:
Find your SBOE representative by entering your home address here: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/
Send an email addressed to your SBOE member to: SBOEsupport@tea.state.tx.us
Thank you for taking the time to help advance science education in Texas!
STAT Takes a Stand at the Capitol This Month
President Ross Ann Hill and President Elect Sharon Kamas
to Represent STAT at SBOE and House Public Education Committee Meetings
STAT (Science Teachers Association of Texas) President-Elect Sharon Kamas will be present at the upcoming SBOE meeting on January 26th. See more details here.
Both Kamas and President Ross Ann Hill will also represent STAT at the upcoming House of Representatives Public Education Committee meeting on January 23rd. The implementation of the new state assessment system (STAAR), and its "impact on students, instruction, teachers, and graduation or promotion rates" will be discussed. View more details here. They are also scheduled to meet with the Chief of Staff of Senator Kel Seliger, who has just been appointed by the Lt. Governor to the Math and Science Advisory Board.
If you have any recommendations on the above topics, or would like to attend the meeting, please contact president@statweb.org, or presidentelect@statweb.org.
Email your SBOE representative: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/
The December STATellite is Now Available!
Check out the post-CAST edition of the STATellite for special promos for CAST 2012, teaching tips, CAST photos, and more!
Check out the Scientists of the Future Jamboree at Stunt Ranch!
Submitted by STAT on Tue, 12/13/2011 - 10:21First Annual Scientists of the Future Jamboree
A fund raising event for The America’s Future Scientist Fund
Date: Sunday January 22, 2012 – 3pm-8pm
Where: The event will be held at the Stunt Ranch & Fire Lake Event Center
13317 Fitzhugh Road Austin, TX 78736
Join 1000 friends and family for the most exciting science education event of the year. You’ll experience hands on science of the movies and witness amazing stunt demonstrations by renowned movie stunt expert Steve Wolf and his team of professional stuntmen, zip line rides, The Austin Planetarium, Dr. Cold, rope obstacle course, food and the first human android keynote in the history of man – “Zeno” developed by Hanson Robotics, this kid-friendly event will ignite the love of science in adults and children and raise money to provide supplemental curriculum to elementary and middle school teachers!
Members of STAT receive a 25% discount on tickets, using the code: 2pct5
CAST 2011 Pics and SBOE Victory!
Check out pics from CAST 2011!
(Click the picture to be taken to the slide-show.)
If you have photos you would like to share, email them to
stat@bizaustin.rr.com, and we'll put them in our album!
While we were at CAST...
STAT President-Elect Sharon Kamas was at the Capitol on November 17 to weigh-in on the issue of providing Texas classrooms with new textbooks. See Sharon's testimony here.
Shortly after the November 17 meeting, we recieved word that science materials are in the top spot on the SBOE's Adoption Cycle! This is indeed a victory for science teachers across Texas. View the Proposed Adoption Cycle of the SBOE here.
As the school year winds down, we'd like to wish you a very relaxing winter break.
We're excited to see what 2012 will bring your association.
Happy Holidays!
