FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Dr. Eric J. Smith
Commissioner of Education
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
DR. AKSHAY DESAI
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
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PHOEBE RAULERSON
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Contact Information
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
MEMORANDUM
Name:
Phone:
Suncom:
E-mail:
Todd
Clark
850-245-0468
205-0468
todd.clark@fldoe.org
TO:
District Superintendents
FROM:
Mary Jane Tappen
DATE:
December 18, 2007
SUBJECT:
OFFICE OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE (OMS) NEWSLETTER
The Office of Mathematics and Science is pleased to provide the first issue of the OMS
Newsletter. We are planning to disseminate an issue the first Friday of every month. The
purpose of this newsletter is to inform Florida school districts about work that the Office of
Mathematics and Science is accomplishing to support curriculum and extracurricular activities in
K–12 mathematics and science education. We are also interested in highlighting programs,
students, and teachers in your district who have made positive contributions or achieved
recognition in these curriculum areas. Please send us information about success in these areas
for future issues.
Please share copies of this information with your district curriculum specialists and your teachers
of mathematics and science. The newsletter is also posted online at http://www.fldoestem.org.
MJT/tcy
Attachment
MARY JANE TAPPEN
Executive Director
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Office of Mathematics and Science
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325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 501-A • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0834 • www.fldoe.org
Issue #1 – December 14, 2007
Office of Mathematics and Science
For news items or information contact:
www.fldoestem.org
cindy.yeager@fldoe.org
Science Standards Update
The Office of Mathematics and Science (OMS) is in the process of facilitating a
revision of the content standards for K-12 science instruction.
Teachers,
administrators, and the public are invited to rate the proposed standards and provide
comments at the following Web site: http://tools.fcit.usf.edu/ScienceReview/.
In addition, the OMS is hosting public meetings where presentations will be made
about the need for revising the science content standards and information about the
Access Points for students with significant cognitive disabilities. Following is the
information about the two remaining scheduled meetings. (All meeting information is
online at http://www.fldoestem.org/page231.aspx.)
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January 3, 2008
- The Schultz Center for Teaching and Leadership
http://www.schultzcenter.org/
4019 Boulevard Center Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32207
(904) 348-5757
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January 8, 2008
- Everglades High School
17100 S.W. 48 Court
Miramar, FL 33025
(754) 323-0500
The writers and framers of the science content standards will meet in January 2008 to
review input and comments from expert panels and public meetings and online
submissions. The revised draft will be presented to the State Board of Education at
their February 2008 meeting.
For more information, contact Lance King (lance.king@fldoe.org) or VieVie Baird
(vievie.baird@fldoe.org).
Professional Development by OMS and the Florida Center for Research in
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (FCR-STEM) on the New
Mathematics Content Standards
The Florida Center for Research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (FCR-STEM) and the Florida Department of Education’s Office of
Math and Science (OMS) will be hosting regional workshops for mathematics teacher
leaders, mathematics supervisors, and school principals across the state of Florida.
OFFICE STAFF
Mary Jane Tappen
Executive Director
Cindy Yeager
Administrative Assistant
Todd Clark
Deputy Director
Lance King
Secondary Science
Specialist
VieVie Baird
Elementary Science
Specialist
Rob Schoen
Mathematics Specialist
Evrim Erbilgin
Mathematics Specialist
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Issue #1 – December 14, 2007
The workshops will consist of a one-day regional drive-in meeting supported by on-line activities.
The central theme of the workshops will be the new Sunshine State Standards for Mathematics.
Regional workshops will be held in the following districts:
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Orange (Jan. 16)
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Polk (Jan. 18)
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Alachua (Jan. 22)
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Leon (Jan. 25)
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West Palm Beach (Jan. 29)
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Lee (Feb. 4)
Each of the workshop locations can accommodate 50 participants. The workshops are open to
teachers in surrounding districts. During the workshop, participants will:
(1)
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Discuss the outcome goals of the standards, highlighting the new content and Access Points,
and how these changes will impact instruction and planning, and
(2)
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Engage participants in guided lesson and assessment planning activities that incorporate
research-based practices, mathematics process standards and proficiency strands, levels of
cognitive complexity, and concept mastery.
Several resources, including those necessary for workshop replication, will be disseminated to all
participants in formats that allow them to be adapted to regional demands. The workshops and
materials are provided at no cost, although no reimbursements for travel or substitutes are
available.
Participants must register via the following link:
http://www.survey.lsi.fsu.edu/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=72K2l92
FCR-STEM has reserved space for a number of participants from each district, scaled according to
student population.
The last day to register will be Friday, December 21, 2007. Please note that registration will
not
be
available on December 15 or 16, 2007.
If you have any questions, please contact Danielle Sherdan (FCR-STEM) at dsherdan@lsi.fsu.edu,
Evrim Erbilgin (OMS) at evrim.erbilgin@fldoe.org, or Rob Schoen (OMS) at
robert.schoen@fldoe.org.
Math and Science Partnership (MSP) Update
Seven program awardees for the FY 2006 Math Matters Partnership grants recently submitted their
Annual Progress Reports (APR) to the US Department of Education. Ten program awardees for
the FY 2007 grants have initiated work as part of the Florida Science Partnership. Model lessons,
professional development modules, computer games, and clip art for math lessons are all available
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Issue #1 – December 14, 2007
statewide as part of the deliverables for these projects. The FY 2008 MSP will be used to provide
professional development statewide on implementation for the new math and science content
standards. The award is expected to be announced by the Commissioner of Education within the
next two weeks. For more information, visit http://www.fldoestem.org/page205.aspx or contact
Todd Clark at todd.clark@fldoe.org.
State Math Day
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State Math Day (the first annual!) is scheduled for Thursday, May 1, 2008.
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Math Day lessons will focus on a Financial Literacy theme.
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OMS is planning to ask teachers and math curriculum specialists to submit model lessons
related to specific math benchmarks. Selected lessons will be highlighted on State Math Day.
State Science Day
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State Science Day (also the first annual!) is scheduled for Friday, May 16, 2008.
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Ideas for how to celebrate this day are still being considered.
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One idea is to focus on lessons related to the nature of science that can be used across all grade
levels.
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Another idea is to have a statewide collection of data that students can share on May 16 – for
example, data related to bird counts or carbon dioxide levels around Florida.
Middle School Math Initiative (MSMI)
Institute #5 for the MSMI will focus on strategies for reaching the “struggling” math student.
Dates are as follows:
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January 8-9 -- West Palm Beach, FL
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January 15-16 -- Gainesville, FL
Port Orange, FL -- RoboFest
PORT ORANGE — The Academy of Information Technology and Engineering at Spruce Creek
High School is sponsoring its first RobotFest and FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) robotics
competition on Saturday, December 15, 2007, at Spruce Creek High, 801 Taylor Road, Port
Orange.
RobotFest is open to the public and will include a competition, vendor booths with give-a-ways,
robotic demonstrations, concessions and sales of specialty items, including robotic bugs.
Team practices, vendor booths, and demonstrations will begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue
throughout the day. The FTC robotics competition will begin at 10 a.m. with 10 high schools from
around the state competing in a scrimmage event. An awards ceremony will follow the conclusion
of the competition at 4:00 p.m.
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Additional activities include information and a video showing Halifax Hospital’s DaVinci Surgical
Robot in action, a demonstration of Creekside Middle School’s FIRST Lego League robot, and a
graphic arts show and sale.
For more information, call Dru Urquhart, academy director, at 386-322-6272, extension 37785, or
visit www.sprucecreekhigh.com/aite/RobotFest.htm.
Guest Columnist: Florida Department of Education/Macy’s Teacher of the Year
Mr. Rick Ellenburg
Camelot Elementary School
Orange County Public Schools
As the 2008 Florida Department of Education/Macy’s Teacher of the Year, it is my privilege to
represent the teachers of our state. As the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education, I am
especially proud to represent the science education community as an elementary science lab
teacher. My career has led me from teaching sixth grade to fourth; from kindergarten to becoming
a curriculum resource teacher; to convincing a principal to allow me to set up and teach in an
elementary science lab. Along the way, I have taught graduate classes in elementary science
education, written for national magazines and publishers, and traveled around the country as a
science consultant and workshop presenter. I am especially proud that I have been a member of
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) for my entire teaching career.
After twenty-eight years of teaching, my educational philosophy continues to revolve around a
simple formula:
make learning exciting, meaningful and child-centered
. I believe that my love of
science and the passion for learning that I share with children reflects my own childhood. Growing
up in Orlando, my brother and I collected insects; we learned about fulcrums sharing a see saw; we
followed every space launch; and we devoured biographies such as “Young Tom Edison, Boy
Inventor.” Our bedroom was filled with collections of rocks, aquariums, motors, and model
rockets. I don’t remember tests or textbooks. I do remember the first time a teacher shared a
microscope, the first time I saw dry ice, and the first science experiment I participated in. These
experiences helped to mold me into the teacher I am today. I have never forgotten what excited
me, and I try everyday to provide a learning environment that will allow my students to share the
same feelings of excitement. My lab reflects my passion. As students approach my lab, they are
greeted by windsocks flying on tall poles in the wind, weather instruments gathering current
meteorological information, and binoculars ready to observe a nearby hawk. Inside the lab,
students enter a cross between a science center, a science lab and a science club house. Model
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Issue #1 – December 14, 2007
rockets cover the walls; over a dozen reptiles from around the world comprise a class mini-zoo;
collections of rocks, feathers, skeletons, fur and machines can be found on the shelves; a rock
tumbler constantly hums with a demonstration of erosion at work; and shelves are filled with
books about inventing, scientists, and resource guides to help students identify different kinds of
plants, insects, birds, rocks or skeletons.
In my lab, the real world provides the inspiration for learning challenges which require students to
formulate plans, work cooperatively, test hypotheses and record what they observe. The room is
filled with conversation throughout the process. I constantly look for opportunities to use the real
world to provide a challenge that will excite and support our state science benchmarks. A second
grader may explore architecture by attempting to build the tallest, free-standing structure using
toothpicks and soaked bean seeds, while a fourth grader learns first hand about water recycling by
taking a cup of “dirty water” and cleaning it.
When a road was built next to our school, I saw an opportunity to challenge my students to create
an outdoor garden and habitat for lost plants and displaced animals. Students helped in every
aspect of the design and construction of our new butterfly garden. Classes measured the area to be
used and created a survey map; population studies were conducted by students to determine which
insects currently inhabited the site; student teams were tasked with creating a design for garden
beds; and a list of plants to be included in the garden was decided upon. Students in all of my lab
classes and my after-school fourth and fifth grade science clubs built the garden. My after-school
clubs explored digital photography and worked with me to register our garden with the National
Gardening Association and then proceeded to submit our garden design in school competitions. As
a result of the excitement, creativity and student involvement, we were awarded the grand prize in
the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival School Garden Competition for the state of Florida. I
have found that this is the kind of learning experience that students find life-changing. This
enthusiasm has proven to carry on after students leave our school.
Science in Florida presents us with unique teaching opportunities. Where else can you have front
row seats to our country’s space program; experience the forces of a hurricane; teach lessons about
the aquifer that will have direct impact on all of our lives; or share habitats with such diverse
creatures as eagles, alligators and manatees! I’m proud of the great strides being made in Florida
science education. I look forward to the day when other states will come to learn from us about
how to improve their programs.
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