Science Newsletter
10/14/19
DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
CBA Testing Window is NOW OPEN and closes on October 18
- CBAs are administered at the discretion of the Principal
- Access the assessments here on the SAISD Assessment Page
We are still looking for Curriculum Writers for Grades: Kinder, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th
Click here to apply
Biology Fall Semester Exam has been uploaded to the Science Assessment Review Google Classroom for teacher review and feedback. Biology teachers will be able to provide feedback digitally until October 16.
DOSEUM EDUCATOR COHORT
The DoSeum is opening the application for its fifth annual DoSeum Educator Cohort class. The DoSeum Educator Cohort is a year-long professional development opportunity for educators like no other in San Antonio. Cohort members receive 100+ CPE hours, research-based curriculum resources from leading institutions, and new methods for teaching STEM, the arts, and literacy in each educator’s unique setting.
The highly acclaimed Engineering is Elementary® curriculum—developed by the Boston Museum of Science—serves as the framework for the program, with a strong emphasis on arts and literacy embedded throughout. The cohort learns through: a series of on-site workshops at The DoSeum; a hands-on, two-week practicum at The DoSeum; during the summer; and by ongoing engagement with the museum’s education staff and a cohort of peers from across the San Antonio area. By the end of the experience, these select teachers are able to apply the new curriculum and pedagogy to students in their local learning environments.
CALL FOR PRESENTATION PROPOSALS
It is with great joy that we announce the inaugural Alamo STEM Ecosystem Professional Development Conference for San Antonio area teachers and pre-service teachers. San Antonio is a city rich in STEM-related organizations which provide resources for teachers. The conference goal is to provide access to and information about these valuable resources through a free, one-day conference specifically for teachers at all career stages. The host institution for the inaugural conference is the Teacher Enrichment Initiatives (TEI) at UT Health San Antonio. Please mark your calendars to attend and/or to facilitate exciting workshops on Saturday, February 1, 2020.
Workshops may feature information about area resources, engage teachers in hands-on activities, showcase exemplar lessons, provide updates on current research in education or STEM fields, or share innovative teaching strategies. The intent is to offer a diverse selection of workshops to support hard-working, dedicated teachers in gaining expertise in fields of their choice.
Click here to access the attached proposal document. IMPORTANT: The document will not save entered information. Save a copy of the completed form and send the copy to Conference Chair, Rosemary Riggs (riggsr@uthscsa.edu). Failure to send a copy will result in a blank submission.
If you have any questions, please contact Rosemary Riggs or the Conference Co-Chair, Carmen Fies (Carmen.Fies@utsa.edu).
STAY INFORMED BY FOLLOWING US ON TWITTER
@SAISD_Science = Managed by Director, Angela Paskell
@SAISD_SciSpecialists = Managed by Instructional Specialists
Please follow us as we will use these accounts to share all of the great things that are happening with Science in SAISD. Feel free to tag us as well so we can recognize all the hard work in Science around SAISD.
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING NETWORKS 2019 - 2020
The Science Department will pay for substitutes for the dates below. Teachers must have the permission of their principal to attend. Click on the title of the PLN to register in Performance Matters.
5th Grade PLN: February 18
6th Grade PLN: October 15, December 3, February 4
7th Grade PLN: November 13, February 19
8th Grade PLN: November 5, February 25
Biology PLN: February 6
Chemistry PLN: February 11
Physics PLN: October 22, March 24
Environmental Systems PLN: January 28
VIRTUAL PDS FOR 5TH, 8TH, AND BIOLOGY
Virtual PDs will be provided for each unit a week or two weeks prior to start of each unit per the Pacing Calendar. All PD sessions will be recorded and available the following day on our Science Professional Learning Webpage in the "Training Materials" folders for the Virtual PDs. The Virtual PDs will include topics such as deconstructing the TEKS, recommended resources, suggested investigations, etc. Click on the title of the Virtual PD to register in Performance Matters where the information on how to access the PD session will be provided.
October 28, December 16, February 10, April 13, May 4
October 21, November 18, December 16, February 20
October 14, November 4, December 16, January 27, February 10, March 2, March 30, and April 13
HOW TO ACCESS THE VIRTUAL PDS LIVE
For 5th Grade Virtual PDs: https://zoom.us/j/5927784195
For 8th Grade Virtual PDs: https://zoom.us/j/2164483786
For Biology Virtual PDs: https://zoom.us/j/9718936014
All recorded Zoom Meetings can be found on our Science Professional Learning Calendar in the "Training Materials" folders
DEPARTMENT CHAIR MEETINGS
October 22, November 19, January 28, February 25, March 17, April 28
Middle School (4:45 to 6:00)
October 29, January 7, February 4, March 3
Academic Coordinating Teachers (4:00 - 5:30)
February 18
EPIC SATURDAYS
October 19 @ Highlands High School
Promoting a Student-Centered Mindset through Scientific Inquiry
Teachers will learn how to increase student capacity by targeting student-centered learning through scientific inquiry. Inquiry activities will focus around upcoming TEKS in the Year-At-A-Glance.
Registration for Middle School session (8:45 - 10:45)
Registration for High School session (10:45 - 12:45)
Discovery Education Science Techbook (6th - 8th Grade Teachers Only)
Teachers will learn how to increase student engagement and scientific inquiry through the use of the Science Techbook, a digital curriculum through Discovery Education.
Scientific Explanations in Science Techbook (8:45 - 10:45)
Extended Learning with Science Techbook (10:45 - 12:45)
February 29 @ Burbank High School
Sessions to be determined...
PD IN YOUR PJS
Writing in Science using CER (Part 1)
Want to build literacy skills using Science content? This is an introductory collaborative discussion around what Claim-Evidence-Reasoning is and how to begin implementing in your classroom.
Registration for 8:30 - 9:30 session
Registration for 9:45 - 10:45 session
December 7 - Sessions to be determined
May 16 - Sessions to be determined
Angela Paskell, Director of Science
Email: apaskell1@saisd.net
Website: https://saisdofficeofacademics.weebly.com/science.html
Location: 406 Barrera Street, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: 210-554-2525
Twitter: @SAISD_Science