by Rick Pomeroy

On April 22nd, the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) convened a Science Experts Panel (SEP) consisting of about 20 teachers, teacher educators, scientists, engineers, and leaders in science education to review the Next Generation Science Standards. The Panel was charged to provide recommendations to the SPI on the content and format for the new California science standards as he prepares his recommendation for the new California science standards to be presented to the State Board of Education in July. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

Just last week, I had the pleasure of visiting several elementary schools and one high school in Maryland that shared the focus of incorporating STEM as a regular part of their daily curriculum. What was most impressive to me was not the science and math courses that the students were taking, nor the fact that the students at all grade levels appeared to use technology effortlessly. Instead, it was the collaboration of the faculty, staff and administrators and their seemingly universal commitment to doing things differently. The efforts to prepare students to work confidently in an increasingly digital world were evident everywhere I visited and there was a definite feeling of dynamic progress. The reason I found this so impressive is that after countless hours spent participating in STEM Task Force Meetings, STEM Summits, STEM-focused conferences, and NGSS review sessions it was clear to me that the most important factor in the success of these programs was not the technology or content, but the people involved. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

What will California science standards look like at this time next year? At present, we really don’t know. As we saw with the number of changes between the first and second public drafts of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and with the large number of reviews received by Achieve (thank you to those who were able to take time of out your busy lives to submit a review), this means we  still can’t be sure what the final NGSS will be until they’re released later this month. Even if we knew now, we still do not necessarily know what the California science standards will look like. As explained in last month’s president’s column, the NGSS release by Achieve, Inc. only starts the process. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy and Laura Henriques

What happens next? The second and final public review of the draft Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) is now closed but we don’t yet have a new set of science standards for California. Although we have ELA Common Core Standards with specific expectations for reading and writing in science and we have Common Core Standards for Mathematics that call for modeling and the application of math practices to real world problems, we are still waiting for standards that are science-specific. In this article, we will attempt to outline the next steps in the development process for California science standards.

The feedback period for the second public draft ended on January 29 and the results are being reviewed by the writing team at Achieve, Inc. for further revisions and refinements. Once those are made, Achieve, Inc. is scheduled to release the final version of the NGSS in March 2013. It’s important to realize that the NGSS are the result of a large collaboration between states and once finalized, individual states are encouraged to adopt them in whole. We hope that you had an opportunity to review the draft and provide your feedback to Achieve. CSTA would like to hear directly from you regarding your thoughts on the standards. Please take a moment to complete a short, 13 question survey to help guide CSTA in representing your voice at the state level in response to the second draft. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

Over the past year and a half, I have tried to make the point that CSTA is your association. It is as good and as valuable as you make it and NOW is the time to make a resolution to become more involved.  January is the time to nominate members for positions on the CSTA Board of Directors and nominations are currently open for President-Elect, Secretary, Primary Director, Middle/Junior High Director, 2-Year College Director, Informal Science Education Director, plus Directors for Region 1 and Region 3. If you are interested in running for one of these positions, or you would like to nominate a colleague, please go to the CSTA website. There, you can also find information about the terms, position descriptions, and instructions on how to submit a name for nomination.  The nomination period ends on January 31, 2013.  Please don’t let this opportunity pass you by. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

I want to start this, my last article of 2012, with holiday wishes for everyone. It has been an interesting year in science education in California and 2013 promises to be filled with a whole new set of surprises and challenges.

As a science teacher for 20 years, I was always challenged to keep my students interested in science with holiday “spirit” and pending vacation plans. As I was thinking about it again today, the day after Thanksgiving, I once again realized that there are some great science lessons all around us at this time of year. Not only are they fun for our students, they also provide us with an opportunity to continue to practice good science teaching. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

The following is the text of the President’s address at the opening session of the 2012 California Science Education Conference:

These are exciting times to be in science education. Since the last time we talked, a lot has happened in our schools that will fundamentally change our teaching, science education, and, most importantly, the learning and lives of our students.

The child born today will begin school in 2017. He or she will graduate high school in 2029, college in 2035, and work as a productive citizen through 2070. Given the trends in life expectancy, the child born today will be alive in 2100. The decisions we make today will impact choices and opportunities for a significant period of time. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

12. Everyone who teaches is involved in science education. What better place to get up-to-date, California-focused information, than the California Science Education Conference?

11. There are great room rates at local hotels.

10. There will be a special short course and workshops devoted expressly to teaching science in primary grades (short course requires a ticket).

9. It’s fun.

8. Focus speakers will provide great insights into the science of our everyday lives.

7. Get the most current information about the Next Generation Science Standards.

6. Schmooze and shop with over 70 exhibitors and vendors for the newest cool science stuff.

5. Experience the thrill of sky diving without ever getting into an airplane. (Field course, requires a ticket) (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

Every year, about mid August, I start to get this funny, unsettled feeling. As I drive around town, I see more and more cars in school parking lots, lawns around school get mowed more regularly, large piles of boxes appear by the front doors of schools, and the lights at the local football stadium are on late in the evening. Like the first leaves in spring or the smell of freshly mowed grass on a warm summer day, these images of the reopening of schools signal a start of yet another school year.  These are inspiring to me and the excitement and anticipation that comes with every new school year are the feelings I look forward to and cherish. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

NGSS, STEM, Standards, CCSS, Race to the Top, waivers, Common Core, Standards, Assessments, and SmarterBalance are all terms and phrases being batted around amongst education policy makers, teachers, administrators and the public over the past several months. As we prepare for the upcoming, 2012-13 school year, each of these terms will gain more significance in the lives and minds of teachers. As I have described in past columns, CSTA has been invited to the table for discussions involving all of these initiatives and your leadership team and staff has represented you at public comment meetings, work group meetings, task force gatherings, and legislative hearings. Fortunately (or Unfortunately), the frequency of these meetings and the importance of the terms and their associated impacts on science teaching are only going to increase this year. With that said, this will be the year for you to be involved in many of these initiatives. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

What is STEM? Besides the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), STEM is the hot topic in science education circles. Representing an ethereal notion of teaching that integrates Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, STEM, as the next big idea, has taken on a life of its own. As science educators and science professionals, we live in an increasingly STEM-centric world. Political leaders and pundits alike tout STEM as the wave of the future, the elixir to return California to an age of prosperity, and the solution to what ails public education. STEM will engage and motivate students, increase the number of people entering post-secondary education with majors in science, technology, engineering, and math fields, and create a new reality in schools. Unfortunately, defining STEM education, identifying what STEM will look like in schools, and distinguishing it from current instructional practices are extremely difficult tasks. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

As the school year rapidly draws to a close, I hope you are making plans to use the coming summer months to renew your zest for science teaching, exploring new and exciting manifestations of the content you teach, and thinking about all of the great lessons, activities, and “Ah-Ha” moments that you experienced this year. We all know that the financial situation in the state and our schools will continue to be challenging for the coming year but this is not a reason to deprive ourselves of the pleasure that those great classroom experiences can bring.

At this time, I like to look back and think about the things we have accomplished over the past year and the things we can still look forward to. The year started with the flurry of activity around the adoption of the Common Core Standards (CCS). Though only written for Math and English/Language Arts, there has been a huge new level of attention to science particularly in the technical reading and writing sections of the ELA-CCS. While our fellow teachers were scrambling around developing implementation plans, comparing old and new standards, and discussing how these new practices might be assessed, science educators were getting their first peek at the future of science education standards. Over the course of the ensuing eight months, those Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) have taken real form finally being released for public review on May 11^th.  When the review period ends on June 1^st, your comments and suggestions will be incorporated in the next draft to be released sometime in the fall of 2012. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

As I begin to conclude my first year as your president, I have come to realize that running this Association takes a tremendous amount of effort and time from the professional staff in the office, the Board of Directors, the Conference Committee Members, and the CSTA members who have volunteered to assist these people with the day to day operation of CSTA. Unfortunately, we do not have as many volunteer members working on CSTA committees as we would like. This, in large part, has to do with our lack of outreach efforts to our members for this type of support. Starting with this article and the Survey  Form linked to this article, I hope to change this for next year and well into the future.

We are missing the voices of the majority of the members. In order to make a professional association work, the members need to be involved. As any of us who have ever participated in a volunteer organization know, it is not healthy for the organization nor the members to have a select few volunteers doing all of the decision-making and implementation of those decisions. As we move into these coming years of new standards, new assessments, and changes in the role of science in the core curriculum, it is important to have members involved at all levels. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

In last month’s issue of eCCS I wrote to you about the exciting opportunities that lie ahead for science education and several issues that threaten the implementation of these opportunities. As I said in that article, the political and financial issues and actions of the State often negate or diminish the actual implementation of new, cutting edge curricula and technologies. These actions ultimately hurt our students’ chances of competing on the national and world stage as leaders in science and technology.

In this article, I want to bring to your attention another situation that, if not addressed, might be construed by some as an argument against the power of critical thinking, investigation, and scientific inquiry as tools for improving literacy. In a recent article published in the Imperial Valley Press, it was reported that Michael Klentschy, former Superintendent of Schools in El Centro, CA, and author of Using Science Notebooks in Elementary Classrooms*, plead guilty to falsifying research findings that reported significant increases in students’ achievement scores as a result of integrated instruction in science. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

Just when we thought that there was a glimmer of hope for a new set of standards that would engage students in authentic and relevant inquiry based science, we must contend with three significant threats to science education. Due to be released for the first public comment on March 30, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), based on the Conceptual Framework for Science Education, promise a new and exciting view of science education. “The Framework is designed to help realize a vision for education in the sciences and engineering in which students, over multiple years of school, actively engage in science and engineering practices and apply crosscutting concepts to deepen their understanding of the core ideas in these fields.” (Conceptual Framework, 2010). If the NGSS come anywhere close to this vision, it will be a significant step towards more science instruction that focuses on college and career readiness through critical thinking, problem solving, and active engagement. Given that the current standards, first published in 1998, focus primarily on content with little requirement for problem solving and critical thinking, adoption of the NGSS will change the landscape of science instruction. To accomplish such a paradigm shift will require significant effort and time. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

Governor Brown’s most recent budget proposal contains a number of recommendations designed to reduce the California budget deficit and bring more order and consistency to the state budgeting process. Unfortunately, one of those recommendations is the elimination of the state mandate that high school graduation requires two years of science. In the language in the current proposal, Governor Brown recommends the elimination of many state mandates as a way of providing school districts with greater flexibility and greater local control. It also has the effect of  reducing the financial burden that education places on the state budget. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

Originally coined as part of a recruiting campaign for World War I (Your Country Wants YOU!), this phrase and the various images of Uncle Sam and Lord Kirchner that adorned the posters were responsible for large increases in the enlistments of volunteers on both sides of the Atlantic in 1916-17.  Now, roughly 95 years later, CSTA wants and needs you. We need you to enlist (or re-enlist) as a member of CSTA, we need you to serve in positions of leadership, we need you to volunteer on the committees that do the work of this organization so that we can advocate for high quality science education for all children in California.

Membership is the core value of CSTA. When I took on the position as president of CSTA, I promised that this would be YOUR Association. CSTA exists for science teachers, to advocate for high quality science education for all children, to provide high quality professional development opportunities, and to provide a professional venue for science teachers to collaborate on innovative and effective strategies for preparing a scientifically literate population. This will only work when CSTA actually represents science teachers. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

As I was driving home over the Thanksgiving weekend, I realized that we are right in the middle of what I have come to refer to as “The Season of Lists.”  Every year at this time, we make lists of the things we are thankful for, things we wish for, and resolutions or things we want to do or change. The more I thought about it the more I wondered about what would these lists look like for CSTA and for science teachers in California?

Stealing part of a late night television bit, here are my lists of the top 3 things in each of those categories.

Things to be thankful for

• Passage of SB 300 authorizing the rewriting of the California science education standards.
• A conference in Pasadena that introduced a new venue and engaged a new science teachers in our professional organization.
• An experienced board of directors and an active membership who are working to steer the association into the future.

(more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

As we decompress from the 2011 California Science Education Conference, I want to thank all of the people who worked so hard to provide the workshops, Short Courses, and presentations in Pasadena. This is your conference and the thing that makes it so valuable to teachers across California is that the majority of the sessions are presented by fellow teachers and educators sharing their ideas and experiences. Thank you to all who attended and to those who were with us in spirit. I would also like to thank the conference co-chairs, Dean Gilbert and Laura Henriques, and their committee for all of the work that putting on a meeting of this size requires. Finally, I want to thank the CSTA staff, Jessica Sawko, Connie Morrill, and Kayla Froehlich-Williams for the professional handling of the logistics of the conference. Until you have worked along side the staff and volunteers, you can’t possibly understand all of the mega and mini details that have to be attended to. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

While travelling this weekend, I got to thinking about what makes vacations special. Vacations either take you to places you have never been before or to favorite spots where you know the people and the activities. People often take vacations with friends, sharing new and exciting activities and places to eat. They often find themselves talking and visiting long into the night, solving life’s problems and renewing friendships through personal, not electronic, contact. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

It is the beginning of September and classroom teachers around the state are preparing for the start of a new school year. As you begin this annual rite of passage, I encourage you to think about ways that you can incorporate critical thinking and problem solving into your classes. If you are teaching in an elementary school where classroom science minutes have been reduced or eliminated, I encourage you to think about how you could incorporate your students’ curiosity of the natural world into your otherwise scripted curriculum, if you are in a middle school with pacing guides and school wide assessments, think about how you can tap the energy and curiosity of your young adolescents. Finally, if you teach high school and beyond, consider how you can focus on the processes of science, scientific thinking, and applying knowledge of science to novel situations. In short, it is time to commit to a year of “Thinking Science.” (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

It is the beginning of August and time to start transitioning from summer vacation to the start of the school year. It is time to put away the shorts and flip flops, tool belts and paint brushes, beach novels and travel maps, and begin to think about lesson plans and activities, objectives and standards, students and exciting ways to engage them in our passions for science. Like the changing seasons, August always awakens a bit of wonder about what is to come.  Will it be a good year, will my students really get it this year, will they be excited to learn new things, will I be able to provide the right environment for them so that we are all engaged in challenging and worth while learning experiences? (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

As I begin my term as the president of your California Science Teachers Association, I am intrigued by the challenges facing our profession in the coming years. As I write this column, there is legislation being considered that will restart the Science Framework revision process by 2014, new, National Science Education Standards are about to be released, and there is a greater push for emphasizing STEM curriculum in all of our schools. In addition, schools will continue to face limited or restricted budgets, class sizes will likely increase, and new assessment programs that will eventually impact science instruction will be implemented by 2014. As science teachers, it is our responsibility to face these challenges and find ways to deal with them.  (more…)

by Tim Williamson

It’s hard to believe that two years have gone by so quickly!  As my presidency comes to a close, I would like to reflect on a few of the challenging issues that we have faced, and say thank you to some wonderful people who have helped me along this fast-paced, ever-changing, and incredible journey.

Unfortunately, as most of you know, the downturn of the economy did not spare us. As a result, CSTA has gone through some structural and financial transitions over the past two years. With the help of our experienced and knowledgeable executive director, Christine Bertrand, your CSTA Board of Directors took on the difficult task of balancing our budget during these severe economic times.   (more…)

by Tim Williamson

This is the time of year of when school testing reigns supreme and nerves can be frazzled.   What better time to sit down at your computer and contemplate some little known “fun facts” of the science world.

I stumbled on this great web site called FunFactz.com.  It contains fun fact categories from animal facts, to Obama facts, to space facts, to superstition facts and even some weird law facts!  I’ve decided to share some of the “fun science facts” with you to calm your nerves, ease your mind and help you escape from the rigors of testing for a few minutes.  Enjoy!  Then… Back to work! (more…)

by Tim Williamson

When Christine Bertrand, our wonderful executive director, announced her retirement last fall, I appointed a search/transition committee to fulfill the difficult task of replacing her. The committee members were Rick Pomeroy (chair), Dean Gilbert, Meg Burke, and I. We spent numerous hours discussing the restructuring of our CSTA office in Sacramento and finding a new executive director. Included in these discussions were the financial stability of the association (past, present, and future), the number of staff members needed to meet the present and future needs of the association, and of course, the qualifications and responsibilities of a new executive director. (more…)

It is with mixed emotions that I am announcing the retirement of our executive director, Christine Bertrand, effective March 31, 2011. As president of CSTA I don’t know what we are going to do without her! She has been with us for just over 15 years! Needless to say, she will be missed. Most of you know her and have seen her at our state conferences, but maybe you don’t know just how much she has done for our organization. She has had a myriad of responsibilities, too many to mention, that have impacted CSTA in a memorable and meaningful way. What follows barely scratches the surface of all that Christine has done over the years, but bear with me as I make mention of some of them. (more…)

CSTA Science Education Conference 2011, Pasadena

Pasadena, the city of the famous Tournament of Roses parade, is soon to become the “City of Science.”  The 20th California Science Education Conference will be held in this beautiful Southern California city this fall.  The conference committee has been hard at work creating a program that will burst into bloom October 21-23, 2011.

You say it’s a bit early to be thinking about a conference that is nine months away?  It is actually a perfect time to begin thinking about this conference.  You may not know it, but your school district is starting to plan for the distribution of its Title II monies for the 2011-12 school years’ professional development activities.  Past Title II money distributions have typically gone to the so-called high-needs areas of math and reading/language arts.  It’s my guess that this is because many teachers are not aware that these monies can and should be divided equally between all of the content areas.  (more…)

On behalf the Board of Directors of CSTA, I wish you a prosperous and successful new year. I thank you for your membership and support of CSTA. As you look back on the successes you achieved in 2010 and look forward to a bright and new 2011, CSTA offers the following suggestions for your New Year’s Resolutions:

• Introduce a new lab activity in your classroom (check CSTA’s Teaching Resources page for ideas).
• Submit a Short Course or workshop proposal for the 2011 California Science Education Conference in Pasadena (2011 Conference page).
• Plan a Family Science Night (stay tuned to California Classroom Science beginning in January for tips from Region 4 director Pete A’Hearn or visit the San Joaquin COE Family Science Event page for instant gratification). (more…)

Tim Williamson

Many of you who teach the “Periodic Table” may have discovered that it can be very difficult to engage your younger students in understanding this rather intimidating chart.  Especially for those 3rd and 5th grade teachers where some sort of periodic table interaction is part of their science standards.

I’ve been using a fun and unique getting-acquainted-with-the-periodic-table game with my preservice elementary science methods teachers at CSULB for many years.  It’s a great way to introduce elementary students to the periodic table and helps take away some of the “scary feelings” associated with the chart. (more…)