Science Newsletter
October 30, 2020
NOVEMBER 3 - PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Here are the sessions that will be offered:
- All-in-One: Student Collaboration & Assessment
- Let's Create an Online Adventure: Digital Escape Rooms
- Building Engagement: 10 Tips (listed in General PK-12 Sessions)
- 8th Grade Planning Session
- 5th Grade Planning Session
- Biology Retesters Collaboration Session
For full details and registration information on each session, please see the "CIA & Dual Language/ESL PD November 3 Flyer"
8TH GRADE CBA #2 AND BIOLOGY SEMESTER EXAM
Beginning Monday, November 9th, teachers will have the opportunity to vet the Curriculum-Based Assessment (CBA) #2 for 8th grade and the Fall Semester Exam for Biology and provide feedback and suggestions for improvement. The window to vet the assessments will open on Monday, November 9 and close end of day, Friday, November 13.
Teachers will have the option to vet the assessments in the following two ways (the protocol is the same either option):
Option 1: Synchronous Zoom Meeting, Nov 9, 4:15 to 5:15
Option 2: Asynchronous Google Classroom Assignment to complete the CBA Vetting Protocol by Nov 13, 2020 at your own pace
Regardless of the option chosen, teachers who are interested in vetting the assessments for either 8th Grade or Biology, need to fill out the “Secondary Assessment Review Form” by 4:45 pm on Friday, November 6 in order to receive access to the assessment material. Once participates have completed the form, further information will be emailed directly to them.
TEACHING COVID TO STUDENTS - FREE WEBINARS
Houghton-Mifflin-Harcourt is offering complimentary webinars presenting by HMH science author, Michael DiSpezio, the chosen speaker on COVID-19 for NSTA.
What do students really know about COVID-19, and what should they know? How can the understanding of science help keep students, families, and teachers safe? Find out in these engaging and informative sessions in which Michael will address the teaching of COVID-19 in today's classroom.
- Ready-to-go STEM activities appropriate for each grade band will be shared
- Learn about the latest in vaccine and therapy development
- Writing connections will also be addressed...Science and Writing: Better Together
Register for the session(s) that work best for you!
Teaching COVID-19 to Grades 3-5 Students
Tuesday, November 10th
4:00-5:00pm Central: CLICK HERE to register
5:30-6:30pm Central: CLICK HERE to register
Teaching COVID-19 to High School Students
Thursday, November 12th
4:00-5:00pm Central: CLICK HERE to register
5:30-6:30pm Central: CLICK HERE to register
Teaching COVID-19 to Middle School Students
Tuesday, November 17th
4:00-5:00pm Central: CLICK HERE to register
5:30-6:30pm Central: CLICK HERE to registerGIZMOS IS EXPANDING TO MIDDLE SCHOOLS!
BIOLOGY DECEMBER EOC COUNTDOWN NOW AVAILABLE
CBA #1 FOR GRADE 5
The final version of the 5th Grade CBA in both English and Spanish will be made available to teachers on the Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment website on November 2. The assessment window for the 5th grade CBA is November 9 to November 12.
Click here to assess the SAISD Assessment Calendar.
STEMSCOPES PRODUCT UPDATES
In addition to updating their resources to be more adaptable to virtual learning, STEMscopes has released two documents to support hybrid instruction using those resources:
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OPEN FOR NEW HS TEKS
At the September 2020 State Board of Education (SBOE) meeting, the SBOE approved for first reading and filing authorization proposed new Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for the following high school science courses: Biology, Chemistry, Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC), and Physics. The proposal recommends an implementation date of the 2023–2024 school year. The SBOE is scheduled to consider the proposed new TEKS for second reading and final adoption at its November 2020 meeting.
The official public comment period for the proposed new TEKS for high school science is now open. To view the proposed revisions and submit public comments, visit
Public Comment Period: October 9, 2020–November 13, 2020
When submitting a comment, please be sure to include the course name(s), the number of the knowledge and skill statement, and the letter of the student expectation, if applicable (for example, Chemistry, 13.C).
You are encouraged to submit public comments as early in the comment period as possible. Public comments will be shared with SBOE members and their content advisors each week. Specific, actionable feedback submitted early in the 30-day timeframe provides SBOE members with more information and time to consider comments.
TEA COMMITTEE APPLICATIONS
Applications Now Available for:
Science TEKS Review Committee
Instructional Materials Reviews
STAAR and/or STAAR Spanish
SCOBEE PLANETARIUM OFFERINGS
UT AUSTIN'S FABFEMS FRIDAYS
UT Austin’s Women in Engineering Program FabFems Fridays
UT Austin’s Women in Engineering Program (UTWEP) is hosting 4 “FabFems Fridays” this fall from 12 – 12:45 p.m. Anyone is welcome to join in! Info and registration links below. NOTE: the target audience is high school students considering engineering as a major and current engineering students. All FabFems Fridays will be recorded and posted in our Career Chats playlist on YouTube.
Friday, November 6 - FabFems Friday: Celebrating Engineers in Law
Register: https://utexas.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5-wfOt5sTcaoFoSf1tgDdQ
Join UTWEP for a panel discussion with Cockrell School alums and engineers with law career paths and experiences. Hear their educational and career stories, successes and struggles. Get inspired! And get your questions answered.
Friday, November 13 - FabFems Friday: Celebrating UT Austin Women in STEM Student Organizations
Join UTWEP for a panel discussion with student leaders from the Women in STEM Leadership Collaborative (student organizations and programs from across UT Austin that serve and support STEM students who identify as women). Hear their educational and career stories, successes and struggles. Get inspired! And get your questions answered.
Register: https://utexas.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0udOqhrTsiH9YhzqAKfWjdTeL73wBgtGaf
DEPARTMENT CHAIR MEETINGS
November 10, January 12, February 9, March 23
Middle School (4:45 - 6:00)
December 1, January 26, February 23, March 30
Academic Coordinating Teachers ACTs (4:00 - 5:30)
February 11
Angela Paskell, Director of Science
Email: apaskell1@saisd.net
Website: www.saisd.net/science
Location: 406 Barrera Street, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: 210-554-2525
Twitter: @SAISD_Science