General Science Info: PLC's/Content
No More Mass Communication For Awhile Following This....
Thanks SO MUCH for your attention to detail & hope everyone is hanging in there!
I know it's been hectic for everyone lately----our lives & general mental states may somewhat resemble the bustling city street in the background of this flyer. Illness is spreading, weather is playing mean tricks, and there are distractions galore to your instruction between extracurricular activities & widespread testing of various types.
Hang in there & stay the course....some possible respite is on the way with some workdays and holidays approaching!
PLC Information & Concepts of the Idea
Intro to PLC Philosophy
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/profdev/resources/proflearn/
Who are the teachers within our county that do what we do--just at different locations? I recently spoke with a teacher that stated that we are all reinventing the wheel with certain items, when in fact it is totally unnecessary. I couldn't agree more. One school has members within a particular content area that are reaching out to colleagues at other schools in order to expand their horizons. What a terrific idea!
PLC's are all about sharing--with the main goal being EVERYONE expanding/improving as a professional.
No matter how large & well-stocked that "educational toolbox" is, isn't it nice to get a shiny new upgrade from time to time?!?!
Any trade has change associated with it during a person's career and teaching is no different. Contemplate for a moment the new faces in your dept this year. Can you imagine solely using medical techniques/technologies from the 1980's or 1990's today?
How quickly would your medical license be pulled in that situation? Best case scenario would be a malpractice suit that may only somewhat significantly harm your finances. The point I'm making here is that if you're not moving forward progressively, and rather choosing to be apathetic/passive/stagnant/resistant to new ideas, you're not only remaining idle----I believe you are moving backwards.
BTW, I'm seeing SO many wonderful lessons as I visit various instructors around the county: Group/team engaging activities, hands-on & minds-involved learning, inquiry labs, tech tools (ie. Google classroom, Kahoot, Moodle, etc...).
It is stated that variety is "the spice of life" & that adage is just so "on-point" in teaching.
I write this "editorial piece" because I want everyone to accept the subtle challenge of adding some different "wrinkles" to their instruction that will engage & further motivate students; as well as reinvigorating the teacher themselves if that indeed is needed. I will always add great resources & ideas to my communications such as the previously mentioned Kahoot, SuperTeacher Tools, Review Game Zone, etc....(tons of freebies are out there & again many have been alluded to on prior flyers).
However, these recommendations are only worth mentioning if educators are willing to take a chance & dive into something new. Initial time investment required (short term loss); with a long term gain in adding a plethora of resources to that "toolbox"!
Possibility to make great things happen (2 Steps):
1) Take a moment to reflect on your current practice & gauge where you are along the continuum. Thank you kindly!
2) Now, take action and make the necessary adjustments based upon your estimation! Think: Network, learn, mentor, and/or take chances as needed.
RESULT: HAPPY teacher, HAPPY student, BETTER educational environment! Hurrah!!!!
Are the penguin photos making more sense now? :)
UCPS HS Science Teachers & Their Content Areas
FYI: ** Denotes Dept. Chair (if applicable)
92 Total UCPS HS Science Teachers for the 2014-2015 School Year
Classes listed are for this school year only. Please let me know if you have expertise in a content area that you are not currently instructing or if something listed is not accurate (I got the info from Powerschool). Thank you.
**David Daniels= AP Physics, Chem, Physics
Elizabeth Cross= Bio
Kortney Kopchick= APES, ES
Laura Minsk & Holly Walton= AP Chem, Chem
Michael Hovis= ES, Forensics, Phys Sci
Raji Suresh= AP Bio, Bio
Cuthbertson (8 Teachers)
**Alissa Hammersmith= AP Bio, APES, Bio
Chad Schultz= Phys Sci
Jennifer Fogle= Bio, ES
Jennifer Wells-Lewis= Bio, Marine Sci
Marissa Cominotti= Chem
Maya Schultz= Bio, Forensics
Todd Clemons= ES
Vincent Palmer= AP Chem, Chem, Physics
Forest Hills (7 Teachers)
**Christy Burris= APES, Chem
Jessica Bolden= Bio
Noah Setzer= Anat/Phys, AP Bio, Bio
Rick Harabin= ES, Marine Sci
Shannon Woodson= Physics, Phys Sci
Shfanta McGee= Bio, ES, Phys Sci
Whitney Beard= ES
ICF (1 Teacher)
Keith Sweeney= Bio, Forensics
Marvin Ridge (13 Teachers)
Ann Stuntz= Chem, Phys Sci
Ann Yochem= Bio, IB Bio SL
Ashley Lee= AP Chem, Chem
Brook Hammers= ES
John Price= AP Physics, Physics, IB Physics SL
Karen Mitro= ES
Kaitlyn Harfmann= Chem, Physics, IB Chem SL
Larry Spickard= Chem, Phys Sci
Luke Abercrombie= Bio, ES
Patricia Knight= Anat/Phys, Bio, Forensics
Rachael Wilson-Cranshaw= Bio, IB Biology HL
Sharon Jenkins= APES, Bio, Marine Sci
**Steven Wilson= AP Bio, Bio
Monroe (8 Teachers)
Brooke Chambers= AP Chem, Chem, Phys Sci
Chad Hinson= ES, Phys Sci
Doug Galuppo= Bio
Kathryn Bention= Bio, ES
Katina Broadus= ES, Forensics
Megan Ehlers= Bio
**Rick Kukor= APES, Bio, Physics
Tiffanni Craig= Phys Sci
Parkwood (6 Teachers)
Alex Locklear= ES, Marine Sci
Allen Irwin= Phys Sci
Nicole Lopez= Bio
Richard Tammaro= Bio, ES
Trent Morgan= APES, ES
**Wade Morton= Anat/Phys, Chem
Piedmont (8 Teachers)
Amanda Starnes= Bio
Annette Harris= ES, Phys Sci
Beth Walker= AP Bio, Bio
Donna Hyatt= Chem, Phys Sci
John Wallenburg= Bio, Phys Sci
**Philip Apple= Bio, Chem, Phys Sci, Physics
Steven Kelly= Anat/Phys, Phys Sci
Tommy Arnold= APES, ES
Porter Ridge (10 Teachers)
Amy Grzybowski= Bio, ES, Marine Sci
Angel Washington= Bio, Phys Sci
Candace Edwards= Bio, ES
Dale Hunsucker= Anat/Phys, ES
Jane Walsh= Chem, Phys Sci
Jill Keller= ES
Michael Pipes= APES, ES, Phys Sci
Nicholas Gaetano= Bio
**Ryan Williams= ES, Forensics, Phys Sci
Sandra Fugate= AP Chem, Chem, Physics
South Providence (2 Teachers)
Gabriel Oprea= Bio, ES, Phys Sci
Jenny Shackelford= ES
Sun Valley (9 Teachers)
Audrey Ostrander= Bio
Ed VonIderstein= Chem, Physics
Jason Gvazdauskas= Bio, ES
Kelly Anderson= Anat/Phys, AP Bio, Bio
**Kelly Smith= APES, Chem, ES, Forensics
Krisitie Witkowski= APES, ES
Phillip Chiarelli= Bio, Chem, Phys Sci
Tawny Mercer= ES, Phys Sci
William Gay= Chem, Forensics
UCEC (3 Teachers)
Crystal Powell= Bio, ES
Sara Huckbody= Bio, ES
Tonya Adams= Bio, Chem
UCV (1 Teacher)
Kathryn Glasheen= APES, Chem, Phys Sci,
Weddington (10 Teachers)
Benjamin Pulley= Chem, ES, Forensics
Brian Allen= AP Chem, Chem
Catherine McCloskey= APES, Marine Sci
Jeffrey Wnek= AP Physics, Phys Sci, Physics
Katherine Gorsuch= ES
Kristy Dilsworth= Bio, Phys Sci
Susan Winfree= Bio
Tanja Donelson= Anat/Phys, ES, Phys Sci
**Tiffany Manley= AP Bio, Bio
William Belcher= Chem
92 Colleagues, varying amounts of experience, different locations, countless contrasting philosophies & personalities, but all UCPS Team Members.
I know that we can network and make strides together whether you are playing the role of mentor, developing teacher, or somewhere in between. Thanks for your efforts everyone & pleasure to work with each of you!
~Keith
Content (Helpful Ideas & Freebies!)
2) Problem-Attic (Free Test Generator Site by state standard!) Try this out, you won't regret looking into it:
****Shout out to Tiffanni Craig & Chad Hinson at Monroe! :)
3) Forensic Science Journal and Info (Free resources):
http://www.theforensicteacher.com/Home.html &
http://www.evidencemagazine.com/
Thanks to Patricia (Joy) Knight at Marvin Ridge for these helpful publications! :)
4) Earth/Environmental Science Guest Speakers Anyone? (These folks did a hands-on activity with the students, brought a TON of freebies (fun pens, pencils, notepads, etc...)). They are literally on "stand-by" waiting to hear from teachers! I saw how cool it was on Friday 10/3. Check it out, give it a chance:
Outstanding effort on display by Sara Huckbody at UCEC! :)
Thanks to everyone that shares their best practices with colleagues! Thanks to ALL for ALL you do--I know how many "hats" we all wear & we're wearing them well! :)
See you all soon & hope you & yours are doing well!
~Keith