I wanted to update you on the textbook viewing opportunities so that you can choose which location works best for you. Remember that you will need to sign in so that I can send you the voting tool that aligns to what you teach. Thank you in advance for adding your voice to this process so that we make the best choice for all of our students.
Another reminder- We are honored to have Dr. Tom Hsu joining us February 28th to conduct a two-hour session from 8:15-10:30. Dr. Tsu is a national speaker, curriculum developer, and teacher trainer and we are very fortunate that he is able to fly down from Boston to facilitate our session. Please feel free to invite friends from other districts to join us for this opportunity. You can sign up at http://tinyurl.com/OkcSpring
I wanted to update you on the textbook viewing opportunities so that you can choose which location works best for you. Remember that you will need to sign in so that I can send you the voting tool that aligns to what you teach. Thank you in advance for adding your voice to this process so that we make the best choice for all of our students.
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First of all, I want to again express my thanks for all that you are doing at your sites to make science alive for our students. I have been encouraged and inspired and am here to help and support. As to equipment, I know the needs are great and am working to find solutions.
On another note, this is truly an exciting time for our students in both the district and the state as we are in an adoption year. Thank you to those of you who have agreed to bring your knowledge and expertise to the process. Our team will be attending the caravan to hear the publisher presentations, they will then meet on February 7th to narrow down the choices using a rubric aligned to the new standards. Once the choices have been narrowed, we will be hosting viewings across the district so that all teachers have the opportunity to be part of the process. In addition, we will utilize our February 28th PD day to invite the publishers in to answer questions about their instructional programs. This adoption could not have come at a more opportune time as we begin to transition to the new Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science. Finally, we have several opportunities coming up for professional development: Feb 2nd: Michael DeSpezio will be presenting Full STEM Ahead Northeast Academy has been kind enough to open their media center so that you can join this author, educator, and broadcast host for an engaging session that explores an assortment of STEM ideas. We have two sessions available: 3:00-4:35 for our High School Math and Science Folks 4:45-6:15 for our Upper Elementary and Middle School Folks Feb 28th- Amy Strong with National Geographic will be presenting a session on using informational text in your science classroom through a hands-on workshop. Feb 28th- Lesa Rohrer with OKCPS will be presenting two sessions on Disciplinary Literacy that focuses on instructional strategies designed to engage inquiring minds through hands-on activities. Lastly, please check out the website and let me know how I can best support your needs. Found this reminder in some of my research today and wanted to share-
http://healthyeatingharbor.com/why-science-important-our-lives Pray you had a restful fall break and look forward to seeing you again soon. Great way to start back- http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20130807-60-facts-about-our-awesome-world Sitting here in the penthouse suite of the District Office (4th floor office), watching the trees change color, and deep in research for a "Big Ask" proposal I am reminded how very fortunate I am to work here in OKCPS. Although there is still much to do as we work to transition to the new science standards, we have made some great first steps. Thank you to those who have given their time to be on the academic committees, those who have shared their resources, those who have checked out the website, those who have asked clarifying questions and provided feedback, and those who have welcomed me into your buildings and classrooms. I look forward to being back out at sites after the break and will send calendar invites, so please let me know your needs. I am working on a needs survey to see where we stand in terms of equipment so that I can put together a "Big Ask" proposal to support K-12 science here in the district. Like the leaves, things are changing and I for one feel very blessed to be part of the change.
The best part of my job is getting to come and meet all the great folks at our sites. Thank you for welcoming me and sharing the wonderful things going on in each of your buildings.The academic committees have met. As a result- the year-at-a-glance may have changed. We will also have 2nd quarter curriculum maps ready by Friday. A big thank you to the members of the academic committees for all their collaboration in building products that meet the needs of all our students.
Upcoming events include the OSTA Fall PD- Flipping For Science- We are also in our adoption year and the state adopted list should be coming out in November. I met with the state science consortium members and we will be building a rubric for the texts that aligns to the new standards. There will be a call for textbook committee members after the new year. Thanks again for the warm welcomes, remember I am here to support your needs so please do not hesitate to contact me. Why Teach?In the play, Becket, a young man asks the title character for advice regarding the career he should pursue. When Becket suggests teaching, the young man dismisses the idea with the question, “But even if I were brilliant, who would ever know but my students and my God?” The question this young man raises, “why teach?” is particularly relevant today as we face the prospect of a severe national teacher shortage. Certainly issues of compensation and working conditions must be addressed, but even then one might ask, “why teach?”
After all, teaching is an extraordinarily complex and challenging task. Elementary school teachers are asked to be content experts in reading, writing, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. They typically are called upon to prepare lessons each day in at least five different subjects without the benefit of a preparation period. They are to ensure that all their students stretch to reach high standards but avoid working students too hard or making too many demands upon them. High school teachers are responsible for the academic success of over 125 students whom they typically meet in 50-minute blocks each day. Five times each day they are expected to present relevant lessons that engage the interests of all students, but they are provided with less than one hour per day to prepare those lessons. They have virtually no discretionary time. They respond to each bell, report to their designated station, and try to pick up where they left off the prior day. To devote even 15 minutes per week to review individual student work and provide personalized feedback adds over 25 hours to their work week. Those who hope to establish a relationship with students outside of the classroom through coaching, directing, or sponsoring will be called upon to work 12-hour days—except on nights of games, concerts, or performances when the workday will stretch to 16 hours. Teachers of all levels are called upon to get to know each student in order to individualize instruction in ways that address the personal needs, abilities, and interests of every boy and girl. The abilities of the students vary widely. Some speak little or no English. Some face severe physical or learning challenges. Some confront personal or family problems that leave them angry or withdrawn. And all teachers recognize that, despite their very best efforts, it is almost inevitable that some students will respond to those efforts with indifference, and some parents will blame them when their children refuse to put forth the effort necessary to succeed. Finally, as Becket’s student suggests, even those teachers who do an exceptional job receive no extra compensation and little in the way of acknowledgement. In the face of these challenges, it’s reasonable to ask, “why be a teacher?” Unless, as a profession, we can offer a compelling answer to that question, there is little hope that we will attract the quality and quantity of teaching candidates that our schools will need in the very near future. While we must continue to work to create the conditions in our schools that foster continuous improvement, and while we must resist the simplistic quick fixes that legislatures often try to foist upon schools, we must also celebrate the aspects of our profession that make it so uniquely rewarding. Teaching is not for everyone. But I would have answered the young man who asked, “why teach?” with the following: If you believe it is important to help children and young men and women acquire the knowledge, skills, and dispositions essential to productive and satisfying lives, then consider being a teacher. If you burst with passion for your subject and want to share that passion with others, then consider being a teacher. If you are committed to your own lifelong learning, to an ongoing study of the art and science of your craft, then consider being a teacher. If you appreciate a calling in which each year offers a fresh start, new beginnings, and the opportunity to impact lives in a positive way, then consider being a teacher. If you truly enjoy kids, if you are able to see the best in each of them, if you are willing to persist when confronted by their recalcitrance or indifference, then consider being a teacher. If you believe that an educated citizenry is critical to the well being of the nation, then consider being a teacher. If you feel joy in seeing students learn to believe in themselves because you helped them achieve what they felt was beyond their grasp, then consider being a teacher. If, like Henry Adams, you understand that, as a teacher, you can affect eternity because it is impossible to tell where your influence stops, then consider being a teacher. If you recognize that giving of yourself to others and developing others can be one of the most significant and fulfilling ways in which to live your life, then consider being a teacher. It is easy to understand why educators might respond to the constant barrage of attacks upon public education with cynicism, defensiveness, or a siege mentality. But we must avoid that temptation. It is true that we face formidable obstacles. It is true that we must deal with major frustrations. But it is also true that our profession, perhaps more than any other, gives us a unique opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of others. The work of building a professional learning community will come undone if the next generation of educators lacks the capabilities and commitment to sustain the effort. If our generation makes a conscious effort to attract extraordinary young men and women to education by celebrating a teacher’s ability “to leave footprints on the sands of time,” and if we demonstrate the joy and satisfaction of our work in very visible ways to the students entrusted to us, we can attract the successors essential to our ultimate success. Used with permission of Learning Forward, www.learningforward.org. All rights reserved. It is time to get ready... Registration for the OSTA Fall Conference is Now OPEN “OSTA Flips for Science” UCO’s Howell Hall Science building on the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond.
When-Saturday, November 1, 2014 from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm $30 per person full Member registration, includes refreshments before and during the conference as well as lunch. When you register for the conference, be sure to check your attendance at the OSTA Awards Reception on Friday, October 31st. Join as we celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of outstanding science educators from across the state.The reception will be held on downtown OKC on Film Row at the Dunlap-Codding Law Firm. The address is 609 W. Sheridan. This event is free, but you must pre-register. Registration Discounts are available to Full time College/ University Students. Student volunteers can also receive a waiver on the cost of registration in exchange for service to the association during the conference. Contact Dr. Beth Allan to schedule volunteer time and obtain a registration discount code. Volunteer opportunities are limited. On-line payment for conference registration is preferred. Purchase orders to OSTA are accepted, but such registrations must be mailed to arrive by October 15. This is a Members-Only Conference. Join OSTA HERE Register for the Conference by logging in to your OSTA Memberclicks account (Login required). The Oklahoma Science Teachers Association Fall Conference Coming October 31-November 1, 2014 OSTA “Flips” for Science 1st – It’s time to recognize the teacher’s in our midst who are doing exceptional things with students. The OSTA Science Teacher of the Year Awards. Each year we recognize an outstanding Elementary, Middle Level, High School, and College/University teacher with the special distinction of recognition as an outstanding teacher by their peers on OSTA. The nomination is online and found here. 2nd – It’s also time identify the outstanding teacher/leaders who can contribute to the future of OSTA and Oklahoma Science Education through service on the OSTA Board of Directors. Any active Oklahoma science teacher who is a member is eligible to run and be elected to OSTA office. Nominations this year are for terms beginning in 2015 for the offices of OSTA President-Elect (to serve as President 2016 and past-President 2017), Middle Level Director, College/University Director, Director at Large, and Secretary/Historian. Self nominations are welcome. The OSTA Board of Director Nomination form is online and found here. 3rd – Do you know a person or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to Science Education in Oklahoma? Please nominate that person or organization for recognition by way of OSTA’s highest honor, the Jack Renner Distinguished Service to Oklahoma Science Education Award. Past winner’s are a Who’s Who of science in this state. OU Professor Ed Marek, Past State Science Supervisor Jana Rowland, OU Professor Emeritus Vic Hutchinson, Mustang Science Coordinator Gaile Loving, OU Professor Gordon Uno, and the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board have all been honored with the Jack Renner Award. There are many others who have made contributions to Oklahoma that deserve the honor of the Jack Renner Award. Make your nomination here. 4th – Are you ready to share what you know? The strength of OSTA is it’s member base – highly motivated, high performing teachers who are known for their caring for students and love for the profession. At OSTA we love to share what we’ve learned with our colleagues and the Fall Conference is the best place in Oklahoma for that to happen. Submit a proposal to present at the conference here. I hope that your year is off to a wonderful start. Just a reminder that as your students conduct laboratory investigations remember to emphasize safety. As we move forward we will adopt district safety protocols and forms. In the interim, here are a few resources. If you have others, please let me know.
NSTA- Safety in the Science Classroom Flinn Safety Contract Free Flinn Safety Tests in Both English and Spanish Free Flinn Safety Training Videos K20- ALT Education- Lab Safety Lesson TiffanyGram, 8/14/14August 15th, 2014 BobGreetings Science Educators!
I hope the start of your school year is going well! I enjoyed seeing and meeting so many of you this summer at the Vision 2020 Conference, the Vision for K-12 Science Education Workshop, the Elementary and Secondary Summer Convenings, and at some of the Math/Science Partnership Summer Workshops. Your commitment to this profession is inspiring! Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science Update: I am receiving several questions regarding science standards in the state so I hope to clear up some of the confusion with the following information. New Standards and Old Assessments: The Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science (download here) were adopted unanimously by the Oklahoma State Board of Education in March of 2014 and signed into rule by Governor Fallin in June of 2014. However, the state science assessments will not be aligned to these standards until 2016-2017. This will give districts and teachers three years to transition to the new standards. The state science assessments given at grades 5, 8, and in Biology 1 will continue to be aligned to the PASS standards (download here) in the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years. The non-state tested grade levels can move forward with transitioning as they choose. Keep in mind there are three years to do so; please don’t think this has to be accomplished before school starts or even by the end of this year. It will take time to make some of these shifts. The state tested grade levels will need to ensure that students are prepared to take their exams aligned to the PASS (2011) standards in school years 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. However, efforts towards transitioning to the new standards can begin at these grade levels. Getting Familiar with the New Standards: At the Vision 2020 Conference this summer I shared a few simple steps to help districts and teachers get started with the new Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science. I’ve tried to provide a version of that presentation here for you if you were unable to attend. See pages 6-7 of the OAS-Science for guidance on the structure of the standards and link to the video that provides further explanation. As you walk through the following steps you may want to print the attached document and pull up a copy of the OAS-Science for the grade level or course that you teach. 1. Begin by getting comfortable with the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science and the 3 Dimensions integrated into the standards
• Keep in mind there is one standard/performance expectation on each of the standards document pages in the OAS-Science. It is in the far right column. • Consider the performance expectation/standard to be the end goal representing what students should be able to do to demonstrate their understanding of a Disciplinary Core Idea through a science or engineering practice and a crosscutting concept. • However, the instruction to get students to meet that goal is up to the teacher or district. • Assisting students in meeting the performance expectation, which includes a science and engineering practice, crosscutting concept, and disciplinary core idea means having students: ★ Explore the component core ideas (outlined in the green column in the standards document) by ★ Engaging in the science and engineering practices (outlined in blue column in the standards document) and by ★ Experiencing the crosscutting concepts (outlined in the orange row in the standards document) • Learn more about the 3 Dimensions in A K-12 Framework for Science Education (free download). While the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science do not include all aspects of the recommendations provided in the frameworks document, they do include the science and engineering practice, crosscutting concepts, and several of the disciplinary core ideas) 2. Determine which Disciplinary Core Ideas are similar or different from the science content outlined in PASS at the grade level or course you teach. • The Disciplinary Core Ideas represent the broad categories of science content incorporated into the K-12 OAS-Science. (See attached document for an overview of the Disciplinary Core Ideas) • Each Disciplinary Core Idea is further broken down into a component core idea (bolded headings in the green column of the standards document) and then concepts (bulleted statements in the green column of the standards document). 3. Begin to align or redesign your curriculum to align to the new Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science. • Start small by looking at one lesson or unit of study. It may be easiest to begin with a lesson or unit of study that has students exploring a Disciplinary Core Idea from OAS-Science that also aligns to a content standard from PASS (as determined from step 2 above). • As you analyze the lesson or unit of study ask yourself the following questions: ★ Does the lesson or unit of study help students gain all of the bulleted concepts in the green column in the standards document? • If the lesson or unit of study doesn’t cover all of the bulleted concepts, is there another lesson or unit of study that would help students engage in learning the remaining bullets? ★ Does the lesson or unit of study have students engaging in any of the 8 science and engineering practices or the 7 crosscutting concepts? • If the lesson or unit of study doesn’t engage students in the practices or the crosscutting concepts, how could you modify the lesson or unit of study to engage students in the practices or the crosscutting concepts? Hopefully, these three steps allow you to begin becoming acquainted with the new Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science. To provide districts and teachers with transition support throughout the school year the State Department of Education will be conducting Science Standards Workshops around the state and develop a series of PD on Your Plan Modules that districts and teachers can utilize at their convenience. |
AuthorLesa L Rohrer Archives
February 2015
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