Secondary Science Newsletter
May-June, 2019
Finish Strong
Starting Strong is Good, Finishing Strong is Epic. - Robin Sharma
With graduations underway and the end of the school year looming, I want to congratulate you on a successful school year. The work you have done this year has helped your students develop traits that will help them navigate the next school year or the next stage in their lives. Take time to celebrate all of the accomplishments your students achieved this year, whether it was developing an inquiry experiment, writing a scientific explanation, or deepening their critical thinking skills, this year has moved us forward as content leaders.
I would like to thank you for that contribution to our students' success and challenge you to continue that push until the end of the year. Having the stamina to finish strong increases grit, which is a more reliable predictor of academic or professional success than even IQ. So, have a great and rigorous end to the school year, celebrate your successes, and then rest, explore, and rejuvenate over the summer! As always, please let us know how we can support you! Have a wonderful and safe break.
We look forward to seeing you in the fall!
Tiffany Wendland
Coordinator, Secondary Science
BCPS NGSS NEWS
High School Curriculum Updates
Students taking AP Environmental Science as 9th graders instead of Earth Systems must have coursework aligned with the performance expectations from the Earth Systems Space Unit and they must complete the Earth Systems Capstone Project. In order to assist with the implementation of these portions of the curriculum, assignments for the Earth Systems Space Unit and the Capstone Project were added to the AP Environmental Resource Share Group. These assignments include options that can be added to Schoology courses and used with students. These assignments will help your students meet the requirements of NGSS and Student Service Learning.
The NGSS capstone projects are beginning and/or currently underway. Earth Systems teachers are working with their students to design a sustainable solution that addresses a defined local environmental issue. Living Systems teachers are working with their students to create a publication that educates people about a declining species and the efforts to conserve that species. IPC teachers are working with their students to develop a presentation about a technological innovation and its impact on human society. NGSS Chemistry teachers are working with their students to explain how an innovation addresses a global challenge and how chemistry fields are required to develop and/or test the innovation.
High School Summer Curriculum Writing
This summer, curriculum writers will be busy working on several high school curricula. During the NGSS Chemistry workshop, writers will develop learning cycle documents, learning cycle summative assessments and incorporate feedback from student and teacher surveys in order to improve the curriculum. The NGSS Physics workshop will be bundling performance expectations and indicators into units and creating culminating events in order to reflect the pedagogical shifts that align with the NGSS. The IPC workshop will be using data from student and teacher surveys in order to improve the curriculum. The High School Assessment and Differentiation workshop will focus on adding in options for differentiation within the NGSS aligned courses.
For the most up-to-date NGSS news and resources, visit the NGSS website. Also, be sure to join the National Science Teachers Association for great lesson ideas and NGSS updates.
Middle School Updates
#NGSSStrong The end of this school year marks the culmination of a new era. At this point, all MS Science grade levels have a NGSS Course in place. The final Grade 8 course was piloted this year culminating a six-year journey. This summer we will have a week-long workshop to review and revise Grade 8 Science based upon teacher and student surveys as well as feedback from the professional learning workshops that took place over the past year. We have also been revising assessments and condensing Learning Cycles where appropriate in Grades 6 and 7. To that end, there is a curriculum workshop dedicated to assessment with the goal of continuing to improve the LC Summatives and Culminating Events by providing more items that model MISA tasks and offering more differentiation options. The final curriculum writing workshop is aimed at developing a scope and sequence for MS elective courses. It is an exciting new day for Middle School Science! A list of updates for each grade level will be included in the PowerPoint for Professional Study Day.
For the most up-to-date NGSS news and resources, visit the NGSS website. Also, be sure to join the National Science Teachers Association for great lesson ideas and NGSS updates.
We have created student and teacher versions of surveys for each of our NGSS Courses (Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Earth Systems, Living Systems, IPC, and NGSS Chemistry). The surveys have been uploaded to their respective course folders in Schoology and are in Page format. Directions for adding the student survey to your course(s) and assigning it to students are available in the main Secondary Science resources folder. Our preference is for the surveys to be completed through Schoology. However, if you would like a printer-friendly version or hard copies, please let Amy-Chili know. achilinguerian@bcps.org
Feedback from students and teachers is critical to the curriculum writing and improvement process. Be assured that all responses will be kept confidential and used for Office of Science-related purposes only. We thank you in advance for giving your students the opportunity to provide their feedback and for taking the opportunity to do so yourself!
BCPS Represents at the National NSTA Conference in St. Louis!
TEACHER FEATURE
LaShawn Brown, Milford Mill Academy
LaShawn Brown has been teaching for 11 years in BCPS and is a first-year science department chair at Milford Mill Academy.
Office of Science (Oos): Tell us about yourself - how many years have you been teaching, which subjects, which schools, etc.
Mrs. Brown: I am a career-changer - a former scientist turned science teacher. I started my teaching career at New Town High School where I taught Biology (Standard, Honors, GT), Environmental Science (Standard and AP), Project Lead The Way Biomedical Sciences courses, and CPIB. After 7 years, I took a position as magnet coordinator at Old Court Middle/ Northwest Academy of Health Sciences. I worked to write curriculum for the 6, 7, and 8th grade magnet courses using my background as a scientist and PLTW teacher along with the support of high school Allied Health Profession teachers and the Office of CTE. After 3 years of working as coordinator, I accepted a position as department chair at Milford Mill Academy. I have loved every moment. Ok, I have loved enough minutes that I don’t regret my choice to return to high school science.
OoS: What do you like best about your (new) Department Chair (DC) role?
Mrs. Brown: I love supporting my department in implementing NGSS courses and schoolwide initiatives. I didn’t know how resourceful I could be until I became a DC. Before, the decisions I made in my classroom only affected my students; now my decisions impact more people and sometimes those decisions require self-sacrifice.
OoS: What experiences have helped you prepare and/or support you to be an instructional leader?
Mrs. Brown: Writing curriculum has really helped prepare me for instructional leadership. I had to learn the standards and then select activities to support students to demonstrate mastery that was hands-on. Working on Unit Overviews for teacher use helped me to plan activities with adult learners (teachers) and students in mind. Participating in PD through AVID and NSTA conferences helped keep me continue to grow as a teacher as initiatives change. Working as magnet coordinator where I had to develop a program from the ground up including recruiting patterns and programs, writing health sciences curriculum, and developing internal and external relationships with stakeholders, helped me to recognize the importance of considering your audience by listening to and addressing their needs.
OoS: What about the transition to NGSS excites you?
Mrs. Brown: Student choice in the products for Summative Assessments and Culminating Events. I didn’t know how talented and creative my students could be until I assigned a Summative that allowed student choice. I have artists, poets, and storytellers in my classroom and didn’t even know it. Once I introduce a task and success criteria, my students are free agents to create and do what needs to be done to be successful.
OoS: What has been your/your students' biggest challenge with the new curricula?
Mrs. Brown: My biggest challenge was that there aren’t a lot of labs associated with the curriculum. My students' biggest challenge was that there were "so many projects," as my students would say. They are more familiar with packets and tests. They prefer a right or wrong answer situation, not multiple ways to get to the same place. The students aren’t familiar with the tool they have in their device and were sometimes resistant to complete projects that are open ended.
OoS: What advice do you have for teachers considering the DC role?
Mrs. Brown: Do it. DO it if you are ready for the challenge of being at the front of instructional change from school administration and central office. DO it if you love helping teachers grow and endure challenges. DO it if you enjoy learning and teaching whatever may come your way based on need. DO it because YOU want to. DON’T DO it for the money - you won’t notice it.
OoS: What are you doing for fun this summer?
Mrs. Brown: I am going to explore a few hobbies that I have started but can’t dedicate time to during the school as much as I want. I have a list of books I want to tackle and just chill out or recharge my battery for the upcoming school year.
Show Us Your Stuff!!
Want to be the next featured teacher? Send us an email, tag us on Twitter, or call the Office of Science.
Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA) Updates
High School MISA
Beginning with the 2018-19 school year, the HS MISA is fully operational, consisting of five 40-minutes sessions. As this is the final year that the test has a no-fault designation, ALL 9th GRADE STUDENTS as well as students in Grades 10 through 12 who have not yet met their high school science assessment requirement should take the test this May. The final year of no-fault designation was one factor that contributed to the decision to test 9th graders this year. This decision was made by Executive Leadership in the Office of Academics and the Division of Research, Assessment and Accountability in consultation with the Office of Science. The testing schedule, i.e., when students will take the test during the May 7 to June 7 testing window and if/how class schedules will be modified to accommodate testing, is a site-based decision.
We are aware that students will be unfamiliar with some of the content on the test. We thank you in advance for encouraging your students to do their best.
Beginning with the 2019-20 school year, High School MISA results will be reported for federal accountability. Students who take the MISA during the 2019-2020 or beyond will have to pass the test to fulfill their science assessment graduation requirement.
Supporting Success on the High School MISA
The Office of Science has and will put into place several supports for student success on the High School MISA. Current and planned supports are:
- Beginning with the 9th grade class of 2019-2020, students will take the HS MISA in May of their 10-grade year
- The inclusion of MISA-style assessments, e.g., Learning Cycle Summative Assessments, in our NGSS courses
- The integration of the seven tested Physical Science Performance Expectations (PEs) into existing Earth and Living Systems units so that students can develop understanding of these concepts prior to taking the MISA in May of their 10th grade year
- Schoology modules aligned to the 22 tested PEs that can be used for remediation
This webinar provides additional information about these supports. If you have questions about the High School MISA and/or graduation requirements related to science, please contact the Office of Science, speak with your Department Chair or post your questions to this padlet.
In addition, HS MISA Practice items are available on the Measured Progress website. Two sets of released items and sample student responses are available on the MSDE MISA webpage. We will add these resources to the High School MISA Supports folder within the Secondary Science Group in Schoology.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
2019 EcoBlitz
On April 2, 2019 students and teachers from ten BCPS high schools convened at Camp Puh’tok in Northern Baltimore County for the 2019 Eco-Blitz. Approximately 90 students conducted hands-on investigations at three habitats within the camp ecosystem in order to explore ecosystem health and biodiversity. Facilitators modeled field investigation techniques for teachers while students gained valuable field experience and content knowledge. Stations culminated with students carrying out various actions to enhance habitat, improve biodiversity and teach others. Students enhanced in-stream habitat, constructed a pollinator hotel and designed informational signage. Rather than competing, students collaborated with peers from across the county to explore and improve the Camp Puh’tok ecosystem.
Spring Outdoor Science programs have engaged over 3000 students in curriculum-based field investigations on schoolyards and at local parks and program sites. We are excited to work with visual arts students from Dundalk Middle and High schools in the next few weeks as they come to Days Cove to paint environmental murals on our canoe shed. Students met with professional muralist Ryan Patterson along with staff from the Office of Visual Arts at Days Cove on April 23rd and explored the Days Cove ecosystem by canoe. Students have been working with their teachers, Jennifer Moss and Karly Rosencrans, to refine mural ideas and concepts to convey over the past few weeks and will work with Mr. Patterson and Office of Science staff to create the final designs. Students will be painting the shed in late May and early June. Outdoor Science staff will be using the murals as an instructional tool for future programming at Days Cove.
As the spring program season wraps up, we are already preparing for the fall. Registration for fall Secondary Outdoor Science programming has closed and we are currently working on creating a schedule to meet record breaking demand. Programming for over 7000 students has been requested from grades 6-12 both at local field investigations sites and schoolyard-based programs. Once the school calendar has been finalized, confirmation letters will be sent out to schools with copies sent to all department chairs. If plans or school assignments have changed, please notify Joe Davis at jdavis3@bcps.org immediately so those program slots may be opened for other schools. In addition, schools participating in the Grade 6 Camp Puh’tok Ecosystem Study should not sign up for other grade 6 BCPS Outdoor Science programming. We ask that all teachers get program dates on the school calendar, secure buses and complete necessary paperwork at least six to eight weeks in advance of programming to avoid last minute cancellations. We look forward to another fun and engaging Fall field season!!
Joe: jdavis3@bcps.org, Matt: mbudinger@bcps.org
Summer MWEE Institutes
We are happy to announce that teachers will have the opportunity to learn more about local environmental issues and how to design and carry out meaningful watershed educational experiences this summer. The Office of Science is offering the NGSS Professional Learning - MWEE & Outdoor Education Institute during the weeks of 6/24 - 6/29 and then again on 8/19 - 8/23. During the course, participants will meet at local parks and Outdoor Science program sites to explore environmental issues and connections to the Next Generation Science Standards. Teachers will use interactive notebooks to process new learning and to plan ways to promote environmental literacy while implementing the BCPS Science curriculum.
GET YOUR GROWTH ON
Krystal's Top 3 Ideas for Summer At Home Professional Learning
1. Twitter is a great way to connect with other amazing educators, share ideas, and continue your growth. Join Twitter (if you haven’t already) and follow the inspiring twitter handles below:
- @JonGordon: Author of inspirational books like “The Energy Bus”
- @Teacher2Teacher: Devoted to connecting teachers
- @paulandersen: 2011 National Teacher of the Year Finalist and educational consultant that specializes in NGSS, educational technology, flipped classrooms, and educational design
- @teachbetterteam: Supporting commitment to growth
2. Discovery Education Professional Learning
There are modules and step-by-step guides for using the variety of resources within Discovery Education. To access these options log in to BCPSone, click on “Digital Content,” then click on “Discovery Education.”
a. Interactive courses: Professional learning (left hand side of your screen) --> Learn and Lead --> Interactive courses (left and center pictures above)
- Modules that share information about the resource as well as tips for implementation in your classroom.
b. Step-by-step Guides: Professional learning (left hand side of your screen) --> Learn and Lead --> Step-by-step Guides (right picture above)
- “how to” guides for using features and resources within Discovery Education
3. Kids Deserve It
I highly recommend reading the book “Kids Deserve It” by Todd Nesloney and Adam Welcome. This is an easy read, affordable, and a great way to remember and refuel “your why.”
Please take a few minutes to complete this survey about your favorite professional learning resource.
SAFETY SPACE
Preventing tick bites
Tick exposure can occur year-round, but ticks are most active during warmer months (April-September). Know which ticks are most common in your area.
Before You Go Outdoors
- Know where to expect ticks. Ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, or even on animals. Spending time outside walking your dog, camping, gardening, or hunting could bring you in close contact with ticks. Many people get ticks in their own yard or neighborhood.
- Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remain protective through several washings. Alternatively, you can buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
- Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. EPA’s helpful search tool can help you find the product that best suits your needs. Always follow product instructions.
- Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old.
- Do not use products containing OLE or PMD on children under 3 years old.
- Avoid Contact with Ticks
- Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
- Walk in the center of trails.
WHAT'S TWEETING?
SCIENCE FOR STUDENTS
Congratulations to all of our Maryland State MESA Day Teams and Good Luck to Eastern Tech at Nationals!
A team from Eastern Technical High School has qualified to represent Maryland at the MESA USA National Engineering Design Challenge Competition to be held in Tucson, Arizona, in June 2019. From left to right, the winning teammates are Hana Harwood, Aneisa Jangbahadur, AJ Saquilayan, and Chris Tang. The Eastern Tech team qualified for the national competition with their first-place finish in the National Engineering Design Challenge during Maryland MESA (Mathematics, Engineering & Science Achievement) Day. Eastern Tech also placed second in the CyberRobot Code-Writing Challenge.
Twelve teams from six BCPS schools participated in Maryland MESA Day, held on Saturday, May 18, at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. Teams from the following schools participated: Chadwick, Randallstown, and Timber Grove elementary schools; Deer Park Magnet and Stemmers Run middle schools; and Eastern Tech.
In the middle school challenges, a team from Stemmers Run placed second in the Wearable Technology event.
“While our elementary school MESA teams did not place in any of the challenges, their work in preparing and presenting is to be congratulated,” said Ann Meckel, coordinator of MESA for BCPS. “Congratulations to all the teams for their terrific work in representing MESA BCPS at the Maryland State MESA Day. Competition was fierce with at least eight teams competing in almost every event.”
Bernice H. Johnson Memorial Scholarship for the Promotion of Alzheimer's Research
· Be a current female senior in Baltimore County Public Schools.
· Have a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0.
· Provide verification of acceptance to an accredited two- or four-year college in a STEM field.
· Complete the scholarship application and personally write a scholarship application essay. The essay must be typed, double-spaced, in 12-point font with a maximum of 500 words. The essay must focus on the essay question, “As a student selecting to major in a STEM field, how would you use your degree to study ways to combat Alzheimer’s Disease?”
· Is a United States citizen or permanent resident.
· Provide the required two letters of recommendation; one for character and one for academic achievement.
Information is available in Naviance. The deadline to submit an application is Thursday, May 30, 2019. Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s): Melanie Martin, Coordinator 443-809-0291
Save the Date! USA Science and Engineering Festival
April 25-26, 2020 in Washington, DC! The nation's largest celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) returns to Washington, DC!
Mission
Our mission is to stimulate and sustain the interest of our nation’s youth in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by producing and presenting the most compelling, exciting, and educational Festival in the world.
Key Highlights from Past Festivals
- Festival Expo takes over the entire Washington, DC Convention Center, utilizing over 2.3 million square feet of space with 3,000+ hands-on activities, 50+ stage shows, 1,000+ participating organizations, 2,000+ participating schools and 1,000+ volunteers.
- X-STEM Symposium hosted annually – included 60+ amazing speakers and 7,500 students and VIP attendees per event.
- Sneak Peek Friday included 65K students, teachers, military families, government officials & media.
- Science Celebrities drew big crowds and helped spread the word about the Festival through their huge social media followings.
- View our 2018 Sponsor Recap Report.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
BCPS NGSS Summer Professional Learning
We still have a couple of spots open in our NGSS Summer Institutes! If the hyperlinks below don't work, please access the Professional Learning registration system via BCPSOne. All offerings are available in the Workshops - Summer Professional Development Catalog and their titles begin with "NGSS Professional Learning." Teachers will receive a stipend (staff development hourly rate) for their participation.
MWEE/Outdoor Education (open to HS and MS; select June 24-28 OR August 19-23):
This five-day PD is most appropriate for our Grade 8 and Earth Systems teachers as these are the respective grades/courses that have our required MWEEs (Meaingful Watershed Educational Experiences; MSDE Environmental Literacy requirement). However, ideas for Grade 6, Living Systems, and APES and AP Bio can also be shared. Joe and Matt can tailor experiences once they see the class list. Participants will meet at various public parks and recreation areas around Baltimore County. In the case of inclement weather, June institute participants will report to Loch Raven High School and August institute participants will report to Chesapeake High School.
Grade 8 Institute (7/29-30)
Middle School NGSS Best Practices (7/31-8/2)
This three-day institute is for teachers of any middle school NGSS course. As a group, we will spend time exploring the pedagogical shifts expected of teaching aligned to NGSS. Participants will also have time to collaborate within grade-level groups and start planning for the 2019-2020 school year. Registration priority will be given to teachers new to our MS NGSS courses.
High School NGSS Best Practices (8/19-20)
This two-day institute is for teachers of any high school NGSS course. As a group, we will spend time exploring the pedagogical shifts expected of teaching aligned to NGSS. Participants will also have time to collaborate within course-specific groups and start planning for the 2019-2020 school year. Registration priority will be given to teachers new to our HS NGSS courses.
Contact Julie Damico at jdamico@bcps.org if you have any questions.
Save the Date(s)!
2019 STEM Summer Classes at NDMU
Notre Dame of Maryland University is offering several STEM classes this summer. All courses are $1,450. Registration is available here
- Environmental Field Study 6/24 - 6/28 (8:30am - 4pm)
- STEM Institute 7/29 - 8/2 (8:30am - 4pm)
- Technology of STEM Educators 7/28 - 7/26 (M, W, TH; 6 to 9:15pm)
If you have program or application questions, please contact the academic advisor, Donna Schissler at dschissler@ndm.edu
OSPREY BANDING
Contact us
Email: officeofscience@bcps.org
Website: http://www.bcps.org/offices/science/
Location: 105 W Chesapeake Ave, Towson, MD, United States
Phone: 443-809-4251
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BCPSOfficeofScience
Twitter: @BCPSSci