The STATellite (August 2011) by The STATellite

Contents

Volume 55, Number 3

August 2011

Calendar President’s Message STAT Award Winners STAT EPLI Thinking About Your New School Year CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp Affiliate News Contacts

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: • CAST 2011 Guide • STAT Award Winners • Back-to-School Tips • and much more! 1

The Official Newsletter of the Science Teachers Association of Texas

Contents

Calendar President’s Message STAT Award Winners STAT EPLI

FREE HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS

VERNIER DATA-COLLECTION TECHNOLOGY NO PRE-REGISTRATION! NO FEE!

Thinking About Your New School Year

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17TH | ROOM D225

CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers

8:30 - 9:30 am

Inquiry-based Chemistry with Vernier

10:00 - 11:00 am

Inquiry-based Biology with Vernier

3:00 - 4:00 pm

Introducing Vernier DataQuest Data Collection for TI-Inspire™ Technology

4:30 - 5:30 pm

Introduction to Data-Collection Technology

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH | ROOM D225

Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp Affiliate News

8:30 - 9:30 am

Inquiry-based Science with Vernier

10:00 - 11:00 am

Chemistry with Vernier

1:30 - 2:30 pm

Biology with Vernier

3:00 - 4:00 pm

Physics with Vernier

4:30 - 5:30 pm

Middle School Science with Vernier

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH | ROOM D225

Contacts

8:30 - 9:30 am

Environmental and Earth Science with Vernier

10:00 - 11:00 am

Elementary Science with Vernier

11:30 am - 12:30 pm

Bridging STEM and Vernier Technology Stop by booth 835 and enter to WIN a

Vernier Software & Technology | www.vernier.com | Toll Free: 888-837-6437

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6/23/2011 9:43:05 AM

Contents

Calendar Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Message STAT Award Winners STAT EPLI Thinking About Your New School Year CAST 2011 Guide

Your Science Solution 1 Comprehensive Science Program for Grades 5-12

More than just a supplemental program! Available in Spanish Grades 5-IPC!

2 Customizable for Students, Teachers, and Districts Create your own scope and sequence!

3 Complete STAAR Support with Data-Driven Reporting System Unique Item Analysis Report helps prescribe intervention!

Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp Affiliate News Contacts

4 Embedded Critical Thinking Questions and Activities For success on STAAR and EOC!

CINCH Science

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About Us We are STAT, the Science Teachers Association of Texas.

Calendar

STAT is committed to the enhancement of the teaching of science in Texas at all levels and in all science disciplines.

Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Message

For STAT Position Statements, go to: http://www.statweb.org/positions

STAT Award Winners

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 EPLI Thinking About Your New School Year

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.

CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp Affiliate News Contacts

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 8,000 strong!

Contents

Calendar..............................................................7 President’s Message .........................................8 STAT Award Winners ....................................12 STAT EPLI ........................................................13 Thinking About Your New School Year .....15 CAST 2011 Guide ...........................................16 Call for Volunteers .........................................25 Students Explore STEM in Robotics Camp .....26 Affiliate News ..................................................27 STAT Contacts..................................................30 Elected Officers.....................................30 Appointed Positions ............................30 Affiliate Congress.................................31 Texas State Board of Education..........32 Original drawings in this publication provided by Bailey Gutierrez of Zundelowitz Junior High in Wichita Falls, TX.

www.hmheducation.com/tx/science

Contents

Texas Supplemental Science

Holt McDougal onE-STop solutions

Enter the digital classroom and try our one-stop solutions for Texas Science at www.hmheducation.com/tx/science.

Calendar President’s Message STAT Award Winners

DigiTAl ClASSRoom

EngAgE all learners

STAT EPLI

Resources include virtual labs, animations, and other rich media to meet the learning needs of all students.

Thinking About Your New School Year CAST 2011 Guide

DiffeRenTiATion

ExploRE

Call for Volunteers

material for all TEKS

Search by TEKS to locate comprehensive instruction over all science concepts, as well as connections to current science issues through SciLinks, and correlations to current science programs.

Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp Affiliate News

new TeKS

Equip

Contacts

students for success on STAAR

Prepare for STAAR with instruction, review, and practice assessments.

STAAR

Contents

September

TAEE Conference Camp TAEE: Blazing Trails in Education. Camp Allen Conference Center September 23-25 Navasota, TX

ovich Odan Cathie eadership L 2009 Finalist Award

November

CAST 2011: The Art of Science November 17-19 Dallas, TX

CAST 2011

STAT EC Meeting November 15 Dallas, TX

Linds 2011 ey Richar ds R Star ising Winn er

Teachers can win $5,000 to $25,000, with a matching grant for their school. Principals can win $10,000 with a $25,000 grant for their school.

February

STAT Board Meeting February 10-11, 2012 Austin, TX

School districts can win $50,000 or $100,000. Visit heb.com/education today to nominate your favorite teacher, principal or school district.

ISEA Annual Meeting Sky Ranch February 15-17, 2012. Van, TX.

Shay Harman 2009 Rising Star Winner

TSELA Meeting

February 24-25, 2012 Location TBA

how the great educators in your community just how much they are appreciated. Nominate them for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards!

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A Message from President Hill

Calendar

Don’t you love the lazy, funfilled days of summer with its relaxed schedule and travel time? However, this year’s unusual drought has been brutal for most of us! Idalou, my hometown in West Texas just outside of Lubbock, has received less than an inch of rain since January. Miserably, we have broken temperature records with continuous days of triple-digit highs; we even had the nation’s hottest one day at 114! Needless to say, we are eager for La Nina to make a hasty exit.

President’s Message STAT Award Winners STAT EPLI Thinking About Your New School Year

Although I whine about the weather, this summer has been exciting and rewarding. As President, I represented STAT at NSTA’s National Congress on Science Education in Baltimore; several board members attended as well. This year’s theme was: “Spirit, Opportunity, Innovation: Science Education for a Smarter Planet.” We discussed the following issues: 21st Century Skills; pK-8 Science Education; The 3 R’s of Teaching Careers: Recruitment, Retention and Resources; and finally STEM Education. Working together, we shared numerous ideas in breakout sessions as we tried forming a resolution statement. These subject areas will continue to be a focus for NSTA and affiliated groups throughout the year.

CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp Affiliate News Contacts

Prior to NCSE, I, along with other board members, represented STAT at the K-12 STEM Educational Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. Initially, NSTA set up meetings for us with our U.S. Representatives and Sena-

tors. In advance of meeting with our government officials, we were educated on the proper way to discuss our focus for science education conversations, which was truly enlightening. As educators, we are familiar with No Child Left Behind. However, Washington now refers to that law as ESEA, Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and its origin dates back to 1965. Since that unfunded law continues to affect all of us, that was the focus of our conversations with our congresspersons.

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education and ensuring that it is not limited to only math and science but also including technology and engineering.

Calendar President’s Message

Truly, it was a delightful TRIP (pun intended, but that’s another story for another time…)! Although it felt a little like “Mrs. Hill Goes to Washington,” it also seemed like “National Treasure,” too!

STAT Award Winners STAT EPLI Thinking About Your New School Year CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp Affiliate News Contacts

U.S. Representative Randy Neugebauer and STAT President Ross Ann Hill. Since Congress was in session, I was scheduled to meet with my Congressman’s aide. Therefore, you can imagine my delight as I sat in Congressman Randy Neugebauer’s office and in he walked during a break. For about ten minutes, I was able to discuss the woes of ESEA. As other Texans from our group met with aides from Senator Cornyn’s and Senator Hutchinson’s offices, we discussed these major points: 1. Make STEM education a priority and dedicate support for it in ESEA reauthorization. The revised law should provide increased resources for professional development for STEM educators, and its programs should reflect the national priority being placed on STEM education. 2. Make science count by including it in any ESEA accountability system for schools and states. Currently only reading and math are required assessments. 3. Allow states to define their own STEM needs by clarifying or identifying STEM

STAT Vice President Donald Burken, TSELA Treasurer Lisa Webber, PresidentElect Sharon Kamas, and President Ross Ann Hill.

Well, back on the home front, CAST will be November 17-19 in Dallas, with early bird registration starting August 15. If you have never attended CAST, you need to experience it, especially since this year’s theme is “The Art of Science.” We’re excited to provide

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the artful performance of acrobats from Cirque Imagination at the Opening Reception. And our keynote speaker Reed Timmer (of Discovery Channel’s Storm Chasers) will show stunning severe weather footage. Trust me, CAST is the most renewing, recharging, and invigorating experience for science teachers. In my humble opinion, it is the BEST conference in the nation!

Calendar President’s Message STAT Award Winners STAT EPLI

We have already begun planning for CAST 2012 in Corpus Christi with a meeting September 24th. If you are in the Corpus Christi area and wish to help us with the preparations, we welcome your assistance.

Thinking About Your New School Year

Once again, STAT is offering EPLI to its members. The Educators’ Professional Liability Insurance is $50.00 for regular members; and its coverage for up to two million dollars starts on the day of enrollment and ends August 1, 2012. Although it is important for all teachers to protect themselves, it is vital for science teachers because of classroom and lab risks. Please download an informative brochure at http:// statweb.org/epli and sign up on the STAT website. Remember, after the accident or incident, it is too late! So safeguard your future now!

CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp Affiliate News

Hopefully, your year shall be fabulous, enriching, and enlightening for you and your students. See you soon in Dallas!

Contacts

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STAT Executive Director Chuck Hempstead, President Ross Ann Hill, TSELA Treasurer Lisa Webber, President-Elect Sharon Kamas, and Vice President Donald Burken.

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NEW! by Rosemary Martin

Two CAST workshops highlighting our TEKS Review “station activities” Calendar President’s Message STAT Award Winners STAT EPLI Thinking About Your New School Year

Booths 617-619-621

Rigorous Rotation Review for 5th Grade Rigorous Rotation Review for 8th Grade

www.mathcutups.com Now available! Even more titles you can use!

Contact Rosemary Martin, ssibastrop@gmail.com for more information Just laminate & cut

Available

TEKS Correlations – Catalog – Ordering information

in Spanish

CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp Affiliate News

Enable Your District to Meet Science TEKS and Prepare Your Students for STAAR and EOC Tests! CPO Science and Delta Education offer both Instructional Materials and Supplemental Instructional Materials CPO Science offers a Program for Grades 6–8 that prepares

Online Solution for New and Expanded

For more information:

students for the 8th grade assessment. This program includes

Science TEKS for Grades 3–5 from

the new TEKS and fills in the gaps so students learn everything

Delta Education

Northern Texas VErNE ISbELL 800-338-5270 x172 verne.isbell@schoolspecialty.com

they need to know.

SEE SAMPLE LESSON PAGES AT www.cpo.com/home/2/Your State/TX.aspx

Contacts For more information:

30 DAy ONLINE PrEVIEw www.neworexpandedteks.schoolspecialty.com

CPO Science also offers Foundations of Physics, Second Edition program for Grades 10–12

Southern Texas JOAN LyLES 800-338-5270 x188 joan.lyles@schoolspecialty.com Inside Sales JANIcE MArcuS 800-338-5270 x189 janice.marcus@schoolspecialty.com

SALLy DuDLEy 800-237-1371 sally.dudley@schoolspecialty.com

www.SchoolSpecialtyScience.com

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STAT Award Winners Congratulations to Our STAT Award Winners, Who Will Be Honored at the CAST 2011 Opening Assembly on November 17!

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

Rookie- Outstanding Science Teacher

Ashley Ediger Alternative Learning Center, Austin ISD

STAT Award Winners

Elementary School - Outstanding Science Teacher

Sharon Yee Regina Howell Elementary, Beaumont, TX

STAT EPLI Thinking About Your New School Year CAST 2011 Guide

Middle School - Outstanding Science Teacher

Rita Williams Roland Reynolds Elementary, Franklin ISD High School - Outstanding Science Teacher

Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp Affiliate News

Kisaundra Harris Tacosa High School, Amarillo ISD

Distinguished Leadership in Science Award

Denise Skinner Texarkana ISD

Contacts

Virginia Woods Award for Exceptional Contributions & Leadership in Science Education

Patsy Magee Beaumont ISD

Skoog Cup

David Lamp 12Texas Tech University

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STAT EPLI Did You Know?

Calendar

The Science Teachers Association of Texas offers Educators Professional Liability Insurance (EPLI).

President’s Message STAT Award Winners

For only $50/year, you can be covered for up to $2 million per occurrence. That’s a lot of weight behind your career!

STAT EPLI

This is an especially important asset for science teachers. Think about all the times you’ve been in a lab, helping students through complicated, hands-on projects.

Thinking About Your New School Year CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp Affiliate News Contacts

The liability section of the policy will help protect you when unfortunate incidents occur, such as injury to a student under your watch. A separate section of the policy provides reimbursement of attorney fees in a broad range of situations not covered under Coverage A, such as criminal charges, allegations of sexual misconduct, actions involving dismissal, revocation of certification, and other professional rights and duties. Your coverage begins on the date of your enrollment and ends on 8/1/2012. Premium Break-Down* Insurance Premium: Regular Member: $44.00 State Tax & Fees (4.91%): $2.16 Administrative Cost: $3.84 Total Cost $50.00 Insurance Premium: Student: $22.00 State Tax & Fees (4.91%): $1.08 Administrative Cost: $3.92 Total Cost $27.00 EPLI is a members-only benefit. You must login to www.statweb.org to purchase. 13

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KidWind at CAST ‘11 1 hr. Workshops •

Holding a wind turbine challenge in your school, district, or region Thursday, Nov.17

•

Room D 167

The Clean Energy Discovery Challenge Thursday, Nov.18

Calendar

3:00pm 4:30pm

Room C 148

3 hr. Short Course •

President’s Message

Wind energy science for the classroom Thursday, Nov.18

STAT Award Winners

The Layered Earth is an interactive, hands-on earth science curriculum for students in middle school (grades 5 – 8) and high school (grades 9 – 12). It features 26 built-in lesson plans joined to hundreds of simulations, images, animations and literacy extensions. Layered Earth includes assessments, quizzes, teacher support materials and a comprehensive teacher’s guide. The lessons are correlated to US and state science standards. For information please call us toll free at 877-290-8256 or visit www.layeredearth.com.

STAT EPLI Thinking About Your New School Year

9:00am

Room A 120

Booth 947

Starry Night High School is an interactive, hands-on space science curriculum for high school students. It features 35 built-in lesson plans joined to hundreds of simulations, images and animations. High School comes complete with classroom activities, student hand-outs, assessments, quizzes, teacher support materials and a comprehensive teacher’s guide. The lessons are correlated to state and US science standards. For information please call us toll free at 877-290-8256 or visit www.starrynight.com.

CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp

Starry Night Middle School is an interactive, hands-on space science curriculum for middle school students in grades 5 - 8. It features 28 built-in lesson plans joined to hundreds of simulations, images and animations. Middle School comes complete with student hand-outs, classroom activities, assessments, quizzes, teacher support materials along with a comprehensive teacher’s guide. The lessons are correlated to state and US science standards. For information please call us toll free at 877-290-8256 or visit www.starrynight.com.

Affiliate News Contacts

System Requirements: Windows XP, Vista or Win 7. 1 GHZ processor or higher, 1 GB RAM, 5GB HD space, 1024 x 768 monitor resolution. Macintosh OSX 10.6 or higher, Intel based processor with 1 GB RAM and 5 GB HD space, 1024 x 768 monitor resolution.

www.KidWind.org

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Thinking About Your New School Year by Alton L. Biggs

Sometimes we in education (administrators, teachCalendar President’s Message STAT Award Winners STAT EPLI Thinking About Your New School Year CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp Affiliate News Contacts

ers, and support staff equally) forget what we are doing. We let the little things in our careers – paperwork, due dates, endless and mindless meetings – prevent us from focusing on our real mission, which is, of course, touching the lives and spirits of young people by preparing them for their future. If you ask me, there is no greater mission or higher calling. Right now you may not feel the “warm fuzzies” from your career in education. I know I didn’t for years after I’d begun teaching. However, you should always know that others are listening and watching. And you should know that in the years after they leave your classroom, students will remember you – not for the curriculum minutia you taught, but for the way you changed the direction of their lives. To illustrate this, I recently received an email from a student who was in my biology class thirty years ago. He’d found me through a Google search. Here’s what he told me: “I know I am not a remarkable student, but while I was in the military I had a chance to visit 23 countries. Every time I ended up in a jungle, rainforest, desert, ocean, swamp, and even the Arctic Circle I thought of you and made sure I walked away with some knowledge. I honestly think that is what helped me survive so many missions. I just wanted to say thank you, even if it is 30 years late.” Ours is not a career best known for patting colleagues on the back for the great things they do every day. For those who stray from the norm in attempts to reach the best for students, our career is too often punitive. Ours is a demanding career that in recent years has focused more on high stakes testing than moving every student from where they are when they come to us to further along the path. It wasn’t

until after I’d taught for three years that a principal told me plainly that my job was not to “cover every item in the curriculum”, but to encourage and help every student to reach his or her potential. What a liberating lesson that was! You see, if you’ll just do the right things with and for students, everything else will work out in the end. They will be touched. They will remember you. You will have made a difference in their lives. Their lives – and yours – will be better for it. You’ll be beginning a new school year soon. Remember that everything you do is about individual students. You’ll make some mistakes this year as we all do. But you’ll also have some great victories. Just remember that your work is not about today but about the future of our students – our future! Today I celebrate the work you do!

Alton Biggs taught sciences for 32 years, retiring from teaching in 2003. He is well known for being the coauthor of Biology, The Dynamics of Life, Glencoe Life Science and other science textbooks published by Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. He is an Honorary Member of STAT, TABT, and the National Association of Biology Teachers as well as a Life Member of NSTA. Alton has previously been editor of The Texas Science Teacher, and has served on the STAT Board on two separate occasions. He is a past president of both the TABT and NABT.

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Calendar Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Message STAT Award Winners STAT EPLI Thinking About Your New School Year CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp Affiliate News Contacts

CAST SPONSORS Contents

Thank you to our CAST 2011 supporters! Calendar Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Message STAT Award Winners STAT EPLI Thinking About Your New School Year CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp Affiliate News Contacts

Sponsorships are still available. Call us at 512-491-6685 for details. 17

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

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Thursday, November 17th 7:00 am – 5:00 pm 7:00 am – 8:00 am 8:00 am – 5:00pm 8:00 am –1:30 pm 8:30 am – 5:30 pm 8:45am – 5:30 pm 9:00 am –5:00 pm 1:00-2:30 pm 2:30pm – 7:00 pm 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Calendar President’s Message STAT Award Winners STAT EPLI Thinking About Your New School Year CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp

Registration & Tote Bag Pickup First Time Attendees Coffee Hour Field Trips Administrators & Policymakers Institute Workshops - Every Hour Science JAM Sessions - Every 1.5 Hours Short Courses Opening Assembly: Keynote Speaker Reed Timmer of Discovery Channel’s Storm Chasers, Teacher Awards Exhibit Hall Open CAST Opening Reception with Cirque Imagination

: T Sessions S A C f o s e 4 Typ urses ur, free co o h e n o 7:00 am – 5:00 pm Registration & Tote Bag Pickup : s Workshop 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Field Trips ions) (650 sess tes; 8:30 am – 5:30 pm Workshops : 45-minu s n io s s e all S 8:45 am – 5:30 pm Science JAM Sessions Jam ps; free to o h s k r o w / w 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Exhibit Hall Open concurrenst (60 sessions) e e d 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Short Courses atten aid 10:15 am –11:00 am Keynote Speaker Rich Allen Limited, p : s e s r u o C 0 Short urs long (8 6:00 pm – 12:00 am Friday Night Social @ the Dallas o h 6 r o t; 3 Museum of Art: the Fashion World enrollmen sessions) to of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the day; trips ll u f r o lf Sidewalk to the Catwalk : ha ions) Field Trips s (50 sess a ll a D in s n key locatio

Friday, November 18

Affiliate News

Saturday, November 19th

Contacts

7:00 am – 10:00 am 8:00 am –3:30 pm 8:00 am – 2:00 pm 8:30 am – 3:30 pm 8:45 am – 12:30 pm 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

18 18

Registration & Tote Bag Pickup Field Trips Exhibit Hall Open Workshops Science JAM Sessions Short Courses

HOUSING & REGISTRATION

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REGISTRATION Calendar President’s Message STAT Award Winners STAT EPLI Thinking About Your New School Year CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp Affiliate News Contacts

• • • • • • •

The Early Bird gets the worm! Register by September 30 and have your name badge mailed to you.

Early Bird Registration (August 15- September 30): $115 (name badge mailed) Advance Registration (October 1 – October 31): $145 (name badge on-site) Regular Registration (November 1 - November 17): $160 (name badge on-site) Administrators and Policymakers Institute (Thursday only): $95 Family Member (with purchase of a full price registration): $45 Saturday Only: $50 Student: $25

HOUSING The Sheraton Dallas is the official host hotel of the CAST 2011 Conference. It is the only hotel with transportation available to CAST on the shuttle route.

When you book through the Housing Site, you will: • be guaranteed that your hotel will be on the CAST 2011 hotel shuttle route. • receive lower rates through STAT’s block of rooms (only $115). • stay at official CAST hotels, which have been inspected by staff prior to booking: we only book with hotels we have reviewed. • give back to CAST: future hotel contract negotiations depend on the size of our block. CAST is able to keep rates low if more attendees book within our designated hotels. 19

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SPEAKERS AND SESSIONS Opening Assembly Keynote:

Calendar President’s Message STAT Award Winners STAT EPLI Thinking About Your New School Year

Discovery Channel’s Reed Timmer of Storm Chasers 1:00 pm Thursday, November 17 Discovery Education is pleased to present keynote speaker Reed Timmer to kick-off the 2011 Conference for the Advancement of Science and Teaching. Discovery Channel’s Reed Timmer has become famous for his curiosity and drive to understand the science of extreme storms. The meteorologist and star of Discovery Channel’s popular Storm Chasers series shares his experience filming and collecting important real-time data from some of the most powerful tornados on record.

CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp Affiliate News Contacts

SPEAKERS AND SESSIONS Contents

Friday Keynote: Dr. Rich Allen

10:15 am Friday, November 18 From Tuning Out to Turning On: Engaging Modern Scientific Minds

Calendar President’s Message STAT Award Winners STAT EPLI

Today’s teachers are facing a truly unique challenge Nasco Science Division– how to cross the biggest ‘generational divide’ education STATellite has ever seen! Gen X and Gen Y teachers, atNewsletter Winter 2010 tempting to teach Gen Z students, need a completely different set of skills and STAT1012 their classrooms. This keynote offers a choices when designing and conducting menu of exciting possibilities that have been proven to work by real teachers, in real classrooms, with real students. Rich will also be hosting a FREE 3-hour short course, so register early to reserve your spot!

Thinking About Your New School Year

STAT1012

CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp

Affiliate News Contacts

VISIT BOOTH 450 WORKSHOP AT CAST 2011 www.brainzapped.com

22 22

SPECIAL EVENTS Contents

Calendar

High-Flying Reception

President’s Message

with entertainment by

STAT Award Winners

Cirque Imagination

STAT EPLI

Thursday, November 17th 5:30 pm-7:30 pm

Thinking About Your New School Year

Witness the beauty of gravity as acrobats fly through the air in the exhibit hall. This event is free for all CAST attendees, and includes hors d’oeurves, giveaways, and more!

CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp Affiliate News Contacts

Haute Couture Social Late Night @ the Museum:

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier Friday, November 18th 5:00 pm-Midnight Take a break from the art of science to revel in the art of fashion at the Dallas Museum of Art, where you’ll be dazzled by the Jean Paul Gaultier collection: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk. Refreshments provided. This exhibit is only visiting 2 cities in the United States: be one of the few to see it! Tickets only $15 via CAST registration.

Contents Science....Blast Off!

STA AR™ Aligned

Scopes

Elementary K-5 • Middle School: 6-8

Comprehensive online student learning experiences tightly aligned to TEKS and STAAR™ that enhance teaching for beginning to master teachers with hands-on science activities using the researchbased 5E lesson cycle.

Calendar

Fun and Complet

5-8th grade approved resource for the Texas Supplemental Science Adoption!

President’s Message To see FREE all that STEMscopes™ has to offer and to view sample scopes for each grade level

STAT Award Winners STAT EPLI

STEMscopes™

1. Go to: sample.stem scopes.com 2. Enter ID: g uest & Password: guest 2. Click on “S copes” and explore!

Hundreds of evaluation and intervention tools 5E lessons for all STAAR™ Science Readiness and Supporting Standards K-8

Center for Technology in Teaching and Learning

Thinking About Your New School Year

Rice University • 713-348-5433 STEMscopes@rice.edu

www.stemscopes.com

STAT MEMBERS

CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers

WARD’S PROUDLY SUPPORTS STAT MEMBERS

Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp

Visit our booth for:

Affiliate News

• Hands-on exploration of new activities • Cutting-edge technology for your classroom • Chance to win valuable prizes

Contacts

Ward’s in-house experts will be in the booth for your questions, suggestions, and ideas P: 800-962-2660 | F: 800-635-8439

wardsci.com/APScience

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Contents

Call for Volunteers

Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Message

Express Yourself by Lending a Helping Hand to CAST 2011: The Art of Science.

STAT Award Winners

Calendar

STAT EPLI Thinking About Your New School Year CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp

The success of CAST depends on our hundreds of dedicated volunteers who step up each year to give their time back to the conference they love. Sign up for just one hour, or even ten! We sincerely appreciate your time and effort. If you love science, people, and are comfortable in fast-paced environments, then weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love to have you as a volunteer during CAST! The following is a list of available positions: Registration (badge printing, info booth) Workshop/Short Course Runners Badge Checkers Cyber Cafe Monitors Bag Sitters

Affiliate News Contacts

Additional opportunities may be available. If you have a specific talent you feel would be helpful, please let us know! Email us at stat@bizaustin.rr.com. 25

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Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp by Tricia Berry

High school students across Texas designed, built and tested underCalendar President’s Message STAT Award Winners STAT EPLI Thinking About Your New School Year CAST 2011 Guide Call for Volunteers Students Explore STEM in Underwater Robotics Camp Affiliate News Contacts

water robots during weeklong summer camps at schools, universities, museums and science centers. The camps used a problem-based learning curriculum being disseminated to four regions in the U.S. through a five-year, $2.5 million National Science Foundation grant. The Texas Girls Collaborative Project (TxGCP) led by the Women in Engineering Program at The University of Texas at Austin was nationally selected last year to distribute the curriculum across Texas. Working in conjunction with the Austin-based STEM education program, Girlstart, the two organizations have since trained representatives from 17 schools, higher education institutions, museums and science centers on the WaterBotics curriculum and how to best teach it to students. Training was held in January at the National Instruments headquarters in Austin and – for the first time this summer – educators who went through the training taught the curriculum at summer camps throughout the state. “Many robotics programs are competitive in nature, but this one is not about competition,” TxGCP Director Tricia Berry said about the program. “The focus of WaterBotics is to teach students how to creatively solve engineering challenges by working together. With this program, we’re creating and fostering a collaborative and team-oriented environment.” The day camp is geared toward high school girls and other students typically underrepresented in STEM fields. The students use LEGO Mindstorms equipment to concept and create underwater robots capable of accomplishing a series of goals, like successfully navigating and grabbing objects in a 10-foot diameter pool. By responding to the challenges presented during camp, students leave with a better understanding of how engineers and scientists solve real-world problems, such as controlling an oil spill or developing advanced search and rescue technology. The second round of educator training will be held January 9 – 13, 2012 at National Instruments in Austin. Applications and program details may be found on the Texas Girls Collaborative Project website. Trained educators and organizations have access to kits (LEGO Mindstorms, propellers, motors, etc.) for running a WaterBotics camp for 20 high school students. About WaterBotics WaterBotics is part of a NSF program to increase the pool, persistence and diversity of students pursing STEM study and careers. The program was initially tested in New Jersey and has been expanded to Dayton, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; and in Austin and throughout Texas. Learn more at http://waterbotics.org/, http://www.txgcp.org or contact Tricia Berry at tsberry@ mail.utexas.edu.

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Affiliate News Informal Science Education Association ISEA by Cappy Smith and Amy Moreland Science Teachers, We’re in Your Business! The new school year always brings excitement, but this year it also brings new demands. Fewer teachers, fewer resources, fewer instructional materials, fewer field trips…. and teachers still have the same high standards to meet, in addition to the challenge of preparing students for a new state test. Teachers, the members of the Informal Science Education Association (ISEA) are here for you! Science education is our business, too. Many of our organizations are also facing new challenges with budget and staff cuts; like you, we’re being required to do more with less. And, one thing that has become very clear… we can’t operate with our formal education partners like we have in the past. There will be no business as usual if we are all tasked with growing a science literate community. We don’t have the answers yet, but we invite you to reach out to ISEA facilities in your community and tell us about your needs! We may all have to “work outside of the box” to create new solutions, but we can get there together. We are your partners in science education; your success is our success. Get acquainted with some of our members and offerings at CAST. Stop by our booth in Affiliate Row or attend some of the sessions and field trips offered in the ISEA Strand. The ISEA strand highlights the resources available from informal education partners and opportunities for STEM-based programs for both students and teacher professional development. And, mark your calendars for our upcoming annual conference February 15-17, 2012 at Sky Ranch in Van, Texas! We are excited to welcome keynote speaker, Dr. Martin Storksdieck, Director for the Board of Science Education of The National Academies. Dr. Storksdieck and the Board of Science Education are charged with providing advice on the research and best practices for science education at all levels in schools and informal settings. To learn more about the Board for Science Education, visit the website http://www7.nationalacademies.org/bose/. To learn more about ISEA visit our website http://www.statweb.org/ISEA/home.htm We invite you to contact us….after all, we’re in your business!

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Affiliate News Texas Earth Science Teachers Association TESTA

by Gail Gant At last, another year of hard work, fun, stress, quiet satisfaction , and delight at seeing a student suddenly “get it” has come to an end. As soon as school wrapped up, I boarded a plane for the Republic of Macedonia where I participate in what I refer to as my summer job of archaeology. Although I’ve learned a lot over the years about archaeology, some situations can cause me consternation For example, after several seasons of uncovering classical and Hellenistic pottery and structures, I suddenly find myself in an older strata with unfamiliar pottery or what appears to be an Iron Age kiln that seems to have no defined shape. How to proceed? In some ways, I feel like a student again, confronted with a situation which has no correct answer. Determining the next step must be based on careful observation and consideration of what strategy will help to reveal answers rather than obliterate them. Life can be difficult when we do not have the “right” answer at hand. Throughout the school year I see students struggle with similar situations as I encourage them to think critically. Struggling to determine the correct steps to take to uncover an answer can be both uncomfortable and stressful yet when we develop strategies based on previous knowledge and careful consideration of possible outcomes, we often find ourselves richly rewarded and much more likely to remember what worked should similar situations arise in the future. I have often found that sharing experiences with other teachers can be an enlightening and rejuvenating experience. What better way to recharge your batteries than to attend the annual CAST conference. This year’s CAST will be held in Dallas from November 17th through the 19th. In memory

of Kathie Poff, a long-time TESTA member who dedicated her life and abundant energy to teaching generations of students about the wonders of the world we live in and how science can help to unravel the mysteries of our planet, TESTA has established a fund to pay the CAST registration fee for a teacher with five or fewer years in the classroom. If you would like to apply please submit the following information.: • A current résume or curriculum vitae • A description of what you hope to gain from the experience and a an explanation of your financial need (one page maximum) • Please let us know if you are a first-time attendee Please send your application to Gail Gant 1622 California Houston, TX 77006 If you do make it to CAST, take a little time to check out the TESTA strand offerings. We have a wide variety of workshops and short courses that deal with topics ranging from the astronomy to plate tectonics. In addition, we will have a share-athon and our infamous rock raffle which is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. I am also thrilled that our breakfast will feature both Dr. Louis Jacobs and his wife Bonnie who will both speak respectively about their fascinating work in paleontology and paleobotany and ancient climates. Although it has been a tumultuous school year for many, I hope you have the restful and rejuvenating summer you so well deserve.

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Affiliate News Texas Science Education Leadership Association TSELA by Vanessa Westbrook

TSELA provides leadership for the improvement of science instruction; means of regular communication among science education leaders; support and development of solutions for common issues and interests; and professional growth opportunities. Membership is open to all personnel in leadership roles who are concerned with, and interested in, the improvement of science education. This will include, but not be limited to: science coordinators, department heads, team leaders, curriculum coordinators, university professors, and principals. TSELA on Capitol Hill During the week of July 11, 2011 several TSELA officers joined other science education leaders from across the United States to discuss top STEM initiatives at PK-12 level with members of Congress in the House and Senate. TSELA officers participated in several individual meetings that provided information, suggestions, and insights into the enhancement of STEM initiatives at PK-12 level. TSELA Past President Vanessa Westbrook, TSELA Secretary Susana Ramirez, and TSELA member Karen McNallen discussed STEM initiatives with US Representative Ruben Hinojosa for over an hour. Group photo taken in Rep. Hinojosaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office in the Rayburn Building.

Save the Date! 1. TSELA Fall meeting will take place on November 16, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. Please view the TSELA website www.tselaonline.org for information about the meeting, registration procedures, sponsorship opportunities, program schedule, and meeting agenda. 2. Join some of TSELA members as they share their expertise in sessions scheduled in the TSELA strand on Friday, November 18 at the 2011 CAST in Dallas, Texas. 3. National Science Education Leadership Association will hold its annual science leadership institute (SLI) in Austin, Texas at the University of Texas at Austin AT&T Center on June 24- 27, 2012. NSELA uses the summer leadership institute to improve science education and foster the dissemination of best practices and research-based professional development throughout the United States. 4. TSELA Winter meeting will be February 24, 2012 at Harris County Department of Education in Houston, Texas. Information about this membership meeting will be posted on website.

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ACT

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Associated Chemistry Teachers of Texas

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ISEA

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Texas Association of Biology Teachers

Texas Association for Environmental Education

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Michael Wells

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CAST 2011 Guide

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Sally Wall

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Call for Volunteers

TESTA

TMEA

TSAAPT

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Texas Earth Science Teachers Association Gail Gant

ggant@sjs.org

Texas Marine Educators Association Marolyn Smith

marolyn.smith@yahoo.com

Karen Jo Matsler kjmatsler@gmail.com

Affiliate News Contacts

Texas Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers

TSELA

Texas Science Education Leadership Association Kevin Fisher

kfisher56@msn.com

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