SAMEC E-News: Week of 02-17-06
You can also view an online version of the newsletter at: http://samec.lpl.arizona.edu/resources/e-news02-17-06.html
1) Upcoming Professional Development
for K-12 Science Teachers
2) Upcoming Courses for Teachers
Spring 2006
3) Available Resources for K-12
Science and Mathematics Teachers
4) Available Positions for K-12
Science and Mathematics Teachers
5) Opportunities for K-12 Students
6) Outreach Opportunities for College
Students and Faculty
7) Mathematics and Science Teaching
Awards
________________________________________________________________________________________________
1) Upcoming Professional Development
for K-12 Science Teachers
Summer
Agricultural Institute, June 12 - 16,
2006, This five-day
program is designed to teach not only K - 12 teachers but informal
educators as well, about food and fiber production by visiting a vast
diversity of agricultural operations and to help them incorporate that
knowledge into the classroom. It's an exciting week filled with visits
to numerous agricultural operations, such as: a state-the-art dairy; a
progressive nursery; a working cattle ranch; and cotton, fruit and
vegetable farms. Experience the opportunity to work at a top
agriculture research facility. You'll also spend one night on a working
farm with a modern day farm family. All for a tuition fee of only
$85.00! The Arizona Foundation for Agricultural Literacy is paying for
accommodations, meals, and transportation. SAI combines hands-on
learning about agriculture with practical curriculum development.
Participants are provided with free classroom materials to help educate
students about agriculture. The completed application must be received
by May 1, 2006 for
consideration. Only thirty teachers are selected to participate and you
should be one of them! For more information regarding the Summer
Agricultural Institute contact: University of Arizona Cooperative
Extension Maricopa County (602) 470-8086 Monica Pastor ext. 317 or Pam
Justice ext. 333 An application for the 2006 SAI can
be downloaded from our website:
http://ag.arizona.edu/agliteracy/summer-institute.html
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NASA-sponsored
TeachSpace Workshops, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
presents the NASA-sponsored TeachSpace Workshops for High School
Teachers. The TeachSpace program is designed to encourage and
support the teaching of space and space exploration in America's
schools. NASA, in collaboration with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University, is making it possible to train math, science and technology
high school teachers to bring the excitement of space exploration and
human spaceflight topics to America's math, science, and technology
classrooms. TeachSpace activities and materials make it easy for
high school teachers to excite and motivate students to learn about
human spaceflight and remain active in physics, science, engineering,
and math. Participants receive: Texts, instructional materials,
and access to the TeachSpace curriculum website, Free room and board
and $100 daily stipend, One graduate-level credit awarded from
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in addition to the academic and
professional development credits, each participant is inducted as an
honorary university alumnus and empowered to grant $1,000 annual
scholarships to their students who wish to study at Embry-Riddle. An
expert team composed of Teaching Science and Technology Inc.
instructors and selected professors from Embry-Riddle conduct the
workshops. The TeachSpace intensive and exciting summer workshops
will be held at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Daytona
Beach campus in June 2006 as well as throughout the summer in Arizona,
Washington, California, and Texas. In order to participate in the
TeachSpace workshops, teachers must be nominated by their peers,
principals or TeachSpace Alumni. Ideal candidates are mid-career
teachers who are recognized by their colleagues for their dedication,
effectiveness, and leadership. Nominees must be eager to present human
space exploration topics to their students. Selection of final
candidates is based on merit and leadership potential. For more
information and to submit your nomination, please
refer to our website: http://www.erau.edu/teachspace
___________________________________
Paid
Summer Internship Opportunity, June 19-30, 2006, 9:00 - 3:00 pm
daily: Open to all 5th – 10th grade
teachers in Maricopa County to bring an ecological research project
into their classroom! Spend two weeks learning about insect diversity
and urban habitat, inquiry
methods for schoolyard ecology, connecting to the articulated Arizona
Department of Education Science Standards, and a chance to work with
ASU scientists. This internship will prepare you to be a part of
Ecology Explorers (http://caplter.asu.edu/explorers),
a long-term
ecological research project being conducted by schools across the
Valley. Topics will include how to collect and identify ground
arthropods in
your schoolyard; how to analyze insect data; what ASU
scientists are discovering about local insects; how
to study the effects of urbanization on insect populations; urban food
webs. The
internship will include: Chance to work with an ASU scientist, an
authentic research project for you and your students to
participate in that is aligned to the AZ Education Standards, data
collection in the
field, data analysis and
statistics, opportunity to
participate in inquiry science $600.00 stipend, Certificate of 60
professional training hours, How do I apply? Applications
must be received by April 15th. To apply, include the
following on school letterhead: Name, address, phone, fax, e-mail (Home
and School), current grade, brief statement of how you will use this
training in your classroom. Please limit your application to one page.
Mail or Fax to:
Ecology Explorers Global Institute of Sustainability Box 873211
Tempe, AZ 85281-3211 FX: 965-8087. For more information
contact: ASU – Global Institute of Sustainability Box 873211
Tempe, AZ 85287-3211 PH: 480-965-2975 Ecology.explorers@asu.edu
http://caplter.asu.edu/explorers/resources/workshops.htm
________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) Upcoming Courses for Teachers
Spring 2006
Oceans:
Ecology, Human Impact and Sustainability, A Free 8-Hour Workshop
for Teachers, Sunday, April
23, 2006, 8 am-5 pm, Green Fields Country Day School, 6000 N Camino de
la Tierra in
Tucson, Traci Holstein (Green Fields
Country Day School). This free, non-credit workshop will cover the
basics of marine biology and ecology. We will begin with an overview of
marine species, including performing some interesting dissections. Once
you have fallen in love with these creatures, we will cover human
impact on the ocean. A focus area will include an overview of the
history of commercial fishing and the impact of that practice. We will
also discuss other issues, such as habitat destruction, aquaculture,
and pollution. Breakfast munchies and beverages will be
provided. There will be a break for lunch; surrounding food
venues include Sonic, Wendy's, Rubios, Eegees, Taco Bell, and Nico's
Mexican Food. Please bring a notebook and an open mind! To register for
this workshop, please email Traci Holstein at undrthc@cox.net.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
3) Available Resources for K-12
Science and Mathematics Teachers
The
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) sponsors a
seminar on
Using the National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP) Database
for Research and Policy Discussion. The National Center for
Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S.
Department of Education, will sponsor a 3 1/2-day advanced studies
seminar on the use of the National Assessment of Educational Progress
(NAEP) database for education research and policy analysis. June
20 through June 23, 2006, Washington, DC. The main NAEP
database contains nationally representative achievement scores on 4th,
8th, and 12th graders from public and non-public schools in a variety
of academic subjects. The database also contains background information
on the students who were assessed and their learning environment.
For more information about the seminar and instructions on how to
apply, visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/confinfo.asp
To
visit NAEP's website, go to:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard
________________________________________________________________________________________________
4) Available Positions for K-12
Science and Mathematics Teachers
The
Wildcat School, a
college preparatory charter school with a close connection to the
University of Arizona, is searching for highly qualified teachers
(grades 6-7) to
implement a project-based curriculum. Teachers are needed in the
areas of science, math, social studies, English, fine arts, information
technology, Spanish, and physical education. Candidates should
have successful experience with low-income and language-minority
students and their families. Salary and benefits commensurate
with background and experience. For further
information, contact: Richard Reyes at
director@wildcatschool.org.
Send resume and letter of interest to:
Teacher Search Committee Wildcat School, 1010 N. Finance Center
Dr., Suite 200 Tucson, AZ 85710
___________________________________
Empire
High School in the award-winning Vail School District has
several openings for highly qualified science and mathematics teachers
for the coming school year. Science openings include Physical Science
(chemistry, physics, integrated physical science) and Earth Science. A
combined Math/Science position may be possible. If interested, please
apply online at http://www.vail.k12.az.us/employment/index.php
and
contact Dr. Michael Frank, Science Chair at Empire High School, at
frankm@vail.k12.az.us, or Cindy
Lee, Principal at Empire High School,
at leec@vail.k12.az.us
___________________________________
Arizona
Science Center is looking for instructors to develop and/or
teach a variety of
content and pedagogical workshops for teachers. Selected instructors
will receive $250.00 for the development of a workshop, and $120.00 per
workshop taught. Each four-hour, professional development workshop will
be offered three times over the summer: at an east and west valley
location, and at the Center. Tentative topics include:
Organisms and Environments, Forces, Motion, and Magnets, Earth’s
Processes and Systems, Weather, Integrating Math and Science in The
Elementary Classroom, Teaching Science in The Elementary
Classroom. To be considered, you must have: A master’s
degree in the subject area, or a bachelor’s degree in the subject area
and demonstrated proficiency, and classroom teaching
experience. Interviews will begin in February and continue
until positions are filled. If you are interested, please submit a
letter of intent detailing your experience and education to: Dianne
McKee Educational Services Manager Arizona Science Center 600 E.
Washington Street Phoenix, Arizona 85004 (602) 716-2000, ext. 2564
________________________________________________________________________________________________
5) Opportunities for K-12 Students
Laurel
Clark EARTH CAMP: Leadership for a Shared Planet, an
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum/UA College of Science learning
collaboration. Gather up your Middle School students for an
incredible summer opportunity! Conceived to honor the legacy of
Columbia space shuttle astronaut Laurel Clark, the goal of Earth Camp
is to educate and inspire youth to build leadership skills through
experiential learning and conceptual understanding of earth
processes. Earth Camp seeks to expand youth awareness of the
interdependency of all living things, and create a sense of wonder
related to the Sonoran Desert, ecosystems worldwide, as well as the
“awe-inspiring” universal perspective. Earth Camp
will challenge youth entering grades 7, 8 and 9 to explore water
ecology and sustainability issues by interacting with live animals,
harvesting saguaro fruit, camping in the desert, on Mount Lemmon, and
on Kitt Peak, coring trees for tree-ring analysis, exploring
behind-the-scenes at ASDM, looking for water on Mars, scanning the
heavens through telescopes, viewing the earth from space,
sketching/writing in field journals, creating a personal camp web page,
and preparing presentations to share with their families during a
Learning Celebration at the conclusion of the camp. A two-week
experience (“base camp” at ASDM the first week and University of
Arizona the second week) with day-trips and three overnight adventures,
Earth Camp will engage youth with hands-on investigations everyday and
provide opportunities to explore the museum’s mission of living in
harmony with the natural world. Lunch included for all
participants. Space is limited to 20 youth. Participants are
selected by application. Applications due: Postmarked by
Wednesday, March 15, 2006. Early applications are accepted.
Ages: Entering grades 7, 8 or 9 in the fall of 2006.
Location: ASDM (1st week) and UA (2nd week) Instructors: Amy
Orchard and Sanlyn Buxner Dates: June 5-9 AND 12-17, 2006 Hours:
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (inc. lunch) with 3 overnights Fee: $750
(full and partial scholarships available) Call Amy Orchard at
(520)883-3083 for further details or visit the website at
http://www.desertmuseum.org/kids/camp_page.php
___________________________________
51st
Southern Arizona Regional Science
and Engineering Fair (SARSEF): March 20-25, 2006: The 51st
Southern
Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair will be held March 20-25,
2006 at the Tucson Convention Center, 260 South Church, Tucson,
AZ. $15,000+ in prizes will be awarded including
scholarships to the University of Arizona and Pima Community College.
Top honors will include participation (grades 8-12) in the Intel
International Science and Engineering Fair to be held in Indianapolis,
IN, May 6-13, 2006 and nomination to the Discovery Channel Young
Scientist Challenge competition for grades 5-8. SARSEF
participants are chosen as the top projects at local school fairs
throughout southern Arizona. SARSEF project registration is on-line at
www.sarsef.org, deadline: March 6, 2006. A Registration Worksheet
is offered for data collection preparing for on-line registration and
for gathering needed parental approvals for student
participation. $5 per project registration fees may now be paid
on-line by credit card, or by check or purchase order (postmarked by
March 17, 2006). All projects from a school are to be submitted
and fees paid together as a group. Merchandise will be available
at the Fair. Student photos professionally taken will be
available for purchase from the SARSEF website pending receipt of
completed Approval for Use of Image forms. Questions?
Email: director@sarsef.org or shirleyb@email.arizona.edu (520)
621-8646. SARSEF Director: Shirley Briggs. Additional
teacher/student resources are available from http://www.sarsef.org
________________________________________________________________________________________________
6) Outreach Opportunities for College
Students and Faculty
Judges
and
Volunteers Needed for 51st Southern Arizona Regional Science and
Engineering Fair (SARSEF): March 20-25, 2006. The 51st Southern
Arizona
Regional Science and Engineering Fair will be held March 20-25, 2006 at
the Tucson Convention Center, 260 South Church, Tucson, AZ.
Nearly 300 judges and many more volunteers are needed to make the event
a success! Many teachers, parents and school fair directors help
at the SARSEF to learn more about fair participation and to meet others
in the region. Over 1300 student projects representing grades K-12 are
expected to compete. Over 7000 visitors are expected to come to the
Fair. Your help is needed! Judging takes place on Tues.
March 21, 7:30am-4pm. Breakfast and lunch are provided.
Volunteers are needed throughout the Fair and may sign up for 2-hour
shifts. Judge and volunteer registration is available on-line at
http://www.sarsef.org/judgesvolunteersmentors.htm. Questions?
Email: director@sarsef.org or shirleyb@email.arizona.edu (520)
621-8646. SARSEF Director: Shirley Briggs. Additional information
is available from http://www.sarsef.org
________________________________________________________________________________________________
7) Mathematics and Science Teaching
Awards
This year, nominations for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in
Mathematics and Science Teaching are open to K-6 teachers. The
nomination deadline is April 1, 2006, and the application deadline is
May 1, 2006. The application process is quite lengthy, so if you
plan to nominate a teacher, I encourage you to make your nominations
early to allow as much time as possible to prepare the
application. Links to nominations forms and more information can
be found at
http://www.ade.az.gov/sbtl/sdi/PAEMST.asp.
The Presidential Awards for
Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is the nation's
highest honor for teachers of mathematics and science. The Awards
recognize exemplary K-12 teachers for their contributions in the
classroom and to their profession. Excellent teachers perform miracles
everyday with little or no recognition. The Presidential Awards
demonstrate the value and appreciation the nation has for the teaching
profession. Nominate an outstanding math or science teacher today for
this prestigious award. We have some outstanding elementary teachers in
this state - let's help them get the recognition they deserve. If you
have any questions, please contact Lacey
Wieser, Education Program Specialist, Science, Arizona Department of
Education, Standards-Based Teaching &
Learning, lwieser@ade.az.gov, Phone:
602.364.2332_Fax: 602.364.0902 http://www.ade.az.gov/SBTL/sdi/science.asp,
This information was sent to approximately 3030 science and mathematics
educators and is posted at the SAMEC website:
http://samec.lpl.arizona.edu/resources/e-news.html
This e-newsletter is provided to you by The University of Arizona
Science and Mathematics Education Center,
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
http://samec.lpl.arizona.edu