The STATellite (December 2012)

Contents Calendar President’s Message

Volume 56, Number 4

December 2012

Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

Inside:

• Science Teachers Day at the Capitol • Photos from CAST 2012 • ...and much more!

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The Official Newsletter of the Science Teachers Association of Texas

Contents

About Us

Calendar President’s Message

We are STAT, the Science Teachers Association of Texas.

Science Teachers Day at the Capitol

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

CAST 2012 Photos

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

CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour

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.

Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative

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 7,000 strong!

Contacts

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Contents Calendar President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

Calendar..............................................................4 President’s Message .........................................5 Science Teachers Day at the Capitol .............8 CAST 2012 Photos ..........................................11 STAT Award Winners ....................................16 CAST 2013 ........................................................18 Cuba Bird Watching Tour..............................19 Musings of a Board Member ........................23 Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan ........................25 American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative ...................26 STAT Contacts .................................................27 Standing Committees ..........................27 Elected Officers.....................................28 Appointed Positions ............................28 Affiliate Congress ................................29 Texas State Board of Education..........30 3

Contents Calendar

February TESTA Earth Science Conference February 23 Houston Museum of Natural Science Sugarland, TX

President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners

January American Meteorological Society’s Educational Outreach Initiative January 6-9 Austin, TX

CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour

Next Generation Science Standards Second Draft Review January 12 Austin, TX

Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan

MHCTA Meeting January 19 Houston, TX

American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative

February Science Teachers Day at the Capitol February 21-22 Austin, TX

Contacts

STAT Board Meeting February 22 Austin, TX 4

Region V Mini-CAST February 23 Orange, TX March ISEA Annual Conference March 4-6 Port Aransas, TX April NSTA National Conference April 11-14 San Antonio, TX July STAT Summer Leadership Institute Galveston, TX July 7-9

Contents Calendar President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

A Message from President Kamas It is hard to believe that 2013 is right around the corner! I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to a little time to get caught up.

We had an incredible CAST in Corpus Christi. It took many phenomenal volunteers and the entire city of Corpus Christi, but it was well worth it. Hats off to Ross Ann and the 2012 committee!

If you haven’t sent your feedback about CAST, it isn’t too late. We want to know what your favorite sessions are and what you love most. Who is the speaker you have always wanted to hear? What is the one thing that would make CAST your best experience? Your feedback helps us plan better for the next year.

I loved meeting so many of you. Thank you for stopping by the 2013 booth and taking time to speak wtih me (and grab a cool water bottle). I had a blast at the first timers’ breakfast. Danny Forster from Build it Bigger was a terrific keynote speaker. If you missed the documentary, The Revisionaries, you missed some Speaking of next year, planning is alcritical insight to the Texas State Board of ready underway for our return to HousEducation and how decisions are made ton. Appetite for Instruction: Keep the about education in Texas.

Bunsens Burnin’ will be here before we A few of the highlights for me were know it. Remember that it takes a ton of meeting Dr. Jacobs and the other award volunteers to make CAST great so conwinners, catching up with friends and tact me and let me know what role you colleagues that I don’t get to see often want to play. There are committees that enough, and hearing my name over the work before the conference and commitloud speaker to wish me a happy birthtees that work during the conference. day!

Trust me, you will love it! When you 5

Contents

Message from the President

(cont’d. from page 5)

Calendar President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member

get involved, your entire CAST experience takes on a whole new meaning. I cherish the people I have met though STAT and value the professional learning I have been fortunate enough to engage in.

We have two new exciting member benefit events coming up. The first one is Science Teachers’ Day at the Capitol on February 21st and 22nd. We must continue to advocate for science.

Our second event is the Summer Leadership Institute, July 7-9. This will be a family friendly good time in Galveston at the historic Tremont Hotel. More details are coming soon!

Space will be limited for both events. Stay tuned to the STAT website for registration.

The second draft of The Next Generation Science Standards is scheduled to be released for public review the first week of January. If you aren’t familiar with NGSS yet, I encourage you to review the standards and give feedback. You can also be a part of the STAT informal team. Check the STAT website for more details.

The Next Generation Science Standards are based on The Framework for K-12 Science Education, developed by the National Research Council. The Framework provides key scientific ideas and practices that all students should learn before leaving high school. The Framework is a must read for all science educators. For more details, visit http://www.nextgenscience.org/ and http:// www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13165 Be sure to follow STAT on Twitter and “Like Us” on Facebook. We want to hear all about the great things happening in your classrooms and districts. You can also follow me on Twitter @sharonkamas.

Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative

Good cheers and best wishes. May your holidays be merry, bright, and restful!

Sharon Kamas President, STAT

Contacts

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Contents Calendar President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos

STEMscopes™ | K-12 Digital Science Curriculum

The results are in: Texas students struggled to pass high school End of Course exams.

1/10 students did not pass the biology EOC

5/10 students did not pass the chemistry EOC

4/10 students did not pass the physics EOC

STAT Award Winners CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

9%

3%

5%

biology

chemistry

physics

Only a small percentage of students were able to score advanced proficiency on the End of Course exams.

STEMscopes™ can help.

BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, AND PHYSICS

5th and 8th grade science STAAR™ are around the corner. Get kids ready with STEMscopes™ real science, real results.

5TH AND 8TH GRADE SCIENCE STAAR™ PREP

www.stemscopes.com | (713) 348 -5433

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SCIENCE TEACHERS

Contents

DAY AT THE CAPITOL

Calendar

February 21-22, 2013 Wyndham Conference Center Austin, TX

President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member

ew ks!

N r fo tboo y l l Ra ce Tex n Scie

Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative

Are you concerned about public education funding?

Would you like to see appropriations for new science textbooks?

There’s strength in numbers, so join us this February in Austin for the first ever Science Teachers Day at the Capitol!

We will book visits with your representatives and meet with chairs and staff for the public education committee.

If you care about the future

Contacts

of your career and science

Unite f o r Ya t t h e C a our C p aree itol r!

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education for students in Texas, we urge you to save the date and plan to attend.

$40 registration fee includes Thursday night reception and Friday morning breakfast.

Register online at www.statweb.org/capitol

Contents PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRANDS

Calendar

• Next Generation Assessments: Effectively Measuring Student Learning

President’s Message

• Next Generation Elementary Science: Building the Foundation

Science Teachers Day at the Capitol

• Next Generation Special Populations: Improving Science Instruction to Meet the Needs of Diverse Learners

CAST 2012 Photos

• Next Generation Technology: Putting the “T” in STEM

STAT Award Winners

ATTENDEES CAN ACCESS:

CAST 2013

• A wide range of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and Common Core sessions

Cuba Bird Watching Tour

• 2,000 sessions, workshops, field trips, and short courses for K–16 educators • Content development and ready-to-use teaching techniques

Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER, VISIT WWW.NSTA.ORG/CONFERENCES/2013SAN

• Exhibit Hall featuring new products and giveaways from more than 400 exhibitors • NSTA Science Bookstore with 100s of professional development books; attendees receive a 20% discount

American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

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Contents Calendar President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative

hmhco.com • 800.225.5425

NEW for Texas Science!

Be STAAR™-Ready with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Texas Assessment Materials.

ONLY Houghton Mifflin Harcourt provides you with outstanding support for STAAR and End-of-Course Tests for Grades 5–12!

• Covers 100% of Readiness and Supporting TEKS tested on STAAR with INSTRUCTION and PRACTICE! • Includes review of Grades 3–4 TEKS tested at Grade 5 • Practice tests are provided and aligned to the STAAR schematics on the TEA website: 60–65% Readiness Standards and 30–35% Supporting Standards - TWO complete practice tests for Grades 5–8 and high school • STAAR practice is organized by Reporting Categories so that teachers can easily determine strengths and weaknesses of students

ScienceSaurus (Grades 2–8) Ideal for any science classroom, ScienceSaurus® provides science content and literacy skills development resources in one easy-to-use program.

ScienceSaurus is based upon five principles that are crucial for Texas students: • Correlated—aligned to the TEKS and STAAR ®

Contacts

• Comprehensive—covers life, earth, physical, natural resources, and environmental science topics • Engaging—clear explanations with dynamic visuals • Flexible—use for presentation, review, or reinforcement of science content • Interactive—web resources include SciLINKS®

For more information, visit us online at hmheducation.com/tx STAAR™ is a trademark of the Texas Education Agency. SciLINKS is a registered trademark of the National Science Teachers Association.

10ScienceSaurus is a registered trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. ®

®

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. 12/12

Contents Calendar

CAST 2012 Photos Click Here for the Full Photo Gallery

President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

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Contents

CAST 2012 Photos

Calendar President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

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Meet LabQuest 2 ®

Contents Calendar President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners

The most powerful, connected, and versatile data-collection device available for STEM education.

AWARD-WINNING TECHNoLoGy LabQuest 2 and the Connected Science System win Worlddidac Award LabQuest 2 wins a Readers’ Choice Award from eSchool Media

CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative

READ THE REVIEWS: Tech & Learning – “Vernier’s LabQuest 2 can build interest in science, make experiments come alive, and deepen understanding of complex concepts. The affordable handheld tool supports student-centered, inquiry-based learning…and critical analysis as budding scientists use real tools to conduct real-time investigations….” – Carol S. Holzberg, Ph.D. Scholastic Administrator’s Tech Tools – Grade: A, “A bargain. LabQuest is a modern-day science lab that fits in the palm of a hand.” – Brian Nadel

Assistive Technology – “With the LabQuest 2, Vernier has transformed the way teachers need to think about teaching science in the classroom and provided them with an easy and powerful solution for capturing data in real time.” – Brian Friedlander Ph.D. NSTA Blog – “It seemed obvious that the LabQuest 2 would be a real game changer in the data collection space, but after our field test, it seems more that the LabQuest 2 has invented an entirely new game.”

– Martin Horejsi

Read the full reviews of LabQuest 2 and the Connected Science System at www.vernier.com/labq2

Contacts

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

Follow us on Twitter and become our fan on Facebook

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Contents

CAST 2012 Photos

Calendar President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

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Contents

CAST 2012 Photos

Calendar President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

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Contents

STAT Award Winners

Calendar

Rookie - Outstanding Science Teacher

President’s Message

Kelsey Slaughter Frenship High School; Frenship ISD

Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos

Elementary - Outstanding Science Teacher Jennifer Wright Regina-Howell Elementary School; Beaumont ISD

STAT Award Winners CAST 2013

Middle School - Outstanding Science Teacher

Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member

Aimee Ayers OL Slaton Middle School; Lubbock ISD

High School - Outstanding Science Teacher

Lara Holbert Frenship High School; Frenship ISD

Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan

Distinguished Leadership in Science Award

American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative

Becky Lindsey Crosby ISD

Contacts

Skoog Cup

Dr. Louis Jacobs Southern Methodist University

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Contents Calendar President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners

CAST 2012 Sponsors Thank You for Helping Make CAST 2012 Possible!

For more information on each sponsor, please click their logo.

TM

CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

S

S

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TOUR CA*ST APPETITE FOR

Contents

2013 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 7-9 7-9 ** HOUSTON, HOUSTON, TX TX

Calendar

INSTRUCTION

President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners

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Musings of a Board Member

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Cuba Bird Watching Tour

Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

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KEEP THE BUNSENS BURNING

Contents Calendar President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member

Cuba Bird Watching Tour

By Alton Biggs

In October I was fortunate to have been asked to represent Holbrook Travel on a trip to Cuba. Be-

cause I’d previously led trips for Holbrook to the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, Machu Picchu in Peru and Costa Rica for the Texas Association of Biology Teachers, they thought I would be a good person to “handle the money” that would be needed to pay for guides, meals, tips, etc. Because not many people get a chance to visit Cuba I didn’t feel I could turn the request down.

The particular trip I accompanied was sponsored by the Audubon Society. The trip had two main purposes – to interact with the people of Cuba and to see the birds and other wildlife of the area. There were ten people in the group, including myself, and we were able to visit a surprising number of localities, including urban and rural, highlands and lowlands, caves and islands. The people of Cuba seemed extremely friendly and the birding was excellent. I’d go back in a heartbeat. (left) During the first day of the trip to Cuba we visited an urban park in Havana.

Schoolchildren there are working on a project called “Birds in the City” and they shared with the group some of their work to secure habitat for birds and other wildlife. (below) One of the primary reasons for the visit was to sight as many birds as possible. On the second day I photographed the Cuban Trogon (Priotelus temnurus), the national bird and an endemic species, in one of the dry forests of the island. Endemics are found nowhere else in the world, and we got to see several of them among our 130+ bird sightings.

Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

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Contents Calendar President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos

Cuba Bird Watching Tour (cont’d.) (right) Early morning mists cloaked the valleys of the Escambray Mountains in the center of Cuba. It was near this area that we visited a limestone cave where Che Guevara headquartered during the Cuban Missile Crisis. It was interesting to see the building that had been constructed for Guevara inside the cave and his bed that is still found in one the building’s rooms.

STAT Award Winners

(left) The Zapata wren (Fermnia cerverai), another endemic species, is the only member of its genus. This brownish bird was spotted in the dense shrubs of the marshy wetlands. The Zapata Peninsula is found on the southern side of Cuba.

CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan

(below) We visited the Korimakao Project, an experimental art foundation set up in the Zapata Swamp. Talented artists of various disciplines come to the area to work on their specialized art forms. The group was treated to a mini-concert by a group that has been making music together for approximately four years. The musicians seemed to enjoy the event as much as those of us in the audience.

American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

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Contents

Cuba Bird Watching Tour (cont’d.)

Calendar

(left) Our group visited Cayo Coco a long island just to the north of the main island of Cuba as Hurricane Sandy came across the island. The wind howled, but we were far enough away from the main storm that we didn’t experience its full wrath. While on Cayo Coco I was able to photograph still another endemic species of bird, the Gundlach Hawk or Cuban Black Hawk (Buteogallus gundlachii).

President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan

(right) We made a stop in Sancti Spiritus, UNESCO World Heritage Site. The pastel buildings reflected the Spanish influence, an seeing this Cuban cigarsmoking old man in front of his donkey lent an idea of the town’s culture. Cubans are a generally happy people and music fills the air in the evenings and accompanies almost every lunch and dinner meal.

American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

Alton Biggs taught for 32 years in Texas public schools, retiring from teaching in 2003. He continues as a coauthor of several textbooks for McGraw-Hill Education. Biggs has served in leadership roles in STAT, TABT, TAEE, and NABT, presently serving on the board of TABT. He is an Honorary Member of STAT, NABT, and TABT and has won awards including the Texas Outstanding Biology Teacher Award (OBTA), the Virginia Woods Award and was named a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M University-Commerce.

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Contents Calendar

Celebrating 15 Years with the 15 Greatest Hits, 1997-2012

President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol

Classroom Activities

CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan

Virtual Special Issue Journal of Chemical Education (JCE) classroom activities provide you with a fun, effective way to engage your students with hands-on science.

JCE has published over 100 ready-to-use Classroom Activities in the last 15 years, all using everyday items available at the grocery or hardware store.

American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

View them all at pubs.acs.org/r/classroom 22

And the Oscar Goes to...

A Chemist!

Activity #107

Contents Calendar President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

Musings of a Board Member

By Kiki Corry, STAT Member-at-Large

CAST is over and we’ve all

had time to get back into our normal routines. I’d like to share my reflections of CAST from the perspective of the STAT Board – the host of the conference.

First, just to clear up any misconceptions, the board did not spend the week in a board room eating bonbons and spinning around in big, puffy, rolly chairs. (Although if we did, you know we couldn’t resist comparing rotational velocity and mass because we don’t even know how to have fun without including science.)

We arrived on Tuesday of CAST week and held a full, normal STAT Executive Committee meeting; conducting business and making longer range plans before addressing the immediate needs of the week. Wednesday morning, I briefly visited the TSELA meeting before heading over to the convention center to unload boxes in preparation for CAST check-in. All those bags and programs and notepads…. giant heaps and piles of boxes….

It was totally worth it to be able to hand the bags as you arrived with your preprinted nametag and cheerfully assure you that there really was no line to stand in.

way to feel the pulse of a conference than to help people find their way. Those brief encounters tell volumes about what is and is not working for the participants. Of course I was blown away by The Great Planet Earth Debate on Thursday night. I am always so inspired when I see art and science combined. Friday both the keynote by Danny Forster and the screening of The Revisionaries were phenomenal.

By Saturday most questions at the information booth revolved around where to stand in line to get your hours validated. Again it was a pleasure to show you how the problem was solved for no lines.

In spite of the fact that I paid full registration, didn’t see a single workshop, short course or field trip and only sprinted across the exhibit hall a couple times, I had a fabulous time! Simply serving and being in the same place with thousands of the best science teachers in Texas is a rush that lasts all year. Those of you who came – Thank You! And those who were not fortunate enough to make the trip his year, start planning now to join us next year in Houston. Until then, Keep the Bunsens Burning!

I spent Thursday and Friday primarily directing traffic in a hallway or answering questions at the information booth. It was such a pleasure to see your eager faces as you hurried to your next workshop or field trip. I think there is no better

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Application Deadline Coming Soon!

Contents

Teachers, Principals and District Awards

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.

School districts can win $50,000 or $100,000.

Calendar

Early Childhood Award

President’s Message

The H-E-B Excellence in Education Early Childhood Award is designed to provide funds to public or private schools that focus on the care of children under the age of five.

Science Teachers Day at the Capitol

One winner will be selected to receive a $25,000 grant!

Visit heb.com/education today to submit your application.

All applications must be submitted by January 11, 2012.

CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners CAST 2013

©2012 HEB, 13-1020

Cuba Bird Watching Tour

Wherever your students learn science, they can use TI-Nspire technology. ™

Musings of a Board Member

With TI, you can now offer every student a one-to-one science learning experience every day in the classroom,

Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan

lab and field. TI-Nspire™ CX handhelds are permitted

Contacts

© 2012 Texas Instruments

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AD122.1CL

collection sensors. TI’s interactive science classroom also includes TI-Nspire™ Student Software for creating dynamic lab reports, powerful assessment tools and an

field

American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative

more than 50 Vernier Software & Technology™ data

lab

classroom

on many college entrance exams and compatible with

extensive library of free customizable online lessons.

Learn more at education.ti.com/us/science.

Contents Calendar

Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan

President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol

The core of who we are as Texans lies in the

Cuba Bird Watching Tour

sustenance, history and culture built around our natural world. The future of our natural and cultural resources depends on every one of us having a sense of place and our role in that place. Therefore a group of educators – formal, informal and higher ed – sat down to chart a path to natural resource/environmental literacy for Texas. A couple dozen writers were convened from all over the state, other states’ plans were collected and compared, and the Texas Natural Resource/Environmental Literacy Plan was born.

Musings of a Board Member

The vision statement encapsulates the goal of elevating appreciation and knowledge that leads to personal commitment.

Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan

All Texans value Texas’ natural resources, know the principles of natural resources stewardship and live sustainably.

CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners CAST 2013

American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

This lofty task was broken down into six goals. Each addressed a different aspect or audience: Community, Formal Education, Informal Education, Professional Development, Funding, and Assessment.

On January 15, 2013 in San Antonio there will be a Summit to unveil the plan and identify first steps and leadership for implementation. For information about the plan or the summit check out the Texas Association for Environmental Education website.

Buzzword Bingo & Alphabet Soup

by Kiki Corry Literacy – According to Merriam Webster online, literacy is the state of being able to read and write. So what about all the other literacies that are tossed around like ping pong balls? I have come to interpret literacy as more than just reading and writing, but having a deep, functional competency. For some, “science literacy” is the ability to read and write science content, which falls far short of what is outlined in the Benchmarks for Science Literacy from which I learned to teach. Is there a definitive definition for literacy? As best I can tell the answer is no.

When it comes to ___-Literacy, whoever is making the case defines what they are talking about. Or, often, intentionally does not define it, rather leaving the meaning open to individual interpretation. In the case of natural resource/environmental literacy the writers of the Texas Natural Resource/Environmental Literacy Plan (NR/ELP) describe it as “… the knowledge, skills and ability to understand, analyze and address major natural resource opportunities and challenges.”

For me the take-away message is: Never assume you know what someone is talking about when they use the word literacy. Also don’t expect them to be able to define it exactly.

Listen to how they use it in context and adjust your response accordingly.

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Contents

American Meteorological Society’s Educational Outreach Initiative

Calendar President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol

FREE Event 6–9 January 2013 AMS 93rd Annual Meeting Marriot Courtyard & Residence Inn 300 E. 4th Street Austin, Texas

CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan

Click Here for the Full Flyer and Registration Details As part of the American Meteorology Society’s (AMS) 93rd Annual Meeting to be held in January 2013 in Austin, Texas, the AMS is hosting a bold Educational Outreach Initiative to K-12 science teachers. This is an opportunity to connect teachers with some of the most innovative and forwarding thinking scientists, researchers, operational meteorologists, educators, student and other weather enthusiasts in our Nation, and to create a partnership to enhance our Nation’s ability to understand the causes of and response to severe weather events.

American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

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Contents Calendar

STAT Standing Committees

President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners

CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

Awards Committee Chair – Ross Ann Hill rahill@idalouisd.net

Nominations Committee

Chair – Sandra West sw04@txstate.edu

Chair – Ross Ann Hill rahill@idalouisd.net

Membership Committee

Chair – Patsy Magee magee@beaumont.k12.tx.us

Legal/Legislative Affairs Committee

CAST Committee

Chair – Lola Henning lola.henning@esc16.net

Archives Committee Chair – Karen Hewitt hewittkaren@yahoo.com

Policy & Procedures Committee Chair – Donald Burken donald.burken@springbranchisd.org

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Contents Elected Officers

STAT Office

Calendar President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol

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

CAST 2012 Photos

Phone: (512) 491-6685

STAT Award Winners

Fax: (512) 873-7423 www.statweb.org stat@bizaustin.rr.com

CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member

President: Sharon Kamas (281)-604-7000 president@statweb.org

Past President: Ross Ann Hill (806) 892-1900 pastpresident@statweb.org

President-Elect: Donald Burken (713) 723-0273 presidentelect@statweb.org

Treasurer: Terry Ward (817) 305-6741 treasurer@statweb.org

Vice President: Lola West (806) 677-5187 vicepresident@statweb.org

Secretary: Jo Anne Jackson (806) 766-1162 secretary@statweb.org

Members At Large: Kiki Corry George Hademenos Melana Silva

kiki@statweb.org george@statweb.org melana@statweb.org

Appointed Positions

Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan

Executive Director: Chuck Hempstead (512) 491-6685 stat@bizaustin.rr.com

American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative

TEA Representative:

Irene Pickhardt Curriculum Division: Science (512) 463-9581 irene.pickhardt@tea.state.tx.us

Assistant Executive Director: Lauren Swetland STATellite Submissions: (512) 491-6685 lauren@statweb.org

Contacts

CAST Exhibits Manager & Advertising Manager: Frank Butcher (281) 424-1230 frank.butcher@comcast.net 28 28

(512) 491-6685 publications@statweb.org

Contents Calendar President’s Message

ACT

Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

TABT

Texas Association of Biology Teachers Matthew Wells

ISEA

Associated Chemistry Teachers of Texas

Informal Science Education Association

Amiee Modic

Amy Moreland

amodic@sbcglobal.net

amy.l.moreland@gmail.com

TAEE

TCES

Texas Association for Environmental Education Sally Wall

Texas Council of Elementary Science Deborah Rang

mwells@springisd.org

swall@gccisd.net

deborah_rang@roundrockisd. org

TESTA

TMEA

TSAAPT

Texas Earth Science Teachers Association

Texas Marine Educators Association

Gail Gant

Marolyn Smith

ggant@sjs.org

marolyn.smith@yahoo.com

Texas Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers Paul Williams

pwill@austincc.edu

TSELA

Texas Science Education Leadership Association Kevin Fisher

kfisher56@msn.com

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Contents Barbara Cargill, Chair Bob Craig, Vice Chair Mary Helen Berlanga, Secretary

Calendar President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol

SBOE District 1 - Charlie Garza

SBOE District 10 - Marsha Farney

CAST 2012 Photos

SBOE District 2 - Mary Helen Berlanga

SBOE District 11 - Patricia Hardy

12453 Tierra Cipres Dr. El Paso, Texas 79938 (915) 630-2427

2727 Morgan Avenue Corpus Christi, TX 78405 (361) 881-1000 (361) 881-1028 fax

STAT Award Winners

Cuba Bird Watching Tour

SBOE District 12 - George Clayton

SBOE District 4 - Lawrence A. Allen, Jr.

SBOE District 13 - Mavis B. Knight

2130 Vermillion Oak St. Fresno, Texas 77545 (713) 203-1355

Musings of a Board Member

SBOE District 5- Ken Mercer P.O. Box 781301 San Antonio, TX 78278-1301 (512) 463-9007

Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan

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

American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative

900 North Elm Weatherford, TX 76086 (817) 598-2968 (817) 598-2833 fax

SBOE District 3- Michael Soto 2034 W. Kings Hwy. San Antonio, TX 78201 (210) 685-8378

CAST 2013

P.O. Box 99 Georgetown, Texas 78627 (512) 966-6771

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

526 Tiffany Trail Richardson, Texas 75081 (972) 834-3618 6108 Red Bird Court Dallas, TX 75232 (214) 333-9575 (214) 339-9242 fax

SBOE District 14 - Gail Lowe

11 Chris Avenue Lampasas, TX 76550 (512) 556-6262 (512) 936-4319 fax

SBOE District 15 - Bob Craig

P.O. Box 1979 Lubbock, TX 79408-1979 (806) 744-3232 (806) 744-2211 fax

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

Contacts

SBOE District 9 - Thomas Ratliff P.O. Box 232 Mount Pleasant, TX 75456 (903) 717-1190

Need to find your state legislators?

Search by zip code at:

http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us 30

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Contents Calendar President’s Message Science Teachers Day at the Capitol CAST 2012 Photos STAT Award Winners CAST 2013 Cuba Bird Watching Tour Musings of a Board Member Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan American Meteorological Society Educational Outreach Initiative Contacts

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