Issue #4 – March 18, 2008
Office of Mathematics and Science
For news items or information contact:
www.fldoestem.org
cindy.yeager@fldoe.org
State Board of Education Adopts New Science Content Standards
On Tuesday, February 19, 2008, the State Board of Education adopted new world-
class science content standards for K-12 public education. The new science content
standards are organized around four bodies of knowledge and eighteen “Big Ideas”:
Body of Knowledge: The Nature of Science
Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science
Big Idea 2: The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge
Big Idea 3: The Role of Theories, Laws, Hypotheses, and Models
Big Idea 4: Science and Society
Body of Knowledge: Earth and Space Science
Big Idea 5: Earth in Space in Time
Big Idea 6: Earth Structures
Big Idea 7: Earth Systems and Patterns
Body of Knowledge: Physical Science
Big Idea 8: Properties of Matter
Big Idea 9: Changes in Matter
Big Idea 10: Forms of Energy
Big Idea 11: Energy Transfer and Transformations
Big Idea 12: Motion of Objects
Big Idea 13: Forces and Changes in Motion
Body of Knowledge: Life Science
Big Idea 14: Organization and Development of Living Organisms
Big Idea 15: Diversity and Evolution of Living Organisms
Big Idea 16: Heredity and Reproduction
Big Idea 17: Interdependence
Big Idea 18: Matter and Energy Transformations
Efforts by the Office of Mathematics and Science (OMS) will now focus on (1)
rewriting the course descriptions for Florida science courses to align to the new
content standards; (2) designing professional development for in-service and pre-
service teachers to introduce the new standards and how they will impact classroom
science instruction; (3) working with the Bureau of Instruction and Innovation to
develop specifications to align instructional materials with the new science content
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 #4 – March 18, 2008
standards; (4) begin working with Florida community colleges and universities to implement
new science content standards in their teacher training and certification programs for new K-12
science teachers; (5) begin working with the Assessment Office to develop a cross-walk that
compares the 1996 science content standards to the newly adopted standards; and (6) begin
working with the Florida Association of Science Supervisors (FASS) and the Florida
Association of Science Teachers (FAST) to determine cost-effective ways to help educators,
parents, community members, and students learn about the new science content standards.
To read the complete document with the new science content standards as approved by the
State Board, please visit http://www.fldoestem.org/page231.aspx. Please contact the Office of
Mathematics and Science if you have questions.
State Board of Education Approves New Mathematics Course Descriptions
Also at their February 19, 2008, meeting, the State Board of Education approved new course
descriptions for K-12 mathematics courses based on the new mathematics content standards.
These new course descriptions replace the course descriptions that were based on the 1996
standards.
New course numbers were added at the elementary level (grades K-5) by grade
level to match the new standards which are written by grade level for grades K-8. You may
view the approved mathematics course descriptions online at this Web site:
http://www.floridastandards.org – Click on “Florida Courses” and select “Mathematics”
Florida Science Day Update
Florida Science Day Announcement and Call for Lesson Proposals
Topic: Wind Energy
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Science Day will Blow You Away!
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This information was previously sent out to all district science contacts on Tuesday,
February 5, 2008.
The Florida Department of Education’s Office of Mathematics and Science is excited to
introduce the first annual Florida Science Day on May 16, 2008. On this day, every school in
the state will be invited to teach a specific science lesson. There will be a lesson for high
school, a lesson for middle school, and lessons for intermediate (4-5) and primary (K-3)
elementary levels.
The newly adopted Sunshine State Standards for science are the focus for lesson development.
The theme is wind energy.
The Office of Mathematics and Science is inviting teachers and other interested science
educators to submit lesson plans to be considered for Florida Science Day. The respective
lesson plans will focus upon the following benchmarks at the 9-12 grade band and seventh
grade, fifth grade, and second grade levels:
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Issue #4 – March 18, 2008
Grade Level
Benchmark
Code
Science Content Benchmark
2
nd
Grade
SC.2.E.7.4
Investigate that air is all around us and that
moving air is wind.
5
th
Grade
SC.5.E.7.3
Recognize how air temperature, barometric
pressure, humidity, wind speed and direction,
and precipitation determine the weather in a
particular place and time.
7
th
Grade
SC.7.P.11.2
Investigate and describe the transformation of
energy from one form to another.
High School
SC.912.E.6.6
Analyze past, present, and potential future
consequences to the environment resulting from
various energy production technologies.
With all of the schools in Florida potentially participating in this event, teachers are invited to
submit lesson plans that could involve every school in the state. The lessons selected for
implementation will be offered through the new Florida Standards Database. The writers of
these model lessons will be declared Florida Science Educators of the Day on the first annual
Florida Science Day and will be offered the opportunity to model the lessons in their
classrooms for video recording.
The due date for lesson plans has been extended to March 30, 2008.
A committee of
science teachers and science experts will review the proposed lessons and score them
according to a rubric that was developed by the Office of Mathematics and Science. The
highest scoring lesson plan for each benchmark will be offered to Florida schools as the model
lesson for Science Day. Please go to the following Web site to see details on lesson plan
awards – www.fldoestem.org.
The selected model lesson writers will have access to resources from the Office of
Mathematics and Science, the Florida Knowledge Network, and the Florida Center for
Research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (FCR-STEM) to assist with
the implementation and dissemination of the lesson. These resources may include Web site
space, video capabilities, and more.
Lessons may be submitted electronically to Lance King at the Office of Mathematics and
Science at lance.king@fldoe.org.
Supporting materials, such as a video of the lesson being
implemented, may be submitted in hard copy to Mr. King at the following address:
Lance King
Office of Mathematics and Science
Florida Department of Education
325 W. Gaines Street, 501-A
Talalhassee, FL 32399-0400
850-245-0667
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Issue #4 – March 18, 2008
Please join us in making the first annual Florida Science Day a chance to teach science in an
exciting and useful context and an opportunity for our science classrooms to come together as a
state. If you have a lesson plan or idea for a science lesson with wind energy as the theme,
please consider sharing it with teachers across the state on Florida Science Day!
Florida Engineering Education Information
Are you looking for resources to bring engineering topics into your K–12 classrooms? Would
you like to invite an engineer to come and speak to your students about engineering topics and
careers? The Florida Engineering Society has a K–12 education Web site with a searchable
database to find a volunteer engineer speaker near your school and links to a wide variety of
K–12 educational resources related to engineering. You can find all this and more by going to
http://www.fleng.org/k-12.
Middle School Science Bowl
Is your middle school ready to pit its top team of four to five middle school students in an
academic competition against other bright math and science students to win an all-expenses
paid trip to Golden, Colorado this summer? Do your middle school students have what it takes
to represent Florida at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Middle School Science
Bowl? Do you have middle school students who can build and race model cars powered by
hydrogen?
Florida teams will compete at the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa on Saturday, April 5,
2008. Team registrations are due by
March 21, 2008
. For more information, contact Susan
Schleith at susan@fsec.ucf.edu or Penny Hall at penny@fsec.ucf.edu or visit online at these
Web sites:
http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/nmsb/Default.htm
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/education/k-12/events/mssb/index.htm
Florida Science Partnership Program Highlight: Science Collaboration: Immersion,
Inquiry, and Innovation
How many educators learn about emerging science and the resulting applications to make
science instruction relavent for their students? The Panhandle Area Educational Consortium
(PAEC), with funding from the Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program, is providing
video recordings of their “Seminars in Emerging Science.” Two videos are available now,
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Issue #4 – March 18, 2008
including “Secrets of the Sea” with Dr. David G. Gallo and “Applications of
Superconductivity” with Matthew Jewell.
Visit the following Web site for new Emerging
Science videos as they become available: http://www.paec-sc-iii.org/emergingscience.htm
Other FL MSPs: http://www.fldoestem.org/FLDOE_STEM/Florida_MSP_Programs.aspx
FCR-STEM Research Highlight: Does Individualized Science Instruction Based on
Reading Skill Affect Science Learning?
Every child enters a classroom with different experiences and skills. The purpose of the
experimental
Individualized Student Instruct
ion – Science (ISI - Science)
study is to gain a
better understanding of the interactions between science and literacy learning of individual
students, especially in lower elementary grades. The study is being led by Dr. Carol Connor of
the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) and the Florida Center for Research in
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (FCR-STEM). Dr. Diana Rice, a co-
investigator, is from FSU College of Education. Dr. Angel Canto of FSU’s FCR-STEM and
graduate of FSU’s combined doctoral program in Counseling Psychology and School
Psychology directs the
ISI-Science
study.
For some students, knowledge gained from science activities can be limited by literacy skills,
while some science activities further develop literacy skills. This investigation is designed to
enhance our understanding of how the effect of science instruction on students’ science
learning depends on individual student characteristics such as prior knowledge of science
concepts and vocabulary skills. These are called child-by-instruction interactions, which have
been found across samples and grade for reading instruction (Connor
et al.
, 2007). Such
interactions lead to the suggestion that if we tailor science instruction, taking into account
individual differences among children, students will learn science and literacy better.
The
ISI
curriculum that has been developed for science (
ISI-Science
) is based on the 5-E
learning cycle of engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration, and evaluation (Bybee,
1997). The curriculum is designed to be easy to tailor to students’ individual learning needs.
The efficacy of the curriculum will be compared to business-as-usual control groups. Teachers
will be able to use the curriculum along with a newly-adapted software program,
ISI-Science
Assessment-to-Instruction
(
A2i
), that will recommend amounts and types of science instruction
for each student in the classroom based on assessments of the student. This is a revolution in
differentiated instruction that has been experimentally tested for efficacy in reading instruction.
This tool is extraordinary in that it develops instructional recommendations for each student.
The study is being piloted in second-grade classrooms and includes five teachers, 98 students,
and a science specialist. Baseline assessments of reading and science achievement have been
completed for the students and for teachers. Measured classroom variables include instruction
format, instruction management, student grouping, text usage, topic discussed, and classroom
organization and management. Conclusions will be based on multiple measures of student
math, science, and reading fluency; classroom activities; and teacher knowledge, strategies,
and approach. Broader implementation, including a randomized field trial, will begin in the
coming school years, and the research team has applied for additional funding from the
Institute of Education Sciences and the National Science Foundation to expand the study.
References: Connor, CM; Morrison FJ; Fishman, BJ; Schatschneider, C; Underwood, P (2007) The Early Years:
Algorithm-guided individualized reading instruction.
Science
315 (5811): 464-465
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Issue #4 – March 18, 2008
Project Central “Algebra Success Keys” Professional Development Institute –
April 24 – 25 in Orlando, FL
The purpose of Algebra Success Keys (ASK) is to provide teachers in grades K-12 with
research-based strategies in instruction, assessments, accommodations, and technology to help
students learn algebraic thinking. ASK should be used to help teachers teach algebraic
thinking using three levels of learning (Concrete-Representational-Abstract) as well as to meet
the needs of individual students. Mastery in mathematics is often challenging for students with
and without disabilities to master. Recent legislation has focused on the need for increased
rigor and relevance in math curricula, increasing the need for resources, professional
development, and instructional strategies to improve results in math (specifically algebra,
problem solving, and rigorous math content) for all students [National Center for Educational
Statistics (NCES), 2004]. One of the main goals of Algebra Success Keys (ASK) is to provide
guidance and support for the development and implementation of algebraic thinking instruction
in Grades K-12. This goal is a very timely, prudent, and worthwhile when we consider the
following facts about algebraic thinking:
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It is one of the few central themes that serve to organize, unify and give coherence to
mathematics at all levels.
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It is one of the most important areas of emphasis in the principle and standards for
school mathematics [National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), 2000].
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It is one of the mathematics topics that has been extensively researched revealing
evidence of students’ misconceptions in this area.
The Effective Instructional Practices Project, Project CENTRAL, funded by the Bureau of
Exceptional Education and Student Services, Florida Department of Education, would like to
announce the Algebra Success Keys (ASK) Potential Professional Developer Institute to be
held on
April 24-25, 2008,
in Orlando, Florida. ASK is a K-12 research-based program that
can be used with all mathematics curricula to support the delivery of algebra content in
alignment with Florida Sunshine State Standards and NCTM standards. This professional
development supports the mission of the Department of Education to “increase the proficiency
of all students within one seamless, efficient system.”
You are invited to bring a team of up to four K-12 math professionals, which may include
classroom teachers, ESE teachers, math coaches, district coordinators and professional
developers. Please feel free to forward this announcement to qualified candidates within your
district.
For your consideration, the registration packet will be completed electronically. To complete
the registration packet, please link to http://projectcentral.ucf.edu/forms/registration-ASK-
apr2008.html.
We ask that you complete your registration by Friday, April 4, 2008. In
addition, a letter of support to be signed by your immediate supervisor will need to be faxed to
386-274-0179.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions via email at projcentral@mail.ucf.edu
or via telephone at 386-274-0175.
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Issue #4 – March 18, 2008
45
th
Annual Junior Science, Engineering, and Humanities Symposium held February 14,
2008, in Gainesville, FL
More than 300 high school students and science teachers from around the state attended the
Florida Junior Science, Engineering, and Humanities Symposium (JSEHS). The University of
Florida’s Center for Pre-collegiate Education and Training, the Academy of Applied Science,
the US Army Research Office, the Office of Naval Research, and the Air Force Office of
Scientific Research sponsor this annual event. More than 100 administrators, faculty, and
graduate students were on hand to interact with students and teachers.
Twenty-six high school juniors and seniors were selected out of about 80 applicants to present
their research in the speaker competition. First, second, and third place speaker winners were
awarded scholarship funds to the university of his or her choice. The first and second place
winners will present their
research at the National Junior
Science and Humanities
Symposium (NJSHS) in
Orlando, May 2008, where
they will compete for a
$20,000 prize. Funds to attend
the NJSHS will be awarded to
all five winning speakers.
Pictured (from left to right):
Dr. Betsy Glass
(speaker
sponsor and teacher from the
Canterbury School);
Sabrina
Prabakaran
(Fifth Place
Speaker,
Canterbury School,
Lee County);
Charles Doyle
(Fourth Place Speaker, Lake Highland Preparatory School, Orange County);
Nathan
Georgette
(Second Place Speaker, Allen D. Nease High School, St. John’s County);
Emily
Sotherlund
(Third Place Speaker, Edgewood Junior/Senior High School, Brevard County);
Zaki Moustafa
(First Place Speaker, Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, Palm Beach
County).
The symposium also featured visits to over 60 labs across the University of Florida, science
presentations by University of Florida faculty, oral presentations by high school freshmen and
sophomore student researchers, poster presentations by high school student researchers, and a
musical performance.
For more information, please contact: Deborah Paulin, Center For Precollegiate Education and
Training, (352) 392-2310.
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Issue #4 – March 18, 2008
Invitation to Attend the 2008 Florida Regional US FIRST Robotics Competition
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a
non-profit organization with a mission to inspire an appreciation of
science and technology in young people.
The FIRST Robotics Competition is a high-energy program that teams
high school students with professional scientists and engineers to solve an engineering design
problem in an intense and competitive way. The program shows students that the
technological fields offer many career opportunities and that the basic concepts of science,
technology, engineering and math are exciting and interesting. FIRST has proven to be a life-
changing, career-molding experience -- and a lot of fun.
Each year, the game is announced in early January, and students have six weeks to design,
build, and test their robots. Teams participate in one of 41 regional competitions. Florida has
45 high school teams competing this year, and there will be 61 teams from across the country
at the Florida Regional Competition.
The Florida Regional Competition, at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, will be held
on
March 14 and 15 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For more information, please visit
http://www.usfirst.org or contact Mr. Chuck Kennedy, Florida FIRST Regional Director, at
ckennedy@usfirst.org.
Recognition of the State Mathematics Finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence
in Mathematics and Science Teaching
The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is
the highest recognition that a mathematics or science teacher may receive for outstanding
teaching in the United States. Enacted by Congress in 1983, this program authorizes the
President to bestow up to 108 awards each year. The National Science Foundation administers
PAEMST on behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
The teachers are recognized for their contributions to teaching and learning and their ability to
help students make progress in mathematics and science. In addition to honoring individual
achievement, the goal of the award program is to exemplify the highest standards of
mathematics and science teaching. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration
to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education.
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Issue #4 – March 18, 2008
From Left to Right: Nancy Cross, Patricia Tate, and Andi Branson
This year, Florida nominated three state finalists in high school mathematics to be considered
by the national selection committee. Here is a little bit about each of our finalists:
Nancy Santiago Cross, Brevard County
Nancy Cross received her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Central Florida and her
Master’s Degree at Nova Southeastern University. She has 26 years of teaching experience and
is a National Board Certified Teacher. She currently teaches Liberal Arts Mathematics,
Trigonometry, and Analytic Geometry at Merritt Island High School.
Professional
development activities include facilitating summer beginning-teacher workshops, being a
graphing calculator in-service facilitator, co-authoring Brevard County Mathematics Teacher
Notes, and supervising interns from the University of Central Florida. Ms. Cross runs
marathons throughout the United States and Canada; her goal is to run a marathon in every
state plus the District of Columbia.
Patricia Howell Tate, Lake County
Patricia Tate obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in mathematics with minors in chemistry and
biology in 1966 from the University of Arkansas and completed her Master’s Degree from the
University of South Florida. She has been teaching mathematics for 41 years. She currently
teaches Algebra II, Trigonometry/Analytic Geometry, and Honors/AP Calculus at South Lake
High School.
Ms. Tate has participated in a variety of professional development activities
including AP calculus workshops and taking courses from Connected University. She achieved
National Board Certification in Adolescence and Young Adulthood Mathematics
in 2001. She
found this process helpful for being a reflective teacher and in providing her with opportunities
to mentor teachers in subject areas other than mathematics.
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Issue #4 – March 18, 2008
Dorothy “Andi” Branson
Andi Branson received her Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Western Illinois
University in 1972 and her Master of Arts in mathematics and secondary education from Ball
State University in 1978. She has been teaching mathematics for 28 years with 17 years of
service in Florida. She currently teaches Pre-calculus and Math Analysis at Lake Mary High
School.
Ms. Branson has been involved in different professional development activities,
including mentoring new teachers, writing questions for the Commissioner’s Academic
Challenge, attending Teachers Teaching with Technology international conventions and FCTM
conferences, and co-authoring “The ABC’s of FCAT” activities. Ms. Tate was honored as a
finalist for the Disney “Teacheriffic” award and was named the Seminole County Math
Teacher of the Year in 2000.
Good luck to the three Florida finalists! The Florida national winner will be announced by the
White House in the spring and receive the following:
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A citation signed by the President of the United States;
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A paid trip for two to Washington, D.C. to attend a weeklong series of recognition
events and professional development opportunities;
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Gifts from program sponsors from around the country; and
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A $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.
For more information about the PAEMST program, please visit www.paemst.org.
FSU Seeks Master Teacher for Mathematics Teacher Training
As part of the new FSU-Teach Program, FSU is seeking a Master Teacher as a non-tenured
faculty member who has experienced years of successful teaching, is widely recognized for his
or her educational leadership, has a minimum of a Master’s Degree, and has experience in and
passion for training other teachers. A Master Teacher demonstrates mastery of content and
pedagogical content knowledge and the skills necessary to use this knowledge. Master
Teachers are tremendous examples and guides, they are knowledgeable about what new
teachers really face and need, and they are indispensable in providing connections with local
school district teachers and administrators.
For more information, please visit this Web site:
http://www.fcrstem.org/Research_Centers/FCR-STEM/About_the_Center/Opportunities.aspx
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