Science Newsletter
November 25, 2014
In this special update edition...
- Important dates
- Shout outs
- Science curriculum office updates: Textbook adoption, Oklahoma Academic Standards
Important Dates
- PASCO STEM Educator Award nominations (provides funding to travel to NSTA conferences)- November 30
- AP Grants- due December 15
- National Middle Level Science Teacher Association award application- due December 31
- Ag in the Classroom grants- due January 30
- OERB workshop- February 21
- High school benchmark dates: December 5 (extended to December 11), March 11, May 6 (except biology)
- Middle school benchmark dates: December 19, March 11, May 13 (except 8th grade)
Shout Outs
- Kudos to Memorial HS for their ongoing efforts to make science fun! Research shows that when students enjoy what they are doing in science class, they achieve at higher rates, and are more likely to pursue careers in science.
- Congrats to the schools that received the $5000 Continental grants, which will enable the schools to implement STEM programs. Northern Hills, Santa Fe, and Central received awards (if your school received an award but are not listed here, please let me know!).
Science curriculum office updates
Textbook adoption
Textbook subcommittees
Textbook committee
Tara Fair- EPSAC- Administrator
Glenda Choate- EPSAC- Administrator
Dan Vincent- Washington Irving Parent
Andrew Schneider- Sequoyah 8th grade
TJ Dortch- Memorial HS department head- Physical Sciences
Debbie Gateley- Santa Fe- Biological Sciences
Stacy Ruston- Ida Freeman 5th grade
Ruth Zumwalt- North- Biological Sciences
Betsie Polk- Orvis Risner- 4th grade
Kathy Combs- Frontier 5th grade
Oklahoma Academic Standards
The following individuals have worked hard to dig into the standards and determine what content must be covered under the new standards. To those of you who served on these committees, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK!
- Amy Miller
- Andrea Freeman
- Kelli Johnson
- Kim Terrell
- Kimberly Miller
- Kim Cady
- Kelly Fite
- Shannon Toney
- Tracy Fugate
- Denise Fowler
- Adam Delph
- Andrew Schneider
- Ashley Baird
- Kayla Lowery
- Danna Szymanski
- Delen Lecompte
- Richard Opalka
- Kim Kerr
- Gloria Vass
- Darryl Humann
- Penny Antkowiak
- Robyn Gunter
- Ellen Jezercak
- Tana Venturino
In addition, I would also like to give a BIG THANK YOU to the following individuals, who have been working on developing curriculum for the new standards:
- Jina Sloan
- Sean Duty
- Sharron Wolf
- Adam Delph
- Chad Stansberry
- Dusty White
- Ladine Kunnanz
- Shannon Toney
- Ashley Baird
- Danee Boland
- Katherine Combs
- Kayla Lowery
- Kimberly Kerr
- Mary Thompson
This work will continue throughout the remainder of this year and the first part of next year. By the end of next school year, new SOAR guides will be completed for every grade/subject.