The STATellite (June 2010) by The STATellite

Contents Contacts Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Message

Volume 54, Number 2

June 2010

Calendar Regional Reports Affiliate News CAST Sponsors Farewell from the Past President Girls ID.ea of Science EPLI Preview New STAT Officers BOD Retreat Pictures Continuing Education

Inside:

New STAT Officers STAT Awards Guidelines Pictures from the Board Meeting EPLI Preview

STAT Awards Guidelines

The Official Newsletter of the Science Teachers Association of Texas

Contents Contacts Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Message Calendar Regional Reports Affiliate News CAST Sponsors Farewell from the Past President Girls ID.ea of Science EPLI Preview New STAT Officers BOD Retreat Pictures Continuing Education STAT Awards Guidelines

About Us We are STAT, the Science Teachers Association of Texas. STAT is committed to the enhancement of the teaching of science in Texas at all levels and in all science disciplines. For STAT Position Statements, go to: http://www.statweb.org/positions STAT is: o A statewide organization of elementary, middle level, and high school teachers, college educators, supervisors of science, and others dedicated to maintaining the highest levels of science and education in our schools. o A chapter of the National Science Teachers Association o Visit the NSTA site STAT seeks to: o Serve as a unified voice for the science teachers of the state. o Keep science teachers and other members informed about current trends in science education. o Provide opportunities for members to examine techonology, curriculum, materials, and services. o Inform members of local, state and national meetings, conferences, seminars and workshops related to sciences. o Cooperate with other science oriented organizations and teacher associations in the promotion of teaching of science. History: STAT, Science Teachers Association of Texas, was formally organized in 1957 during the 4th Annual Conference for the Advancement of Science & Mathematics Teaching (CASMT). STAT membership is now more than 6,000 strong!

Contents Contacts President’s Message Calendar Regional Reports Affiliate News CAST Sponsors Farewell from the Past President Girls ID.ea of Science EPLI Preview New STAT Officers BOD Retreat Pictures Continuing Education STAT Awards Guidelines

Contacts Elected Officers...............................................4 Appointed Positions ......................................4 Affiliate Congress ..........................................5 Regional Directors .........................................6 Texas State Board of Education ...................7 President’s Message ...........................................8 Calendar ................................................................9 Regional News...................................................10 Affiliate News ....................................................12 CAST Sponsors .................................................16 Farewell from the Past President ...................17 Girls ID.ea of Science.......................................19 EPLI Preview......................................................21 New STAT Officers ...........................................22 Pictures from Board Meeting..........................23 Continuing Education ......................................24 STAT Awards Guidelines................................25 3

Contents Elected Officers

STAT Office

Contacts Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Message

Mailing Address: 5750 Balcones Dr., Suite 201 Austin, TX 78731

Calendar

Phone: (512) 491-6685

Regional Reports

Fax: (512) 873-7423

Affiliate News

www.statweb.org stat@bizaustin.rr.com

CAST Sponsors Farewell from the Past President

President: Joel Palmer

Past President: Patsy Magee

President-Elect: Ross Ann Hill

Treasurer: Laurel Frank

Vice President: Tony Zahn

Secretary: Deidre Parish

(972) 882-7388 president@statweb.org

(806) 892-1900 presidentelect@statweb.org

(817) 251-5519 vicepresident@statweb.org

(409) 617-5054 pastpresident@statweb.org

(281) 356-7797 treasurer@statweb.org

(469) 633-5500 secretary@statweb.org

Appointed Positions

Girls ID.ea of Science EPLI Preview

Executive Director: Chuck Hempstead

New STAT Officers

(512) 491-6685 stat@bizaustin.rr.com

BOD Retreat Pictures

CAST Exhibits Manager & Advertising Manager: Frank Butcher

Continuing Education

(281)424-1230 frank.butcher@comcast.net

STAT Awards Guidelines

TEA Representative: Kenn Heydrick

(512) 463-1827 Kenn.Heydrick@tea.state.tx.us 4

Texas Science Teacher Editor: Joel Palmer (972) 882-7388 president@statweb.org

STATellite Editor: (512) 491-6685 stat@bizaustin.rr.com

Contents Contacts Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Message

ACT

Calendar

Associated Chemistry Teachers of Texas

Regional Reports

Aimee Modic

Affiliate News CAST Sponsors Farewell from the Past President Girls ID.ea of Science EPLI Preview New STAT Officers BOD Retreat Pictures Continuing Education STAT Awards Guidelines

ISET

ISEA

Informal Science Education Association Kiki Corry

amodic@katyisd.org

kiki@corrywood.net

TABT

TAEE

Integrated Science Educators of Texas

Texas Association of Biology Teachers

Texas Association for Environmental Education

Carole Henry

Sarah Anderson

Sally Wall

chenry1@satx.rr.com

sarah.anderson@ttu.edu

swall@gccisd.net

TCES

TESTA

TMEA

Texas Council of Elementary Science Deborah Rang

deborah_rang@roundrockisd.org

Texas Earth Science Teachers Association Gail Gant

ggant@sjs.org

TSAAPT

Texas Marine Educators Association Marolyn Smith

marolyn.smith@yahoo.com

TSELA

Texas Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers

Texas Science Education Leadership Association

Hugh Henderson

Vanessa Westbrook

Hugh_Henderson@birdville.k12.tx.us

vwestbrook@mail.utexas.edu

Contents Contacts

Region 6

Georgeanna Adams-Molina 3332 Montgomery Rd. Huntsville, TX 77340 E-mail

Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Message Calendar

Region 7

Donna Wise 1909 N. Longview Street Kilgore, TX 75662 E-mail

Regional Reports Affiliate News

Region 1

Robert A. Soper 300 Hollywood Dr. Edinburg, TX 75839 E-mail

CAST Sponsors Farewell from the Past President

Region 2

Girls ID.ea of Science

New STAT Officers BOD Retreat Pictures

Mike Hoke 1802 W Rein Orange, TX 77630 E-mail

Co-Region 5

STAT Awards Guidelines

Roxanne Minix-Wilkins 1130 Skipwith St. Beaumont, TX 77705 E-mail

Region 17

Region 10

Co-Region 5

Continuing Education

Region 9

Region 3

Region 4

Region 16

Vacant Tanys Gene James 1625 Rodgers Dr. Graham, TX 76450 E-mail

Mary Ingle 7145 W. Tidwell Road Houston, TX 77092-2096 E-mail

Region 15

Jerita Taylor P.O. Box 390 Bronte, TX 76933 E-mail Bobbette Doerrie 13925 CR B Booker, TX 79005 E-mail

Lola Grundy 15222 Reales Drive Corpus Christi, TX 78418 E-mail Catherine W. Porter 308 Welch Palacios, TX 77465 E-mail

EPLI Preview

Region 8

Region 14

Gary Mabry 2110 Marsalis St. Abilene, TX 79603 E-mail

Bill Neal 6231 Woodcrest Ln Dallas, TX 75214 E-mail

Region 11

Becky Yarbrough 3001 North Freeway Fort Worth, Tx 76106 E-mail

Region 12

Jeanine Wolf 3680 CR 269 Oglesby, TX 76561 E-mail

Region 13

Dr. Barbara ten Brink 1410 W. 29th Street Austin, TX 78703 E-mail

Cathy Box P.O. Box 698 Tahoka, TX 79373 E-mail

Region 18

Martha Alexander 5006 Castleford Rd. Midland, TX 79705 E-mail

Region 19

James and Dusty Milson 252 Viking El Paso, TX 79912 E-mail

Region 20

Mary Poarch 1425 Wilshire Ave. San Antonio, TX 78209 E-mail

Region 21

Shari Hiltbrand 1330 Augusta #20 Houston, TX 77057 E-mail

Contents Gail Lowe, Chair Lawrence A. Allen, Jr., Vice Chair Terri Leo, Secretary

Contacts President’s Message Calendar Regional Reports Affiliate News CAST Sponsors Farewell from the Past President Girls ID.ea of Science EPLI Preview New STAT Officers BOD Retreat Pictures Continuing Education STAT Awards Guidelines

SBOE District 1 - Rene Nuñez 1521 Upson Dr. El Paso, TX 79902 (915) 351-9923 (512) 936-4319 fax

SBOE District 2 - Mary Helen Berlanga 2727 Morgan Ave. Corpus Christi, TX 78405 (361) 881-1000 (361) 881-1028 fax

SBOE District 3- Rick Agosto 205 N Presa, Ste B 200 San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 226-7106 (210) 226-7104 fax

William B. Travis Building 1701 North Congress Avenue Austin, Texas 78701-1494

SBOE District 9 - Don McLeroy

9277 Brookwater Cir. College Station, TX 77845 (979) 255-2538 (979) 846-1174 fax

SBOE District 10 - Cynthia Noland Dunbar

22123 Skyridge Ln. Richmond, TX 77469 (512) 463-9007 (512) 936-4319 fax

SBOE District 11 - Patricia Hardy 900 N. Elm Weatherford, TX 76086 (817) 598-2968 (817) 598-2833 fax

SBOE District 4 - Lawrence A. Allen, Jr.

SBOE District 12 - Geraldine Miller

SBOE District 5- Ken Mercer

SBOE District 13 - Mavis B. Knight

4302 Grapevine Houston, TX 77045 (713) 433-4643 (713) 556-7243 fax

PO Box 781301 San Antonio, TX 78278 (512) 463-9007 (512) 936-7319 fax

SBOE District 6 - Terri Leo 23516 Twin Oaks Dr. RR#5 Spring, TX 77389 (281) 257-0832 fax (call first)

SBOE District 7 - David Bradley 2165 North St. Beaumont, TX 77701 (409) 835-3808

SBOE District 8 - Barbara Cargill 61 W. Wedgemere Cir. The Woodlands, TX 77381 (281) 465-8095

1100 Providence Tower West Dallas, TX 75244 (972) 419-4000 (214) 552-8560 fax PO Box 763337 Dallas, TX 75376 (214) 333-9575 (214) 339-9242 fax

SBOE District 14 - Gail Lowe

11 Chris Ave. Lampasas, TX 76550 (512) 556-6262 (512) 556-3278 fax

SBOE District 15 - Bob Craig

PO Box 1979 Lubbock, TX 79408 (806) 744-3232 (806) 744-2211 fax

Need to find your representative? Search by zip code at:

http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us 7

A Message from President Palmer

This is my first article as president of STAT. I have written plenty as the editor of one or the other of the publications. I am very excited about the coming year for STAT. The Houston CAST is shaping up to be one for the record books. You don’t want to miss it. Patsy and her committee have been working hard and are excited about what they are planning.

The last couple of years have been good to STAT and we are in a very strong position financially and have some ideas for offering additional benefits for our members. The STAT website is becoming more and more useful to all of out members. The STAT flash is now a great vehicle for disseminating fast breaking news. In the coming months we are planning to make The STATellite a more useful publication by asking our members to submit teaching strategies, resources, lessons and ideas to share with their fellow science educators. One of the biggest new benefits will be coming this summer. For the first time ever STAT will be offering professional liability insurance to its members at an incredible price. It will be less than any organization I know of. I do not recommend any teacher step into a classroom without liability insurance. I tell my new teachers each year that as a science teachers they especially need the protection. The very nature of teaching science includes all the hazards of a regular classroom and also

the concerns of lab activities. No matter how carefully we plan, or how carefully we instruct our students, accidents will happen. That is why they are called accidents! When in a classroom with students you never know what might happen. A good friend, who teaches 5th grade science, was recently accused of inappropriate touching by two students. After district and CPS investigations he was totally cleared but he still needed a lawyer. The district tried to get him to resign before there was even an investigation! We never know when it might happen to us. I hope you never have to face a situation like this but if you do I hope you have insurance to help you deal with the issue. Even though I am no longer in the classroom daily I still keep my insurance current. With all the new things going on in the state regarding science instruction I hope that each of you will be thinking of things that STAT can do to help you with the daily challenge you face in attempting to understand the new standards, teaching your students and preparing them for the test and for their life after school. If you think of things please e-mail me at president@statweb.org. Thank you for all you do for the children of the state of Texas. “What office is there which involves more responsibility, which requires more qualifications, and which ought, therefore, to be more honorable, than that of teaching?” -Harriet Martineau (1802-1876, Author and Sociologist)

Contents Forensic Science Educator Conference at Sam Houston State University August 9-12 Huntsville, TX

Contacts Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Message Calendar

September

Regional Reports Affiliate News CAST Sponsors Farewell from the Past President Girls ID.ea of Science EPLI Preview New STAT Officers BOD Retreat Pictures Continuing Education STAT Awards Guidelines

June

TSELA Meeting June 18, 2010 San Antonio, TX ACT 2 Biennial Conference June 28 - July 1, 2010 A Kaleidoscope of Chemistry in Katy

July

TABT Conference June 27-July 5 Alaska

August

TAEE Annual Fall Conference September 17-19 Burnet, TX CCRI Math and Science Summit September 23-24 San Antonio, TX

October

Rio Grande Valley Science Conference October 9 - 10, 2010 Mercedes, TX NSTA Area Conference October 28 - 30. 2010 Kansas City, MO

Urban Science Education Leaders Institute August 2-5 New Orleans, LA

November

STAT Board of Directors Meeting August 6-7 Houston, TX

CAST BOD Meeting November 13, 2010 Houston, TX

Elementary Science Institute August 5-7 New Orleans, LA

NSTA Area Conference November 11 - 13, 2010 Baltimore, MD

CAST 2010 November 11 - 13, 2010 Houston, TX

Contents

Regional Reports

Contacts

Region XV

President’s Message Calendar Regional Reports Affiliate News CAST Sponsors Farewell from the Past President Girls ID.ea of Science EPLI Preview

by Jerita Taylor CSCOPE curriculum has been the instructional force this year for the majority of the school districts in Region 15. Numerous workshops called, “SWAPS”, have been presented for the new districts using CSCOPE this year in every core subject area. The teacher exchange has been very helpful between the new district and the districts that have been using CSCOPE longer as well as the previews and materials supplied by the ESC 15. The Texas Regional Collaborative, (TRC), has been working hard this year with its’ mentoring programs. Good results are being seen among the newer science teachers in the region. The TCTA will soon have their State Robotics competition in May. Good Luck to Robert Lee ISD who will be sending several teams this year after having swept the competition at the San Angelo Regional and Area meets. The Technology 4 Learning Project (T3 Grant) has delivered equipment, software, and training for many districts throughout region 15. Teachers are using the training to teach their classes in the methods of the 21st century learner. From ProScope HR handheld microscopes, Pasco “Sparks” probes, Pixie2, Frames4 software ( and more), to the new classroom sets of Dell notebook computers, and the newest Promethean Boards, teachers are immersing students throughout region 15 with the latest technology available preparing them for the future.

New STAT Officers BOD Retreat Pictures

From the creator of ® Staff development made EASY for K-HS teachers; tools to implement science notebooking at all levels

Continuing Education

Using Your Science Notebook/Journal  Write neatly and legibly with pencil  Never tear out pages  Erase mistakes or mark through them with ONE line TECHNIQUES, TOOLS, & TIPS FOR USING YOUR NOTEBOOK WHAT



STAT Awards Guidelines

 

Pause sections for teacher talk & work time (total running time 78 min) Provide materials to create a make & take session Use multiple times for one or many o Introduction (9 min) o Components (26 min) o Research & Resources (8 min) o Show What You Know (13 min) o Putting it all together (8 min) o Vocabulary (6 min) o Assessment & Management (8 min)

           

Student Notebook Guidelines Table of Contents Notebooks of Real Scientists Ways to Show What You Know Notebook Organization Tips Unifying Concepts Questions Rubric for Notebooks Investigation Activity Instructions Vocabulary Ideas Foldable® Assessment Ideas Foldable® PowerPoint of Training Materials List

GOES

Information from:  Your teacher  Reference sources  Textbooks/Computers HOW Help your brain remember by:  Writing the title  Writing the date WHAT        

 

HERE?

Show what you learned from the information in a way that is:  Unique  Creative  Individual SHOULD

ARE

Brainstorming activities Sketches or clip art Diagrams or flow charts Thinking maps of all kinds Drawings and observations Reflections Poems, songs, photos Graphs, charts Inquiry questions Group activities

LOOK?  

SOME

Using color & graphics as much as possible Organizing the information

POSSIBILITIES? Recording notes and information during class from such things as:  Lectures  Discussions  Books  Videos  Computer searches  Lab instructions  Lab data, observations, results and conclusions

Train on demand with this video presentation plus reproducible science notebooking resources!

ordering information at:

www.sciencecutups.com

MOLU_PE3 StateliteAd 4-10:Layout 1

4/26/10

3:47 PM

Page 1

presents

Contents

The Mobile Offshore Learning Unit (MOLU) The Mobile Offshore Learning Unit (MOLU) is

Contacts

a $1.2 million dollar engaging traveling exhibit.

President’s Message

curriculum-based, hands-on activities about energy

Calendar

the oil and gas industry. The curriculum for each

Regional Reports

state standards (TEKS). Although the MOLU is

It features six self contained learning centers with and the technologies and sciences involved with of the 24 activities is based on national and Texas geared for 5th grade students, it is also appropriate for other age groups. The MOLU is sponsored by

Affiliate News CAST Sponsors Farewell from the Past President

Teachers will need to accomplish the following prior to the visit: ■ Administer pre-test ■ Have students view 2 complimentary DVDs, OEC’s The Offshore Story and API's Fuel-less ■ Have students complete a Career Interest Profile form

Following the visit, teachers are asked to: ■ Review and correct answers in the MOLU Pass booklet with students ■ Administer post-test ■ Score pre/post tests and mail to OEC ■ Complete online teacher evaluation form A pre-visit package containing all necessary materials will be sent to the school prior to the MOLU visit.

Devon, Dominion, ExxonMobil, Halliburton, Marathon Oil Company, and Schlumberger. For more information about the MOLU and to download a MOLU Request Form, please visit www.oceanstaroec.com

Girls ID.ea of Science EPLI Preview New STAT Officers BOD Retreat Pictures Continuing Education STAT Awards Guidelines

Presents

Project E³: Expanding Energy Education Workshops At Ocean

Star Museum in Galveston – 20th Street at Harborside Drive

2 0 1 0 W O R K S H O P D AT E S Knowledge Box Grades 6-12

Playing with Petroleum Grades K-5

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Participants will receive a light breakfast, lunch, the Project E³: Expanding Energy Education Book (a $35.00 value), and a $25.00 travel stipend. A $35.00 check along with the registration will hold your place. This will be returned to you upon completion of the workshop that begins at 9:00am and ends at 4:00pm. Each participant will also receive 6 CPE hours and will be entitled to reserve a Knowledge Box or Playing with Petroleum Kit for up to 30 days to untilize in their classrooms at no charge. (Free pick-up and delivery within the Houston area.) Ask about workshops outside of the Houston/Galveston area.

Mail checks to: Offshore Energy Center 200 N. Dairy Ashford, Suite 6220 Houston, Texas 77079 (281) 544-2435 Fax: (281) 544-2441

For more information about the workshops, visit our website: www oceanstaroec.com or contact Doris Tomas, Education Director, dtomas@oceanstaroec.com

Contents

Affiliate News

Contacts

ACT2

President’s Message Calendar Regional Reports Affiliate News CAST Sponsors Farewell from the Past President Girls ID.ea of Science EPLI Preview New STAT Officers BOD Retreat Pictures Continuing Education STAT Awards Guidelines

An ACT2 Event - The Biennial Conference A Kaleidoscope of Chemistry in Katy June 28 - July 1, 2010 What an opportunity! The Associated Chemistry Teachers of Texas hosts a Biennial Conference every other summer to allow a time for sharing and advancing ideas for quality chemical education in Texas. Next summer our conference will be held in Katy, Texas; which is just west of Houston. If you haven’t attended an ACT2 event before, this is your chance; if you have attended then you’re already excited and looking forward to this one of a kind conference. Check out just a few of the several reasons to attend our Kaleidoscope of Chemistry: K - Katy, Texas - Home of Champions; also the symbol for Potassium! A - Art and Chemistry connections L - Lots of Chemistry Teachers and Chemistry Fun!!! E - Extraordinary friendships I - Intimate setting. If you are looking for something that’s not so overwhelming, but still helpful, this is your place! D - Discounts for Presenters! O - Opportunities to share and learn in an intimate setting. S - Scholarships available! C - Chemistry, Chemistry, Chemistry! O - Over the top silent auction event! P - Plenty of sessions to attend. E - Excitement and Theme Days!

Affiliate News Texas Association for Environmental Education TAEE by Sally Wall This year’s conference is at the beautiful Canyon of the Eagles Resort, and if you have not been there you will not be disappointed. This year’s theme is “Stars on the Water.” The conference will run September 17-19. There will be workshops, field trips and socializing. Find out what is new in the world of environmental education and with our group. Canyon of the Eagles is located in Burnet. It is beautiful and the food is great too! For information go to www.taee.org. In addition to conference planning, the board approved to accept the Texas Environmental Education Certification Program from the Texas Environmental Education Partnership (TEEP). TEEP did an amazing job implementing a pilot program for an EE certification program in Texas. Stay tuned as TAEE takes the reins and completes the application process with NAAEE (North American Association of Environmental Educators). This certification will be for formal as well as nonformal educators. When this gets up and running and people get certified it will help when taking your students to nature centers, parks and other places to know the person running the show has this certification. One of the key components will be looking for what all good environmental education should have. These are things such as nonbiased, current content, which is hands on, activity based. We will keep you posted! There is a move in Washington D.C. for the passage of a bill referred to as “No Child Left Inside.” This bill will give states with environmental literacy plans money for environmental education. TAEE has been allowed to form a draft committee to draft a plan before NCLI becomes legislation so TEEAC and TEA can move forward when legislation is passed. We want to be ready so when this bill passes the state can receive some funds. Look for the TAEE booth at CAST. CAST is a great time to renew your membership or join if you are not a member. We will also have a workshop strand. This year we will be joining TESTA in their share-a-thon. Stop by if you want some great earth science and environmental activities.

Continuing Education STAT Awards Guidelines

Contents

Affiliate News

Contacts

Texas Earth Science Teachers Association TESTA

by Diann Valentine As I write this last article for the STATellite, I find myself filled with mixed emotions. I have been president for the past three years. It has resulted in new friends and colleagues, and lots of fun while experiencing focused work!

classroom inventory. This year we will have some particularly beautiful specimen’s from South America. Stay tuned for more information.

The majority of TESTA’s leadership is the true example of Earth Science, true fossils. As we Iceland’s field trip was my most memora- are aging, we need some new “blood” to bring ble experience during my office. Ari Trausti, Ice- more of the 21st century technology into our comland’s leading geologist was TESTA’s tour guide. munication. My attempt at a current informative He is currently very busy with the volcano erup- website was lacking. I hope that our future efforts tion that stopped the air travel in northern Europe. on the web will be more productive. I leave TESWe actually toured that area. He sent us informa- TA in the wonderful leadership of Gail Gant. tion that we have shared with our students. That is the power of participating in affiliate’s field As we continue to celebrate our 25th Annitrips. Regrettably, the Iceland trip did not make versary, the Texas Earth Science Teachers, TESTA, this year. Ari would actually be too busy to be our would like to invite you to help us make this an guide again. Of course, this could be another trip even more stellar year for the comeback of Earth possibility in the future. Science to our educational curriculum. Your participation and contribution are vital elements in The biggest reason that the affiliates exist is the success for our students. You can make a difto serve the students of Texas through the profes- ference in your knowledge as well as share your sional development of their teachers. CAST is the insights during this year. main avenue for this to happen. It has been my privilege to help develop the TESTA strand for the It has been my honor and a true adventure past three years. We have some new workshops to serve as President of this wonderful organizaand short courses in this year’s strand that prom- tion. See you at Houston’s CAST as the Past Presiise’s to benefit our Texas teachers. dent of TESTA!!! Our share-a-thon will be bigger and better, as TAEE joins us this year. This workshop should have at least 20 teachers present their favorite activity. Over the past three years we have picked up some new contributor’s to our infamous rock and mineral raffle. This workshop is well worth your time to attend so that you can add to your

Affiliate News Texas Science Education Leadership Association TSELA by Terry Talley As we begin traveling into the sunset of the current school year, events such as the AP Exams, inventories, hiring new science teachers, summer school, curriculum writing, retirements, and summer professional development begin to appear on the horizon. As you are filling up your calendars with these important dates – don’t forget to save the date – JUNE 18 - for the Summer TSELA Meeting in beautiful San Antonio at Our Lady of the Lake University.

tration link will be active there as well. At this time of year we are seeking nominations for the slate of officers who will be elected at the CAST meeting in November. If you are interested in being a TSELA officer (secretary or president-elect), please contact Sharon Story, secretary. We are also seeking nominations for the TSELA Science Leadership Award. If you would like to nominate someone, please contact Kevin Fisher who will invite the person to submit a nominee What a delightful way to get away from the packet for review. district for just one day and bask in the glow of spending time with colleagues who understand Also, as you are marking your calendar for your focus and vision. The time spent in profes- important events – don’t forget to save the date for sional discourse with those who have walked in the TSELA meeting before CAST on Wednesday, your shoes and have useable ideas, will be time November 10th. We will be at the Hilton Ameriwell spent and refreshing. cas Hotel in Houston, if you are planning where to stay. At this time, we are seeking sponsors, The agenda will include (1) news from breakout session presentations and proposals for Kenn Heydrick at TEA Science concerning the the TSELA Strands during the CAST conference. new TEKS, STAAR, EOC and other pressing Contact Vanessa Westbrook, president-elect for State science issues; (2) Breakout sessions to as- further information. sist science leaders in the implementation of the new TEKS; and a (3) Vendor Fair with resources Have a great end of the year and see you in June! aligned with TEKS and the new 4th Year Science Courses. Lunch will be catered and included in the registration cost. Registration for the June 18th meeting is online – go to the www.STATweb.org website and click on the Affiliate tab. The TSELA site is linked there. By the time this article is released the new TSELA website will probably be up and running. Check it out at www.TSELAonline.org. The regis-

15 15

Contents

CAST 2010 Sponsors

Contacts Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Message Calendar

Thank You for Helping Make CAST 2010 Possible! Sponsorships are still available. Visit the menu HERE for more details.

Regional Reports Affiliate News CAST Sponsors Farewell from the Past President Girls ID.ea of Science EPLI Preview New STAT Officers BOD Retreat Pictures Continuing Education STAT Awards Guidelines

Contents

Farewell from the Past-President

By Patsy Magee

Last year at this time, I outlined several things I wanted to accomplish during my Presidency of STAT. I have seen many of those things happen and, more importantly, the start of many others. Many great things have happened this year that I want to be sure you know about and take advantage of. First, we had a very large, well-attended CAST in Galveston which resulted in an increase of STAT membership and revenue. This will allow us to increase STAT services for the next CAST (Houston) and upgrade membership opportunities. One of the most exciting things that has happened this year involves the STAT website which has been completely redesigned. If you have not checked it out – YOU NEED TO! We now have a member’s only section that has great science resources for you. STAT members now receive the STATellite and Texas Science Teacher online. I love all the pictures, links, and information available there. Members receive frequent STAT flashes and can make comments about them. You can renew your membership and register for CAST online and use your credit card. We are using the website for STAT voting, CAST workshop proposals, CAST field trip proposals and even applying for a STAT award! STAT is on Twitter and Facebook – allowing you to participate in blogs and specific science content groups. (Many of you have asked for this.) Did you participate on Facebook for National Teacher’s Day? Dion Foster won a CAST registration that day! You can find a Seminar Web program that will earn you one hour of TEA credit on the STAT website. A lot is on our website – please check it out and use it. It is part of your membership. This year, due to the expertise and diligence of our Executive Director’s office, sponsorships for the upcoming CAST have increased to more than $80,000 and the total grows daily. Our name and organization are becoming more known by those we benefit. This is due to the great public relations work that is being done by Chuck Hempstead and his office staff. Another very exciting thing that will be available to you soon is the ability to purchase Educator’s Liability Insurance for a very reasonable cost. In fact, your STAT membership plus the cost of the insurance is less than many of the liability insurance policies now offered. I am appreciative of the STAT Board that I have worked with this year – they are very dedicated and wonderful to work with. They have made my job very easy. All the Committee Chairs and members – THANK YOU for your help! When everyone does their part, no one is overloaded. Affiliates, THANK YOU for your support and help! I feel like we made many great things happen this year. Finally – Chuck, Lauren, Nicole, Jon and all the rest of the Hempstead staff – THANK YOU – this job would be impossible without you!

Contents

Farewell from the Past-President

(cont’d.)

As I become Past President, the hardest job is – teaching science. As you go forward, remember to still before me – CAST 2010. If you have not heard always leave a few doors open – as you may need to about it – CAST 2010 is going to be fabulous! “Scicome back through them and remember: ence in the City” will take place at theNasco George R. Kit Promotions Brown Center (all under one roof) in Houston, “Success is not the key to happiness. HapSTATelliteNoNewsletter vember 11 – 13. Go online and look atSummer all the great piness is the key to success. If you love what you are 2010 things that are planned – don’t forget STAT1006 to register and doing you will be successful!” book your room. The CAST 2010 Committee is to (Herman Cain) tally dedicated to making this CAST great for Texas Science Teachers. We hope to see you there! Thank you for allowing me to serve as your STAT President this year – it was a great experience and I There is still much work to be done in order to have truly enjoyed it! implement the new science TEKS this fall. This past week our State Board of Education decided to defer SEE YOU IN HOUSTON! (yet again) the science textbook adoption that was to STAT1006 help implement the new science TEKS. You need to call, write, or text your Board member to make them aware how you feel this will impact your science classes. Please keep watching and stay involved. STAT works hard to represent science teachers at these sessions and your support is needed. STAT needs you! We need science teachers to help with STAT committees and to work at CAST, or just be a part of the excitement of working with other science teacher teams. Go to the website and volunteer! Throughout the year, I have consistently reminded the STAT teams and committees that STAT must be about the business of focusing on science teachers. STAT’s goal is to support science teachers as they work in their classes with their science students. We want to support you! If you have suggestions, please let us know. I would like to leave you with one thought. I know that the day to day things (TAKS, etc.) distract us from our love of teaching science to kids. I know, along the way, we sometimes get distracted and sidelined, but if we keep our “passion” for teaching science, we will get back to what we love most

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Girls I.D.ea of Science By Jennifer Stancil

Preteen and teen girls in the United States today have more options than ever about who and what they can become. Title IX leveled the playing field for girls in sports, nearly tripling the number of college women athletes since 1972, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Women explore space, lead Fortune 500 companies and prestigious universities, and operate at the highest levels of government. Real-life heroines exist for girls in almost every corner of society. Yet the messages these girls receive about their prospects in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers shape them so profoundly that the statistics still don’t fail to startle. In the past decade, the number of women pursuing undergraduate degrees in computer science has declined by 79 percent, according to the National Center for Women & Information Technology. Women make up only 20 percent of undergraduates in all engineering fields, according to the Society of Women Engineers. What’s the key to achieving gender parity in STEM fields? The solution might be complicated, but the place to start seems to be girls’ identity. The Girls, Math & Science Partnership (GMSP) engages, educates, and embraces girls as architects of change. A program of Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh, GMSP strengthen girls’ identity by helping them define themselves as bright and curious problem solvers, team players, and risk takers. Our online and in-person programs focus on using out-of-school time to provide innovative opportunities for girls ages 10 to 17 not only to connect with science, but also to be captivated by it. As we develop our programs, we always pair robust science content with a focus on identity and altruism. BrainCake.org, an online community for girls 11 – 17, parents, educators and stakeholders is a space for girls to understand how science and math are tools to change the world. BrainCake.org

first focuses on girls as girls, not only on girls who self-identify as “loving science and math.” If we only court the girls who still love science by middle school, we won’t actively change the Beyond BrainCake.org and Can*TEEN. GMSP engages in a variety of programs for girls and educators. Click! is a spy-themed summer school for girls in 6th to 8th grade. GirlTalk Radio allows girls to create, engineer, and edit a podcast series heard by 640,000 listeners a season. The Girl Solution equips educators with new methods and best practices for engaging girls’ interest in STEM careers. GMSP’s programs encourage girls to define themselves first, with confidence. But where are girls when they feel that confidence? At the river bank conducting water-quality testing, in a sound studio creating a podcast, at the computer developing an online video game, at the workbench re-engineering the sound a toy makes, or in the halls of top companies and research facilities. By helping teen girls explore their identity through a combination of personal values and scientific literacy, informal science educators can effect social change and encourage a new generation of girls to be successful innovators, scientists, and change agents. Jennifer Stancil is the former executive director of the Girls, Math & Science Partnership (GMSP), Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh and currently Executive Director of Educational Partnerships at WQED Multimedia. To learn more, participate in the Equity Academy, a series of webinars GMSP is offering throughout 2010 in conjunction with ASTC. Visit http://BrainCake.org/parentteacher.aspx for information or contact the Girls, Math & Science Partnership at braincake@carnegiesciencecenter.org.

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Remember the first time you fell in love with science?

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We do. It is the reason we believe in hands-on scientific technology. It

Calendar

engages students in a meaningful way, develops keen analytical skills, and awakens a love for discovery.

Regional Reports Affiliate News CAST Sponsors

www.vernier.com for product tours, training videos, FREE sample labs, and to look for FREE workshops in your neighborhood.

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EPLI Preview New Member Benefit COMING SOON

STAT Educators Professional Liability Insurance Don’t teach without it!

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With all of the stories in the news about educators getting tangled up in the system... don’t you wish you had some guarantee of safety? Beginning August 1, 2010, as a member of STAT, you can have STAT EPLI on your side. EPLI is only $50 per STAT Member, and guarantees insurance of up to $2 million per occurrence each year (policy duration: August 1, 2010-September 30, 2011). It’s never too early to start thinking about protecting your career’s future. 21

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The Votes Are In!

Regional Reports

Congratulations to the newly elected STAT Board

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Farewell from the Past President Girls ID.ea of Science EPLI Preview New STAT Officers BOD Retreat Pictures Continuing Education STAT Awards Guidelines

President

Joel Palmer

Past President

Patsy Magee

President-Elect

Ross Ann Hill

Vice President

Tony Zahn

Secretary

Deidre Parish

Treasurer

Laurel Frank

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Pictures from the Board Meeting

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Patsy hands Joel the gavel of STAT Presidency.

Affiliate Representatives in contemplation.

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Front: Tony Zahn, Laurel Frank, Patsy Magee, Joel Palmer, Deidre Parish. Back: Gail Gant, Diann Valentine, Vanessa Westbrook, Kiki Corry, Jan Grout, Marolyn Smith, Deborah Rang, Karen Hewitt, Aimee Modic, and Michael Vu

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Continuing Education

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Learn and Grow Through STAT Webinars!

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Continuing Education @ Home Did you miss CAST 2009 and still need credit hours? Do you want to earn continuing education credit at home and right at your fingertips? Then visit the EDUCATION PAGE today and register for STAT Webinars.The cost is $35 per class and is open for all members and visitors. Each course is approved for one hour of continuing education credit from TEA.

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STAT Supports Texas Teachers

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Our association is in a steady state of growth and prosperity. We want to thank the teachers of Texas for supporting this new addition to our associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s benefits. We are excited to watch you grow and use this new technology!

Continuing Education

Visit www.statweb.org/education

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Call for Nominations

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Nominate yourself, a friend, colleague, or mentor for a 2010 STAT Award. Applications are now available, and will be accepted until September 3, 2010. Show your appreciation for an outstanding teacher who deserves recognition!

Click Here to go to the online awards page.

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Bright Lights. Big City.

President’s Message

Break out your little black lab coat and hit the town with us in Houston.

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• Attend more continuing education courses than ever before under one roof at • • • •

the George R. Brown Convention Center. Listen to distinguished keynote speaker, explorer Dr. Bob Ballard, discuss the future of science education. Hear Dr. Debbie Silver impart her wisdom for keeping cool under pressure. Receive free admission to the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. ...And attend a grand reception* unlike anything CAST has seen before. *Presented by Chevron

Get Close to the Action.

Book your room now at the Hilton-Americas. Within walking distance of the convention center, the host hotel is the most convenient and comfortable. Reserve your spot now at www.statweb.org/cast/housing. For more information, go to: www.statweb.org/cast.

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