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.
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.
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!
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!
Speaker of the House Joe Straus releases Interim Charges for House Committees
Yesterday, October 20, Joe Straus announced the Interim Charges for the Texas State House of Representatives Committees. In addition to the charges assigned to each committee, he requested all committees find ways to increase transparency, accountability, and efficiency within the state government, and to make recommendations for significantly improving the state’s manufacturing capability. Charges relevant to science educators are below, but for a complete list of all charges, click here.
House Committee on Public Education:
STAT Takes a Stand at SBOE Meeting
President Ross Ann Hill and Sandra West Testify at SBOE Meeting
STAT President Ross Ann Hill addressed the Committee of the Full Board last Thursday. She advocated for "updated, comprehensive instructional materials at all levels of classroom learning." Read her testimony here.
STAT Legislative Committee Chair Sandra West was also present, and spoke on the privatization of education as well as the need for science materials. Read her testimony here.
View photos from the SBOE meeting.
Email your SBOE representative: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/
Speak Out to the SBOE!
Supplemental Science Materials on SBOE Agenda
Click here to see the Agenda for next week's SBOE meeting.
We invite you, the members of STAT, to be present at this important meeting on September 15th. If you wish to provide your own public testimony, view the SBOE Operating Rules. You may register by phone or fax today or on Monday, September 12th.
President Ross Ann Hill will speak on behalf of the association. View our official letter to Commissioner Robert Scott.
You can always email your SBOE representative to voice your opinion. Locate them here: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/
