1. C-Elementary Science –MS Update – August 2012 Wayne Fisher Elementary Science Specialist w.fisher@cms.k12.nc.us 980 343 0621 w.fisher@cms.k12.nc.us

2. “ My mission is to help teachers be better teachers, students better students, schools better schools, and the world a better place.” Wayne Fisher, Elementary Science Specialist

3. What is the most important thing about elementary science? Academic Vocabulary? Academic Vocabulary? Reading and Writing in Science? Reading and Writing in Science? Hands-on experiments? Hands-on experiments? Aligning Activities to Objectives? Aligning Activities to Objectives? Formative and Summative Assessments? Formative and Summative Assessments? 5 th Grade EOG Scores? 5 th Grade EOG Scores?

4. The Answer Is …… None of the above!

5. The most important thing about elementary science is …. Excitement! Excitement!

6. The wrong question according to Mike Mathos is … The wrong question according to Mike Mathos is … How do we raise test scores? How do we raise test scores?

7. The right question is according to Wayne Fisher is ….. The right question is according to Wayne Fisher is ….. How do we excite students about learning? …. and learning elementary science in particular. How do we excite students about learning? …. and learning elementary science in particular.

8. Let’s take a look at EOG scores for the old Standard Course of Study. Let’s take a look at EOG scores for the old Standard Course of Study. That exercise will give us a clue as to how to excite students about science.

9. Growth of EOG Scores 2007-200839.6 %baseline 2007-200839.6 %baseline 2008-200959.9 % 2008-200959.9 % 2009-201068.3 % 2009-201068.3 % 2010-201173.0 % 2010-201173.0 % 2011-2012 75.0 % 2011-2012 75.0 % New Baseline for Essential Standard in 2012-2013 New Baseline for Essential Standard in 2012-2013

10. What made a difference in growth of EOG scores? Focus on Best Practices –A challenging and rigorous curriculum –Reading and writing in science –Inquiry based learning – science labs –Innovative use of technology – Discovery Ed –Formative and summative assessments

11. Specific STEM Initiatives Make time for science! 3 x 45 minutes minimum Make time for science! 3 x 45 minutes minimum Professional Development focused on building content knowledge and pedagogy. Professional Development focused on building content knowledge and pedagogy. SITE Science K-2 SITE Science K-2 SITE Science 3-5 SITE Science 3-5 NASA STEM Educators’ Workshop NASA STEM Educators’ Workshop UNCC K-12 STEM Conference (January 3 rd, 2013) UNCC K-12 STEM Conference (January 3 rd, 2013) 5 th Grade Science Conference 5 th Grade Science Conference STEM Institute for Elementary Science STEM Institute for Elementary Science

12. Get Students Excited! Science Olympiad, It’s Elementary! 12-20-28 Science Olympiad, It’s Elementary! 12-20-28 Camp Invention! 4-17-24-44-47-42 Camp Invention! 4-17-24-44-47-42 Engineering Is Elementary! 3-8-14-20-35-40 Engineering Is Elementary! 3-8-14-20-35-40 Science Labs 6-14-22-30-40 Science Labs 6-14-22-30-40 STEMpalooza! -- LegoRobotics 0-5-15-18 STEMpalooza! -- LegoRobotics 0-5-15-18 Science/Engineering Fairs 10-16-26-30-40 Science/Engineering Fairs 10-16-26-30-40 STEM Days/Nights at School 0-3-12-15 STEM Days/Nights at School 0-3-12-15

13. District-Wide Support Sharing Information Sharing Information –Elementary Science Listserves K/2, 2/3, 4/5 http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/cmsdepartments/ci/mat handscience/Pages/Listserv.aspx http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/cmsdepartments/ci/mat handscience/Pages/Listserv.aspx http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/cmsdepartments/ci/mat handscience/Pages/Listserv.aspx http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/cmsdepartments/ci/mat handscience/Pages/Listserv.aspx –Elementary Science Wiki http://elementaryscience.cmswiki.wikispaces.net/ http://elementaryscience.cmswiki.wikispaces.net/ http://elementaryscience.cmswiki.wikispaces.net/ You will have a chance to sign up for the Science Listserve and/or the Science Wiki in your breakout session! You will have a chance to sign up for the Science Listserve and/or the Science Wiki in your breakout session!

14. Elementary Science Alliance for 2012-2013 Purpose: Provide opportunities for grade level teachers to meet to share ideas to excite students about science. Purpose: Provide opportunities for grade level teachers to meet to share ideas to excite students about science. When: 3 rd Tuesday of each month 9/18, 10/16, 11/20, 12/18, 1/15, 2/19, 3/19, 4/16 3:15-4:45 3:45-5:15 4:15-5:45 4:45-6:15 When: 3 rd Tuesday of each month 9/18, 10/16, 11/20, 12/18, 1/15, 2/19, 3/19, 4/16 3:15-4:45 3:45-5:15 4:15-5:45 4:45-6:15 Where: Various schools throughout CMS Where: Various schools throughout CMS Who: Grade level teachers and host teachers Who: Grade level teachers and host teachers

15. Do you have high expectations for yourself? Do you have high expectations for your students? What do high expectations look, sound, and feel like?