Science Newsletter
1/24/20
ARE YOU READY FOR EOC/STAAR?
All teachers that attend the PLN will be provided with class sets of their countdown manipulatives, ready-made games for reviewing reporting categories, strategies to support ELs, and much more!
Biology EOC PLN = February 6, 8:00 - 4:00, Cafe College
5th Grade STAAR PLN = February 18, 8:00 - 4:00, Cafe College
8th Grade STAAR PLN = February 25, 8:00 - 4:00, Burnet Cafeteria
Click on the sessions above to register in Performance Matters to reserve your seat now!
TEA NEEDS YOUR INPUT! SCIENCE TEKS REVIEW SURVEY
The State Board of Education (SBOE) is scheduled to begin its process to review and revise the science Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) in January 2020. As part of this process, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) will convene a series of work groups to make recommendations to the SBOE for revising the science TEKS. TEA is surveying educators to help inform the recommendations of the science work groups. We encourage you to provide your feedback regarding the current science TEKS by completing the survey.
SPARKVUE APP UPDATED (PASCO)
Click here to access Pasco's tutorial videos on using Blockly with the SPARKvue App
The SPARKvue app can be downloaded through the SAISD App Catalog.
TEXAS FARM BUREAU'S OUTREACH PROGRAM
What’s the science behind growing healthy plants? What does farming and ranching mean for our economy? What does it all mean for a hungry world? Students three to four generations removed from the farm need to know.
Bring the farm to your classroom. There’s nothing like firsthand experience. Real commodities and by-products. Soil and seeds. Writing a letter to a real farmer. Through the school visit program, we introduce crops grown in Texas. And meet real farmers and ranchers through magic of video.
Four lessons are available:
- Science, grades 2-5—Planting the Seed: Soil, seeds, plants and more
- Reading and writing, grades 2-5—Who Grew My Soup
- Social Studies, grades 2-7—Mapping Out Texas Agriculture: Regions, economics and history
- careers, grade 8—Investigating Agriculture Careers: Not just sows, cows and plows
Texas Farm Bureau visits schools January through May.
To book a visit, go to https://txfb.us/schoolvisits.
YOUTH GARDEN EDUCATOR TRAINING
The Youth Garden Educator Training is designed for teachers, educators, and volunteers in support of youth gardening in the classroom and community. Breakout sessions will be conducted with different garden topics for you to choose from. With registration, teachers/volunteers must provide a Group Enrollment Form per school to enroll their students in the Classroom Gardens Program. A Garden Starter Kit will be distributed to youth gardens that have submitted a Group Enrollment Form (one Garden Starter Kit is given per school/institution).
Saturday, March 21st, 2020 9:00a.m. – 2:00p.m. (Check In 8:30a.m. – 9:00a.m.)
ESC Region 20, 1314 Hines, San Antonio, TX 78208
Classroom size limited to 100 people and walk-ins will not be accepted, so please register early.
$20 Early Registration Deadline: through March 16th
$40 Late Registration: March 17th—March 20th @ 12:00noon
For more information and to register visit: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/BexarCounty
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. *No Substitutes Needed
5th Grade PLN: February 18, March 6*
6th Grade PLN: February 4
7th Grade PLN: February 19
8th Grade PLN: February 25
Biology PLN: February 6
Chemistry PLN: February 11
Physics PLN: 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.
February 10, April 13, May 4
February 20
January 27, February 10, March 2, March 30, and April 13
**Credit will now be given to all those individuals who watch our Virtual PDs (live or afterwards) by completing the reflection survey. Credit will then be issued through Performance Matters within 48 hours.
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
January 28, February 25, March 17, April 28
Middle School (4:45 to 6:00)
February 4, March 3
Academic Coordinating Teachers (4:00 - 5:30)
February 18
EPIC SATURDAYS
February 29 @ Burbank High School
Dear Diary - It's a Journal, not a Diary. Bringing Interactive Journals to life!
The demands for students and teachers are all together frustratingly challenging, especially when the task seems nearly impractical. Interactive Journals (or Notebooks) are supposed to be tools that strengthen student's learning of the subject and increase student participation. Interactive Journals don't have to be mundane, difficult, or stressful. Come learn how to make Interactive Journals manageable and effortless for your classroom.
Audience: All teachers
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