The Science Reflector - NCSTA Newsletter

The following district directors have submitted news items for NCSTA members:

District 1
District 2
District 3
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8

Not sure which district you are in? Check out the district map at the bottom of this page.

News from District 1
Director: Colleen Karl

Greetings from District 1

How exciting to see that many science educators are crime scene investigators at heart! The enthusiasm and interest in all the NCSTA Professional Development Institute sessions this past November in Greensboro will certainly carry over into classroom lessons this year.

One of the highlights of the Professional Development Institute is recognizing the outstanding science professional educators from each district at the awards banquet. This year, District One is very pleased that Bruce Boller was the recipient of the District Outstanding Science Teacher award. I have worked with Bruce on the Bennett’s Millpond Project for over four years, and recognize the determination for quality teaching that Bruce brings to his Bertie County high school students every day. Bruce spends his summers pursuing special biotechnology programs and has presented at several national science conferences. A true education leader -- congratulations, Bruce!

It is not too late to register a team for the regional Envirothon – this years date for the competition is March 20th to be held at the Cool Springs Environmental Education Center near New Bern. The competition is a team event, so all students are involved in the regional competition in preparation for the state Envirothon later in the spring. The Envirothon also includes a service-learning component that includes a community involvement project. If you currently work with students in community learning programs, this new focus may be of interest to you and your students. Email Steve Bennett at Steve.Bennett@ncmail.netor visit the Envirothon website for more information at http://www.enr.state.nc.us/DSWC/pages/envirothon.html.

Perquimans County Schools will benefit from a NCSTA sponsored curriculum grant submitted by Lynnette Baker at Perquimans County High School. Lynnette and her students will study the water quality in a newly mitigated stream area that is adjacent to the high school grounds. She will be utilizing some of the new Vernier probes that make technology outside of the classroom very easy for all.

Don't forget to register for the Region 1 Science Fair. This year's fair will feature a biotechnology poster competitions for high school students with the winner receiving an iPod. Find out more about the science fair and poster competition online at www.ncsta.org/sciencefair/region1/.

It has been a pleasure for the last four years to serve as the District One Director for NCSTA, and I have made many new science educator friends through this opportunity. Dr. Karen Dawkins at the Center for Science, Math and Technology Education at ECU will be leading the district for the next several years. Karen brings many innovative ideas to science teaching and will be wonderful in this position. Some of the current work that is ongoing at ECU can be reviewed at http://www.ecu.edu/cs-educ/csmte/.

Northeastern North Carolina (District One) is indeed a special place with our hometown schools, strong community values, rural way of life and unique ecosystems. The Science House at www.science-house.org is dedicated to supporting education at the community level by meeting the needs of our local educational units. We continue to offer specialized programming as well as long-term projects in our corner of the state, and across the state through our five satellite offices. The NCSTA Board is very interested in building strong connections to our schools and communities. Keep up the good work and the dedication to quality education that you provide for the students of Northeastern North Carolina.

“You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself.”
Galileo Galilei

News from District 2
Director: Barbara Stroud

Greetings from District 2:

Congratulations to Ms. Miriam Sutton, Newport Middle School in Carteret County and Ms. Joyce Thorpe, Eastern Wayne High School, Wayne County for being recognized as District 2's Outstanding Science Teachers of the Year. Keep up the excellent work!

In Lenoir County, Skip Waters, Chief Meteorologist at WCTI-TV 12 visited Ms. Cindy Minges’ fifth grade science class at Pink Hill Elementary School. Mr. Waters presented a lesson concentrating on the water cycle and types of clouds. The students enjoyed the hands on presentation in the media center.

Happy New Year!

News from District 3
Director: Carrie Jones

Happy New Year! I just wanted to introduce myself as your new District 3 Director. My name is Carrie Jones and I am the Science Chair at Middle Creek High School in Wake County. I am a current Doctoral Candidate at NC State focusing my research on Science Teachers and Block Scheduling. I am also a 2006 Kenan Fellow and teach Earth Science with LEARN NC.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with District 3 Good News, Upcoming Events, Concerns, and Questions. My e-mail is: ncscienceteacher@yahoo.com

Recent District 3 Good News:

A veteran Wake County science teacher, Randy Senzig of Fuquay Varina High School, has been named “Environmental Educator of the Year” by Environmental Educators of North Carolina for demonstrating excellence in environmental education throughout his daily teaching and efforts to actively engage his students in environmental projects that improve their community. Congratulations Randy!

Highlights for some Upcoming Events:

Science House – Centennial Campus, NCSU
http://www.science-house.org/workshops/open/index.html

Physics From the Junk Drawer – Feb. 10th
Counter top Chemistry – March 17th
Weather Sense – April 13-14th
Introduction to TI Calculators – May 19th

NC Museum of Natural Sciences – Raleigh
http://www.naturalsciences.org/education/winter_treks_06.html

“The Best Field Trip Ever” – A Teacher’s Guide for Museum Field Trips – Feb. 17th
The Hunt for the Irish Potato Killer – Feb. 17th
Spring Wildflowers – April 14th
Nature Journaling – April 28th
Designing Field Experiences with Students – May 5th

Spring Online Classes with LEARN NC
http://www.learnnc.org/courses/current/

Biodiversity is Your Backyard – Feb. 7th
Beginning Teacher Success – Feb. 7th
Interpreting Data in Middle Grades Science – Feb. 7th

Spring Online Classes with Wake ed2go
http://www.ed2go.com/cgi-bin/oic3/newofferings2a.cgi?name=waketech&path=1

Office of Environmental Education Upcoming Workshops
http://web.eenorthcarolina.org/core/event/month.aspx?s=0.0.108.37430

NCABR Upcoming Workshops
http://www.ncabr.org/educators/events.html

Best of luck finishing up the semester and beginning a new one!

This fall Chatham County Schools has expanded its nonfiction literacy integration with it science kit program. As adults, todayís students will read more different sources of nonfiction than fictional reading materials. In an effort to increase student opportunities to read nonfiction text, Chatham County had begun to implement nonfiction reading with science instruction 3 years ago. Every K-5 teacher uses science kit materials for inquiry-based instruction. Some of the science kits have included student readers. Additional nonfiction tradebooks that support, enhance or expand science activity concepts are provided to each teacher with a science kit. These books may be either a big books or a six-pack of leveled student readers. The science leadership team, CSI, had also created a list of suggested ideas for teachers on how to integrate these readers into their instruction. Also teachers have shared additional ideas or activities that have worked well with other teachers. Content readers for middle school students and teachers have also been added to the science curriculum. These are an additional resource about current, high interest, science topics while supporting basic science goals and concepts. Middle grade teachers had training at the beginning of the year on how to use and integrate these into their instruction. Lastly more nonfiction readers have been added to the K-2 reading assessment. Teacher and student responses have been very positive.

Jason Painter, former Assistant Director of the UNC-CH Center for Mathematics and Science Education, received the NCSLA Herman Gatling Award for Outstanding Science Education Leadership in North Carolina at the NCSLA fall meeting November 8,2006. this award goes to the person who has exemplified the high standards the late Herman Gatling of Durham County set in his job and in his life. Congratulations Jason!

Dr. Heidi Carlone, a researcher in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, received a $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundationís prestigious early career development program.

The NSF grant allows her to track cohorts of fourth, fifth, and sixth grade science students for three years. In doing so, she will assess the impact of different teaching practices on a wide range of studentsí developing identities and identify concrete strategies to support teachers in their quest to make science accessible, attractive, and motivating for a broad range of students. For the first phase of the study, Dr. Carlone is currently surveying and studying science teachers and schools within a 60-mile radius of Greensboro in order to find exemplary classrooms. Dr. Carlone also recently received the Early Career Research Award from the National Association for Research in Science Teaching.

Congratulations to the District V Award winners for 2006! Outstanding Elementary Science Teacher- Livy Ludington from Frank Porter Graham Elementary School in Chapel Hill; Outstanding Middle School Science Teacher- Beverly Lyons from Winston-Salem and current president of NCSTA; and Outstanding High School Science Teacher- Vicky Raymond from Jordan-Mathews High School in Siler City.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is sponsoring the third AP/Honors Forum on February 28th at the Koury Convention Center. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. with the concurrent session beginning at 8:30 a.m. Dr. Eric Smith, former superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and current vice-President of the Southern Region of the College Board will be the luncheon speaker. The day will conclude at 4:00 p.m. The one-day forum registration fee will be $75.00 which covers the cost of all materials and lunch. The Forum will provide an information packet and interactive sessions on the following strands on various topics including AP and Honors Science Courses at the high school level. There will be subject specific and general sessions. Registration must be received by

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. It’s hard to believe that half of the school year is almost over. My, how time flies.

I hope you were able to participate in the PDI this past November. Everyone did an excellent job to pull this off. Thanks if you were a presenter. I know how much work that takes. Please congratulate all of the board members for a job well done!!

Lincolnton Middle School in Lincoln County was recently selected as grant recipients of the Lincoln County Public Ed. Foundation for the fifth time! Their grant was titled "Eighth Grade Epidemic." Grant writers were Stephanie Jacobs, Dina Baxter, Beth Wise and Marie Eskridge. Congratulations and a job well done!

Linda Yoder, a physics teacher at North Lincoln High School in Lincoln County, was awarded the District 6 Outstanding Science Teacher Award at NCSTA. Congratulations, Linda! Keep up the good work!

Debbie Michael, an Earth/Environmental science teacher at North Lincoln High School, was recently awarded the Nancy Wynn Distinguished Service to Science Education Award at NCSTA. I was also honored at an awards ceremony for completing my environmental education certification. One of my students, Erin Blalock, recently honored me as being her Most Valuable Teacher. Her essay won and both of us were treated to dinner as she read her essay to me. Erin was awarded $100.00. I was so touched by her essay and that is what education is all about!

Please send me your news so I can publish your successes. I want to know what you are doing. Have a good winter session and stay warm!

District 7 is pleased to honor Dr. Georgia Taylor as its 2006-07 District Outstanding Science Teacher. Dr. Taylor received her award at a special reception during November's NCSTA Professional Development Conference. She has completed nine years in education teaching chemistry, physical science, biology, and AP Biology at Davie High School. She has also served as a Science Club Advisior and Science Olympiad coach for several years while at Davie. Congratulations to Dr. Taylor!

Many district seven members attended November's Professional Development Conference in Greensboro and I hope that you took several ideas and pieces of useful information back to your classrooms, departments, and schools. I am looking forward to serving as your new district director. Please feel free to contact me by email (bustlee@davie.k12.nc.us) or by phone during school hours (336) 751-5905 ext. 508 if you have any questions or concerns."

Happy New Year!

News From District 8
Director: Teresa Cowan

Happy New Year from District 8 …

1. Updates from the NCSTA Professional Development Institute – November 2006

WOW…. What fun we all had. The weather was unseasonable WARM and it fit the occasion perfectly. The excitement just like the temperature of the convention center was at times overwhelming. From the intensive workshop schedule to the “grotesque” slide show by Dr. Bass… the event was spectacular. I hope all that were there took home the same excitement that I did.
Speaking of Dr. Bill Bass… you have got to read his books: Carved in Bone and Deaths Acre. Both are well-worth the read.
Final note: Congratulations to all honorees at the convention but District 8 would like to call special attention to our District Honorees.
- Kyle Carver- past District 8 Director received the Distinguished Service Award for Middle Grades. There was no one more deserving and humbled by the recognition.
- Linda Walker – teacher at Cane Creek Middle School in Buncombe County received the District 8 Middle School TOY.
- Bill Hendley – teacher at Asheville High School in the Asheville City Schools System received the District 8 High School TOY

2. Communication Outreach

Remember to contact me (teresa.hembree@bcsemail.org) with news, celebrations, workshops, questions, and suggestions.
I have now found persons in two counties of the district that will act as contacts. Sherry Barnette (Madison Cty.) and Monica Miller (Macon Cty.) have agreed to help facilitating communication from their counties to the district level. Thanks to those two but I NEED MORE CONTACTS. Please consider helping with communication within your county.

3. Membership/Recruitment

Please keep me informed of your current placement professionally. This allows me to ensure that you receive correspondence both on the district and state level.
Boost membership CHALLENGE 2007: Recruit one new member before the school year is out. District 8 will sponsor a contest for all that meet that challenge. How about a gift certificate to purchase science supplies?

4. Educational Activities for the Young and Young at Heart

Duke University 2007 Summer Youth Programs – Biosciences and Engineering opportunities for our students. Check them out: www.learnmore.duke.edu/youth.
UNCCH Award for Outstanding Achievement in Science- Administered by the Office of Undergraduate Adm. And Morehead Planetarium/Science Ctr. At UNCCH. Contact sklapper@admissions.unc.edu for information.
Virtual DIGS- Check out www.crowcanyon.org for lesson plans, virtual tours, and more. Materials can be purchased but most are FREE.

Watch for recognition of District 8 NBCT’s in the next issue of the Reflector. Have a great winter and remember SPRING and SUMMER are around the corner.
PS: THINK SNOW…..

Teresa H. Cowan (aka Hembree – I was married on Thanksgiving Day.)