TEA Science Update: Corpus Christi,
Texas
June 23, 2005 Presented by: Chris Castillo Comer
Director of Science
TEA Science Update
Slide2: What’s NEW?
Pre-K Science! Early Start Science Literacy Grants
$110 Thousand Dollars in grants
Science materials and training in student literacy with a science focus! TEA ENDORSED HEAD START SCIENCE PROGRAMS
Abram’s & Company
Delta Education:
Pre-Kindergarten Kit
Lakeshore Products:
Ready to Read Early Science Kit
Curriculum Changes : Curriculum Changes
Changes were made to math TEKS, ELA TEKS revision is going on now…
Increased Expectations for High School Performance
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) define all courses including PE and the Arts
More rigorous graduation plans now in effect for all students including Personal Graduation Plans (PGP)
Encouragement for the RHSP and the DAP
TEXAS grant program
AEIS status
The Burning Question…: The Burning Question… What about Statewide
Science TAKS Results?
Slide6: Science TAKS Results 2005 Overall Results
Elementary Science: Elementary Science OBJECTIVES 2003 2004 2005
1: Nature of Science 76% 83% 86%
2: Life Sciences 74% 79% 81%
3: Physical Sciences 66% 74% 78%
4: Earth Sciences 53% 60% 67% Commended
Performance:
’03 ’04 ’05
4% 16% 26%
A 64% pass rate for English Science TAKS;
Only 23% of the fifth grade students passed the Spanish Science TAKS.
More Elementary students failed the science portion of the TAKS test than any other subject.
TAKS Grade 5 Blueprint: TAKS Grade 5 Blueprint
Elementary Science— Questions to ask…: Elementary Science— Questions to ask… Is science taught K-5th grades?
How much time per week is spent on science instruction, on lab and field experiences?
Do students have opportunities to use the tools in
TEKS #4?
How much professional development have each of your teachers received in science?
Are ALL children getting enough hands-on science instruction with concrete experiences in science?
Are mentoring programs available for teachers?
High School Science: High School Science Met Standard:
Science—54%
Math—58%
Social Studies—84%
Eng. Lang. Arts—67% Commended
Performance: 8%
High School Science: High School Science Commended Performance:
Science—5%
Math—16%
Social Studies—25%
Eng. Lang. Arts—20% Met Standard:
Science—71%
Math—72%
Social Studies—91%
Eng. Lang. Arts—87%
High School TAKS Blueprint: High School TAKS Blueprint
Judging Student Performance: Judging Student Performance Look at the range of your students’ performances based on their scale scores.
Do more students have a scale score closer to 2100 (threshold for passing) than to 2400 (commended performance)? Remember that for all tests (except for 2005 Exit Level), the scale scores were set at 2100 for passing and 2400 for Commended Performance. In 2006 all tests will have these scale scores.
Slide14: 8th grade TAAS TAAS was Tested at grade 8 for the
LAST time in Spring of 2002! Middle School TAKS is Coming! Assessment:
When Can We Capture their Excitement Again?: When Can We Capture their Excitement Again?
Slide17: When Will Our Students Study the Earth Sciences Again?
Slide18: When can We Inspire them again?
Slide19: Critical knowledge and skills are INTRODUCED in Middle School
Conceptual strands are brought to LOGICAL CONCLUSION in Middle School
SUCCESS on Exit Level Assessments depends on Middle School
Middle School determines student GRADUATION PLANS
CAREER CHOICES are influenced by middle school
Girls in particular form ATTITUDES about science in Middle School Why Is a Strong Science Program
Important at the Middle School Level?
Middle School TAKS: Students did fairly well on field test; Included Student Expectations from Grades 6, 7, & 8; Students especially need help in Earth Science concepts and Physical Science concepts; also understanding food webs.
Grade 8 First assessed: Thursday, 4/20/06
Included in accountability ratings in 2008;
Increase in the Recognized standard from 75% to 80%. postponed until ’09 to take into account the inclusion of Middle School Science TAKS.
Commended Performance included in ’07.
A Focus Group will be formed to make recommendations. Middle School TAKS
Slide21: “Hard Copy” will be printed and delivered to schools in August
Web version scheduled: July 15th
Highlights:
5-6 items per objective
Guidance on Equipment TEKS #4(A) TAKS Middle School
Information Booklets Grade 8
Middle School TAKS Blueprint: Middle School TAKS Blueprint
Highlights: Objective 1: Highlights: Objective 1 Nature of Science: maps, including contour maps;
Extrapolation including percentages, averages, range and frequency to be calculated
Precise measurements from beakers, graduated cylinders, balances, thermometers will be necessary
At The Middle School Level Students Should Collect, analyze, and record information using tools including ….: At The Middle School Level Students Should Collect, analyze, and record information using tools including ….
Beakers
Petri dishes
Meter Sticks
Graduated cylinders
Weather instruments
Hot plates
Spring scales
Magnets
Microscopes
Telescopes
Field equipment AND this is NOT
the complete list!
Slide25: Resources for Objective 1 Science Safety Also available online:
www.tenet.edu/teks/science/safety
Highlights: Objective 2: Highlights: Objective 2 Local examples along with regions in Texas and global food webs will be given
The role of DNA in containing all genetic material rather than the molecular structure
Punnett Squares will be used to predict genetic outcomes
Students should know that human activity, both negative and positive, may result in environmental consequences and that there are degrees of consequences.
Slide27: Released Item:
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/index.html
Highlights: Objective 3: Highlights: Objective 3 Students should be able to recognize the elements of common compounds including water, salt, sugar, and chemical symbols of those elements;
Endothermic and Exothermic Chemical reactions;
Students won’t be required to balance chemical equations but will be required to identify rearrangement of atoms;
Specific heat as a property of a substance, basic applications of specific heat, such as why the oceans hold heat better than large landmasses should be understood
Highlights: Objective 4: Highlights: Objective 4 Room temperature, boiling point and freezing points in Celsius will be provided but must be understood
Kinetic and potential energy transformation;
Forms of energy: heat, chemical, mechanical, & electrical;
Speed and motion and simple calculations;
Waves: Electromagnetic, sound, seismic, and water; Wave characteristics: wavelength, frequency, & amplitude;
Highlights: Objective 5:: Highlights: Objective 5: The principles of plate tectonics: Rift valleys and seafloor spreading may be included;
General terms for phases of the moon, such as full moon and quarter moon, will be included;
Endangerment of species as well as extinction may be included;
Earth’s renewable and non-renewable resources will be included.
Students should be able to understand that the energy that drives weather systems originates from the sun.
Slide31: Released Item: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/index.html
“Unbundled TEKS”: For example, TEKS 8.10(B) states, “The student knows that complex interactions occur between matter and energy. The student is expected to describe interactions among solar, weather, and ocean systems. Students may be asked a question about
solar and weather system interactions. “Unbundled TEKS”
Resources:: Resources: www.aaas.org www.nsta.org These National Science Documents help to understand the content that is contained in the TEKS
Critical Knowledge and Skills—In Grade 6 Students Are…: Critical Knowledge and Skills—In Grade 6 Students Are… Introduced to chemical change
Learn to work with serious laboratory equipment equipment such as test tubes, beakers, telescopes and computer probes for the first time!
Use percent, average, range, and frequency applied in identifying patterns in collected information!
Apply concepts of force and motion to volcanic activity and uplifting!
At 7th Grade, Students…: At 7th Grade, Students… Study potential and kinetic energy
Are introduced to photosynthesis
Learn the foundation for Genetics and Homeostasis
Learn how compounds different from elements
Investigate ecological succession
8th Grade students…: 8th Grade students…
Learn Interactions among solar, weather, and ocean systems
Are introduced to specific heat
Investigate Exothermic and Endothermic reactions
Can describe Interdependence in Systems
Steps to Strengthening Middle School Science:: Steps to Strengthening Middle School Science: To the TEKS!
Pick and choose sections of your textbooks—don’t try to teach whole book
“clump” TEKS together around topic themes
Vertically
Talk to the grades above and below
STEP
#1
ALIGN
REMEMBER: The Role of Untested TEKS in Student Understanding: REMEMBER: The Role of Untested TEKS in Student Understanding Untested:
5.12(D) Identify gravity as the force that keeps planets in orbit around the Sun and the moon in orbit around the Earth.
Tested
5.12(C) Identify the physical characteristics of the Earth…
Gravity is responsible for many of Earth’s physical characteristics!
What can Teachers Do? : What can Teachers Do? REVIEW ALL TEKS STATEMENTS: Interpret each into learning experiences for students
Attend staff development in identified areas of need
TEACH THE TEKS: Determine what mastery would “look like” in the classroom
Think about interventions that might be used with struggling students
Develop a variety of ways to explore each Student Expectation
Use technology often
STEP # 2 TEACH for DEEP Understanding: STEP # 2 TEACH for DEEP Understanding Are Students really “Doing” Inquiry based Science?
Are you using labs for the Tested TEKS?
Do students:
View themselves as scientists?
Exhibit curiosity?
Propose explanations?
Raise questions?
Use observation?
Instructional Time: Instructional Time Grades 9-12: minimum of 40% of instructional time spent on lab and field investigations
TEKS #1, Mandated
Chapter 74 Curriculum Requirements
Grades K-8: research recommends 60%+
STEP # 3 Assess for Deep Understanding: STEP # 3 Assess for Deep Understanding Use Embedded Assessment DAILY
Listen to discussion in student workgroup
Use higher order questioning techniques
Observe students’ ease in carrying out investigations
Use feedback mechanisms like whiteboards
Benchmark RARELY
Middle School Counselors Need to Know: Middle School Counselors Need to Know All students should plan to take at least 3 years of science in H.S.
Students’ Math skills should NOT dictate placement in science courses
Enrollment in Honors and Pre-AP programs should reflect diversity of school population
IPC at Gr. 8 is not recommended
3-year gap between course and Exit TAKS
Mobility of student population
Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher (2000): Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher (2000) Most secondary students plan to attend a four year college, more than parents and teachers think plan to attend…
71% of secondary students plan to attend a 4 year college.
52% of parents think their child will attend a 4 year college.
Secondary teachers think that 32% plan to attend a 4 year college. Set High Expectations
What can Administrators do to prepare?: What can Administrators do to prepare? Conduct analysis about current status and ensure TEKS are implemented and taught;
Provide information to students regarding high school courses, college entrance requirements, and skills/knowledge for careers
Align curriculum, instruction, assessment, and instructional materials
Provide professional development with follow-up/support throughout the school year
Consult with your ESC, with TEA, and others for guidance and/or questions
Policy Implications for Middle School: Policy Implications for Middle School Align with Elementary and High School Curricula
Be wary of Test Prep Materials
Stress the Earth Science concepts
For students who will be on the Biology, Chemistry, Physics sequence in High School: strengthen the teaching of Physical Science
IPC or Biology at grade 8 is not recommended:
Serious gap before the 10th and Exit Level tests
Recommended Resources: Recommended Resources Available from the ESC IV:
Bridging Module1--Light and Optics K-8
Gateways: Earth Science Training
Available from the DANA CENTER:
Middle School TEXTEAMS Institutes
Safety Training
Online Science Toolkit
Middle School TEKS fold-outs and charts
www.tenet.edu/teks/science
Recommended Resources: Recommended Resources Available from the Texas Regional Collaboratives
Training in Bridging, IPC TQ Module
Mentoring for Teachers
http://regcol.edb.utexas.edu
Available from TEA Science Staff:
Guidelines for Field Experiences
Counselors and Administrators Guidelines
Science Resources and Websites
PowerPoint presentations
Teacher Quality Grant Training SBOE approved programs: Teacher Quality Grant Training SBOE approved programs Middle School Science II Module (Grade 8)
EXTREME SCIENCE; Dr. L. Hodges UNT
www.tcet.unt.edu/tegs
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/guides/study/index.html
Integrated Chemistry and Physics (IPC) Module:
IPC AT THE MOVIES; Dr. A. Foster; U of H
http://www.coe.uh.edu/texasipc
Science List Serve:: www.tea.state.tx.us/list/ Science List Serve:
Slide51: Texas Education Agency 512-463-9581 Irene Pickhardt
Asst. Dir. of Science
irene.pickhardt@tea.state.tx.us Chris Castillo-Comer
Director of Science
chris.comer@tea.state.tx.us