SAMEC E-News: Week of 04-14-06
1) Upcoming Professional Development
for K-12 Science Teachers
2) Summer 2006 Science and Mathematics
Courses for Teachers
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 Science and
Mathematics Teachers
6) Opportunities for K-12 Students
7) Teaching Awards for K-12 Mathematics and Science Teachers
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1) Upcoming Professional Development
for K-12 Science and Mathematics Teachers
Science
Teacher's Colloquium Series. The Science and Mathematics
Teacher's Colloquium Series is a forum for K-12 science and math
teachers to learn about cutting edge research at The University of
Arizona (UA). Dr. Joe Giacalone from the UA Planetary Sciences
Department will talk about "Introduction
to the Physics of the Sun," Thursday, April 20, 2006, 4:15-6:15
pm in the UA Modern Languages Bldg. Room 405. Free posters, parking and
refreshments will be available. This series is sponsored by the
University of Arizona Science and Mathematics Education Center, the
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, the UA/NASA Space Grant Program and The
Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center for Toxicology which
provide funding for this program. For additional information
visit: http://samec.lpl.arizona.edu/profdevelopment/stcsgiacalone.html
or email us at samec@lpl.arizona.edu
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Nature of
Light Workshop for Middle and High School Science Teachers, July
13-14 & 17-18. Not so long ago in a galaxy not so far away. . . the
Hubble Space Telescope was born, ready to peer into the vast unknown,
offering mankind a peek at our ancient Universe. The Nature of Light
Workshop for Teachers is designed to explore planetary phenomena
through the Hubble Space Telescope. Highlights of the planetary science
observations with Hubble Space Telescope (HST) have changed our
understanding of the physics of planetary atmospheres and beyond.
Unlike ground-based telescopes, Hubble was designed to observe
near-infrared and ultraviolet light. Hubble's extremely high resolution
and sensitivity have made unique observations of objects with the Solar
System possible. Hubble's "eyes" have seen unprecedented detail in
Jupiter's auroras. Auroras can be seen at both Jupiter's poles but only
in ultraviolet light. Teachers will receive a stipend, 1 unit of
professional development credit, and 2 GEMS (Great Explorations in Math
and Science) guides and kits. For more information, contact samec@lpl.arizona.edu. The
application is available at: http://samec.lpl.arizona.edu/profdevelopment/light.html
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Solar
Science Workshop for Middle and High School Science Teachers,
July 10-12, 2006. What causes the
seasons? Seasonal changes including temperature and length of daylight,
indicate that the sun's light received by the Earth varies both
throughout the year and at different latitudes. The Solar Science
Workshop for Teachers will provide a venue for discussion and inquiry
to help explain this phenomena. The first explanation many people give
for seasonal change is that the sun is at different distances from the
Earth at different places in its elliptical orbit. It seems to make
sense that it would be summer when the Earth is closer to the sun and
therefore receiving more of the sun's energy, and winter when it is
farther away. But how would this explain the fact that seasons are
opposite in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and much more extreme
at higher latitudes than at the equator? Teachers will receive a
stipend, 1 unit of professional development
credit, and a GEMS (Great Explorations in Math and Science) guide and
kit. For more
information contact samec@lpl.arizona.edu.
The
application is available at:
http://samec.lpl.arizona.edu/profdevelopment/solar.html
________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) Summer 2006 Science and Mathematics
Courses for Teachers
Mathematics
Course for Elementary Certified Teachers. This summer the
Department of Mathematics and the Center for the Mathematics Education
of Latinos/as (CEMELA) will offer Math 596F: “Topics in Mathematics for
Elementary and Middle School Teachers.” The three-unit course
will be held June 5 – 23, 2006 and will meet 1:00 – 3:45 p.m., Monday
through Friday. The location for the course has yet to be determined as
well as techniques to use in teaching these topics, but a middle school
in the Sunnyside or Tucson Unified School District is being
considered. Because the course is a topics course, it will focus
on connections across key areas in mathematics. The pedagogical
approach will emphasize problem solving, use of technology,
communication, and hands-on materials. A variety of topics in the
elementary and middle school mathematics curricula will be examined to
broaden and deepen teachers’ understanding of the content.
Additionally, issues of language and culture will also be
emphasized. Registration for the course will be handled through
the CEMELA office. If you are interested in the course and would
like more information, please contact Kelley Merriam Castro at 626-7606
or kmerriam@email.arizona.edu.
Preference for course enrollment will be given to teachers who are
already participants in the CEMELA project, but the course will be open
for other elementary and middle school teachers. Those not
associated with CEMELA will be registered on a first-come, first-served
basis.
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3) Available Resources for K-12
Science and Mathematics Teachers
The AIMS
Science Blueprints for grades 4, 8, and high school are now
available on the ADE website. They can be downloaded at http://www.ade.az.gov/standards/aims/blueprints/
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Read To
Me! Returns to UA BookStore April 17, 2006. The "Read To Me!"
book group is an
open discussion for anyone who reads to children up to 6 years of age.
The group discusses new releases, old favorites and classics. Read
Aloud tips and techniques are also discussed. The
group is open to the public, 12 Noon - 1:00 PM, University of Arizona
BookStore at SUMC, Community Room, Main floor near the General Books
Counter. For directions visit: http://iiewww.ccit.arizona.edu/uamap/staticLarge/19.html;
for more information call or email Ann Wolnick, 621-8475, awolnick@u.arizona.edu
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Learn
about the legacy of the Apollo Moon missions and of meteorite
mysteries. The NASA Lunar Meteorite Sample Education Program's
goal is
to provide educators with activities and resources that promote
students' science process skills, as well as science and mathematic
educational standards. These standards can be directly correlated
to
Arizona science and mathematic standards. Workshop conducted at no
charge within your own school or district office. Minimum of ten
teachers or administrators required. Professional Development may
be
available through your school district. Workshop is three hours in
length and is conducted during a week night or Saturday. Workshop
includes: Background information on the Apollo Moon missions; NASA
certification with proper procedures in handling and storing
lunar-meteorite sample disks on loan from NASA Dryden Research Center;
National activity matrices to assist in identifying your state’s
science process skills and Science / Mathematical educational
standards; Classroom activities that promote problem-solving,
communication skills, and teamwork, along with teacher's guides; NASA
Educational Resources; Lunar and meteorite sample disk viewing. For
additional information contact: Sondra Geddes, NASA Lunar
Meteorite
Sample Education, (661) 276-2359 or sondra.geddes@dfrc.nasa.gov
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4) Available Positions for K-12
Science and Mathematics Teachers
City High
School Has Openings for Math and Science Teachers. City High
School is an innovative charter high school that opened in downtown
Tucson, AZ in 2004. As the school expands into its third year, it seeks
energetic, creative, and committed teachers who want to contribute to
the development of a growing program. Openings anticipated in all
subjects. Minority candidates are encouraged to apply. For additional
information, please contact Kate Goldman at 623-7223 or kateg@cityhighschool.org or visit
their website at: http://www.cityhighschool.org
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5) Opportunities for K-12 Science and
Mathematics Teachers
Project
Prime is recruiting secondary biology teachers to help prepare
students for the upcoming AIMS test in biology. The goal of this
project is to facilitate the selection and utilization of high quality
biology teaching materials. Participating teachers will earn 24
graduate credits from Northern Arizona University and use the Analysis of Instructional Materials (AIM)
tool developed by West Ed and BSCS to select science teaching materials
that align with the Arizona Science Standard, that meet current
teaching goals such as the integration of inquiry with content, and
that enhance pedagogy and teacher content knowledge. Participants will
pilot this material for two years in their classrooms with a free
classroom set of their selected text. The program will provide content
and curriculum-based professional development in a collaborative
setting to determine how to use these materials efficiently and
effectively. Twenty-four graduate credits (tuition paid by the grant)
and a stipend are available for participating teachers over the period
of the project. Teams of biology teachers are invited to apply for this
project. For more information about Project PRIME see our
website, http://www4.nau.edu/cstl/cstl/site/prof_dev/prime/index.html
or contact Kristin Andersen at 928-523-1271 or by e-mail at Kristin.Andersen@nau.edu.
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6)
Opportunities for K-12 Students
Scholarships
Available for Graduating Female High School Seniors. WISE will
award several scholarships of $500 each to gifted high school
women within Arizona who will be attending the University of Arizona in
the Fall of 2006 and will be majoring in the sciences, engineering or
mathematics. The following is requested along with scholarship
application: 1) Applicant must be nominated through a letter written by
high school
teacher or counselor who has had a close working relationship with the
student; 2) Applicants must demonstrate financial need (i.e. must fill
out the
Student Financial Aid Form through the UA Financial Aid Office and
include this with the application; 3) Applicants must have a cumulative
GPA of 3.5 (unweighted) and must submit an official transcript of their
grades; 4) Applicant must submit SAT or ACT scores; 5) Applicants must
type an essay (no more than 2 pages), describing their
goals and plans for the future, as well as why the applicant needs and
deserves financial support; 6) Applicant should show evidence of being
gifted and talented in the sciences, engineering or math, and should
exhibit a strong commitment to having a future career in any of these
areas, and have taken math and science courses throughout their years
of high school; 7) Applicants may list extracurricular activities,
honors or prizes received. Applications must be received in the office
by 5:00 pm, May 3, 2006. For further information please contact Kathy
Powell at 520/626-9152 or kpowell@email.arizona.edu
The application is available at: http://ws.web.arizona.edu/wise/scholarships/education.php
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7) Teaching Awards for K-12
Mathematics and Science Teachers
Mountain
View High School Science Teacher Selected As 2005 Presidential Award
State Finalist. Congratulations
to John Madden
who has been named a state finalist for the 2005 Presidential Awards
for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the nation's
highest honor for K-12 teaching in these fields.
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This information was sent to approximately 3068 science and mathematics
educators and is posted at the SAMEC website:
http://samec.lpl.arizona.edu/resources/e-news.html
The SAMEC 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
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