Issue #5 – June 2, 2008
1
Office of Mathematics and Science
For news items or information contact:
www.fldoestem.org
Lakeesha.Parker@fldoe.org
OFFICE STAFF
Todd Clark, Chief
Bureau of Instruction and
Innovation
Lakeesha Parker
Administrative Secretary
VieVie Baird
Elementary Science
Specialist
Lance King
Secondary Science
Specialist
Evrim Erbilgin
Mathematics Specialist
Rob Schoen
Mathematics Specialist
2008 Sunshine State Scholar
Figure 1 -- Dr. Eric Smith, Commissioner of Education presents the Sunshine State Scholar’s Plaque
to Karan Sagar from Palm Harbor University High School in Pinellas County
The state competition for the Sunshine State Scholars Program was held in
Tallahassee in March. Ten Regional Scholars, who were selected through the
program’s regional competition in January, competed to earn the designation
Statewide Sunshine State Scholar in Mathematics and Science
. The competition
included presentations of the Scholars’ research papers in which they compared
contemporary electric light sources and a written examination involving advanced
topics in mathematics, statistics, biology, chemistry, and physics.
The Statewide Scholar, Karan Sagar from Palm Harbor University High School, was
announced by Commissioner Eric Smith at the awards banquet. The invited speaker
was Dr. Norman Thagard, a former NASA Astronaut who now serves as Associate
Dean of the FAMU/FSU College of Engineering. Senator Stephen Wise, District 5,
Jacksonville, provided the closing remarks.
Issue #5 – June 2, 2008
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The Scholars, their parents, and two teachers selected by each scholar were guests of the
Scholars Program for all of the competition events. The selected teachers were designated by
each of the scholars as having been the most influential in developing their mathematical and
science talents. The Scholars and their outstanding teachers all received recognition awards.
For more information about the Sunshine State Scholars Program, visit:
http://www.unf.edu/dept/sunshine/
Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching National
Finalist Announced in Washington, DC
Figure 2 -- Florida National Finalists: Lisa Peake, Science – bottom row, first on right and Nancy Santiago Cross,
Mathematics – bottom row, sixth from right
On May 1, 2008, the White House announced that 99 educators received the annual
Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for 2007. The
teachers were recognized in a White House award ceremony as the nation’s best seventh
through twelfth grade teachers in science and mathematics.
Awardees were selected from mathematics and science teachers in all 50 states and the District
of Columbia, with the competition alternating each year between kindergarten through sixth
grade teachers and seventh through twelfth grade teachers. After an initial selection process at
the state level, a national panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians, and educators
recommend teachers to receive the Presidential Awards. The National Science Foundation
(NSF) administered this award program.
Each award recipient receives a $10,000 educational grant to be used at his or her discretion
over a three-year period and an all-expense paid trip for two to Washington, D.C. to accept the
award. The teachers were in the nation's capital from April 28 - May 3, 2008, to receive the
award and to participate in a variety of educational and celebratory events.
Issue #5 – June 2, 2008
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The teachers took a group picture with Vice President Cheney and were honored at an awards
ceremony hosted by Dr. Arden Bement, the Director of the NSF, on Friday evening. They met
Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, a NASA Astronaut – Mission Specialist, as well as members
of Congress and the Executive Branch to discuss the latest issues in mathematics and science
teaching and share their expertise and viewpoints with colleagues.
The award was established in 1983 by the Education for Economic Security Act and is given
annually to math and science teachers across the United States who make outstanding
contributions to their students and schools.
Congratulations to the Florida national Finalists, Lisa Peake and Nancy Santiago Cross!
To read more about Florida’s National Finalists, please click on the links below:
Lisa C. Peake
Nancy Santiago Cross
Wesley Chapel, FL Merritt Island, FL
Pasco County Brevard County
To learn more about the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science
Teaching, please visit http://www.paemst.org .
First Annual State Math Day and State Science Day
State Math Day was held on May 1,
2008, and State Science Day was held on May 16, 2008.
Teachers designed and submitted lesson plans using the new Mathematics and Science
Standards. Committees of educators reviewed the submissions and chose lessons for 2
nd
, 5
th
,
7
th
, and 9-12
th
grade levels. The theme for Math Day was “Financial Literacy” and for Science
Day “Wind Energy.” “Our intent was to provide a special way to introduce lesson planning
using the new content standards and to establish a time to advocate for science and
mathematics instruction in Florida public schools,” said Todd Clark, Chief, Bureau of
Instruction and Innovation.
If you missed using the lessons developed for Math and Science Day, please visit the Office of
Mathematics and Science Web site. You can download the lessons and try them in your
classroom next year!
www.fldoestem.org
Issue #5 – June 2, 2008
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News from the Florida Center for Research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (FCR-STEM)
Professional Development Approaches for Reform-based Curricula
National reforms in mathematics and science education have produced promising, well-
designed instructional materials that have undergone years of development, field-testing, and
revision. Often these reforms require fundamental shifts in teacher content knowledge and in
instructional strategies. FCR-STEM is currently investigating the role of professional
development for teachers in implementing research-based curricula. Do well-designed,
reform-based science curricula and professional development improve teacher knowledge and
student learning? To answer this question, Dr. Ellen Granger of the FSU College of Arts &
Sciences and Dr. Sherry Southerland of the FSU College of Education have designed a study to
compare traditional instruction with reform-based instruction that is enhanced by professional
development.
Teachers in the treatment group received the newly released reform-based
Space Science Core
Curriculum Sequence
by
Great Explorations in Math and Science
(Lawrence Hall of Science,
UC-Berkeley, 2007). Along with the curriculum, teachers in the treatment received
professional development during which they practice reform-based pedagogies such as the
learning cycle approach, questioning strategies, evidence circles, assessment strategies, nature
of science teaching strategies,
etc
. The control group taught the same science concepts as the
treatment group, but with traditional teaching strategies such as lecture and textbook readings
using the district adopted text. This study is being conducted over two years with a total of 120
elementary-school teachers, each with 18-20 students. The researchers are measuring fidelity
to the assigned curriculum by observing classrooms, interviewing teachers, and allowing
teachers to self-assess.
Impacts of the treatment on teacher learning of concepts, attitudes towards science, and views
on teaching science through reform-based approaches are being measured. Student learning of
space science concepts, student attitudes toward science, and student views and knowledge of
the nature of science are also being measured. Teachers are being assessed before the
professional development and after teaching the unit; students are assessed just before the unit,
immediately after the teacher implements the curriculum, and 4.5-5 months after the
curriculum is implemented.
From this study, we expect to learn more about the impacts of quality professional
development and reform-based curricula on the knowledge and skills of teachers and their
students.
For information about FCR-STEM, visit http://www.fcrstem.org.
Reference:
Lawrence Hall of Science (2007)
Space Science Curriculum Sequence
. Great Explorations in
Math and Science. Berkeley, CA: University of California-Berkeley Press.
Issue #5 – June 2, 2008
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Florida PROMiSE Update
Florida PROMiSE was recently funded by the Florida DOE to improve mathematics and
science achievement of Florida’s students through professional development related to the
Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. This will be accomplished through an awareness
campaign for educators, parents, and the general public about the new science standards and
mathematics standards, as well as professional development for new teachers, in-service
teachers, and school leaders.
The transition to teaching can be challenging for any new teacher, regardless of their content
background. New mathematics and science teachers will need support to implement the new
standards in ways that will address the needs of Florida’s diverse student population. The
induction professional development modules will introduce new mathematics and science
teachers, particularly change of career individuals and teachers new to Florida, to the
standards, student learning expectations, and methods for effectively implementing the
mathematics and science standards. Florida PROMiSE will focus on new middle and high
school mathematics and science teachers the first year.
On April 11-13, thirteen professional development design teams, including teachers,
supervisors, and university mathematics and science professors, met in Orlando to begin the
process of designing professional development modules for each mathematics and science
grade-level band (K-2, 3-5, 6-8) and secondary topics (e.g., algebra, geometry, biology,
physics). The design teams are committed to ensuring that all teachers are prepared to help
students learn content presented in the standards. Once finalized, these materials will be
available for use to prepare mathematics and science teachers throughout Florida. Additional
and more intensive professional development opportunities are planned for the future.
The PROMiSE principal professional development system will increase administrators’
expertise in guiding and supporting teachers in the implementation of Florida’s newly adopted
mathematics and science content standards. It will be grounded in evidence and focus on
student achievement, data-driven decision making, reflective practice, action research, and
communities of practice. To date, approximately 478 principals from throughout Florida have
registered to take part in this opportunity. There is room for others to participate. Principals
who are interested should register at www.lsi.fsu.edu/principals.
The deadline for receiving
registrations is August 31, 2008.
The Curriculum Planning Tool (http://www.floridastandards.org) also will play an important
role in the project. The CPT is a Web-based resource that was created by FCR-STEM for the
Florida Office of Math and Science to support statewide implementation of the revised
standards by all K-12 teachers of mathematics and science. It provides teachers with a
searchable database of standards and benchmarks. Florida PROMiSE will support the addition
of various resources (e.g., print, audio, and video) to help teachers design lessons that are
aligned with the new standards.
Additional information about Florida PROMiSE is available at http://flpromise.org.
Issue #5 – June 2, 2008
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Opportunity for Middle Science and Mathematics Teachers
For the third consecutive year, Northrop Grumman is offering the Weightless Flights of
Discovery program, one of several initiatives the Northrop Grumman Foundation sponsors in
support of promoting education and student interest in the science, technology, engineering and
mathematics fields. Selected teachers will participate in a full-day orientation program several
weeks before their flights. Teachers then will work with their students to develop experiments
to be conducted in environments simulating lunar gravity, Martian gravity and weightlessness.
Following the two-to-three-hour flight, each teacher will share his or her experiences back in
the classroom.
The program targets middle school math and science teachers primarily because the United
States is experiencing a shortage of college graduates in these disciplines, a development that
bodes ill for the nation’s industries that rely on talented scientists and mathematicians.
Because studies have indicated most children make the decision to pursue math and science
education and careers during middle school, Northrop Grumman developed the Weightless
Flights of Discovery to engage middle school teachers, who may have a substantial influence
on the lives of students during these years.
To learn more about the Northrop Grumman Foundation Weightless Flights of Discovery,
please visit www.northropgrumman.com/teachers. The deadline for applying is June 20, 2008.
Office of Mathematics and Science Staff at the Capitol for Children’s Day
Every year, during the legislative session, special events fill the Capitol Courtyard. The staff
from the Office of Mathematics and Science participated in some of the events that involve
children – including the Earth Day celebration and learning about financial literacy on
Children’s Day!
Figure 3 – Children’s Day – Math Specialist Evrim Erbilgin and Rob Schoen along with Bureau Chief Todd Clark
anxiously wait for students to come by the booth and participate in math games dealing with Financial Literacy.
Issue #5 – June 2, 2008
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Figure 4 -- Earth Day at the Capitol
Over 1000 students participated in events in the Capitol courtyard during Earth Day. VieVie Baird, Science
Specialist, is somewhere in the picture assisting the Department of Environmental Protection staff members.
