Greetings Science Educators!
I hope the week finds you well and that you are all preparing for some much needed time off with the holiday nearing. I would like to apologize to everyone on the listserv. In my haste to forward information from the Oklahoma Educational Publishers Association, regarding the textbook caravan schedule, I sent out links that had errors in them. Below you will find a second attempt to convey the information I received last week.
Textbook Cycle Adoption Update:
The 2015 Approved Materials List, along with 2015 Caravan Schedule, can be located on the Oklahoma State Textbook Committee website http://oktextbooks.ok.gov/ . Once you go to the link look in the box labeled School District Information, the Approved Materials List is the first bullet in this box and the 2015 Caravan Schedule is the second bullet in the box.
If you have questions regarding anything related to the Textbook Adoption Cycle this year, contact Ms. Timmie Spangler, Director of Instructional Materials for the Oklahoma State Department of Education (405-521-3456) or Timmie.Spangler@sde.ok.gov.
Oklahoma Science Standards Framework Project: APPLY TODAY
REMINDER: Applications Due: December 2, 2014
Overview:
The Oklahoma State Department of Education is seeking science educators to participate in the development of the Oklahoma Science Standards Framework. The Oklahoma Science Standards Framework will provide educators with information and resources to develop curriculum aligned to the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science. The framework will not serve as curriculum itself. The Oklahoma Science Standards Framework will be modeled from a similar resource developed in Minnesota (the Minnesota Mathematics and Science Standards Framework).
- Resources may include the following deliverables:
- Classroom instructional suggestions and guidance
- Sample lessons or lesson ideas
- Classroom assessment suggestions (Formative and Summative)
- Other deliverables as determined necessary.
Oklahoma educators will be selected through the process defined in the attached application to serve as Framework writers.
Payment:
Oklahoma educators, selected through this application process, will be paid $4,500 ($642.85 monthly) for work to be completed from December 2014 thru June 2015. This fee includes all travel costs and other costs related to participating in the project. No other stipends or reimbursements will be made to participating educators for any reason.
Download the application to apply today! The applications are available in PDF and Word Format from the link above.
Science Standards Regional Workshops
Two new locations were added last week and there are still spaces available at the following locations:
- December 11th -12th: Idabel – Kiamichi Technology Center
- January 15th -16th: Sapulpa – Woodlawn Elementary
- January 22nd-23rd: Durant – Kiamichi Technology Center
- February 12th – 13th: Altus – Southwest Technology Center
- February 17th -18th: Tahlequah – NSU University Center
Workshop Details, Registration, Dates and Locations:
To register for one of the workshops and to get directions to the workshops go to:
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/science-standards-workshop-tickets-12977180095?aff=eorg
Resources Shared on #OKSci Facebook:
Check out the responses by other science educators to the questions below by joining the OKSci Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/118400268320217/
- Take a glimpse at this 2nd grade classroom exploring “States of Matter”. Q1: What do you notice about the role of the teacher and the roles of the students? Q2: How do these second graders argue from evidence? Q3: How are students prompted to explain how they know the solid changes to a liquid? Q4: What else did you pick up on that I missed? https://psu.app.box.com/s/l8d1up9deqezd5drc64c
- Science Talk Moves for facilitating small group and large group discussions. Q1: Are there other strategies you utilize for discussion in your classroom?
http://inquiryproject.terc.edu/assessme…/Goals_and_Moves.cfm
- Reposting Newsela: This website is a great place to find articles about current science topics. You can also change the readability of the text for different grade spans! Q1: Has anyone ever utilized any of the articles off of this space? Q2: If so, how did you utilize it? Q3: If you’ve never used this site, how would you utilize any of the articles you see here in classroom instruction?
https://newsela.com/articles/?category=science
Educator Opportunities:
Summer Teaching Seminar:
The National WWII Museum is excited to announce a week-long professional development opportunity to take place in the summer of 2015 for middle school (5-8th grade) science teachers. Twenty eight teachers from across the country will come to New Orleans to experience hands-on how necessity, knowledge, perseverance and skill lead to inventions, innovation, and careers in STEM—just like in World War II.
This seminary is supported by a grant from the Northrop Grumman Foundation. Teachers will receive free room and board in New Orleans, a travel stipend, and all seminar materials free of charge.
We are looking for great young teachers nationwide, and the application period begins January 5th2015. Please visit http://www.nationalww2museum.org/learn/education/for-teachers/summer-teacher-seminar.html for more information and to signup for email updates.
Stay Connected:
Social Media: Twitter: @tiffanyneill Facebook: #OKSci Hashtags: #oksde #OKSci #OKSTEM Sign Up for a Twitter account: https://twitter.com/ Accessing Archived Science Messages: You can access Archived Science Messages I’ve sent out since March (Actually, you can view most of the TiffanyGram Science Messages since April of 2012) via the Oklahoma Science Teachers Association (OSTA) website https://www.oklahomascienceteachersassociation.org/?cat=38. Scroll down to see previous posts. Science Listserv:Please encourage others to register for the science listserv and pass along the following registration link: Register for Science Listserv As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have and Happy Thanksgiving! – Tiffany