summer and school

o.k. It has been well over a year since my last post. I think I'll try and get back into the posting mode at least once a month. Of course the incentive that I had when I created this blog is gone (the old STAR grant technology grab), but I think I'll spin this as my way of fulfilling the requirements of being a STM (science teacher mentor) this year.

During school year 08-09 a couple of our campuses were labeled as academically unacceptable by TEA. Science scores in 8th grade were a part of that. Our regional service center complained to some administrator that our middle school / junior high science teachers weren't coming to the service center enough for staff development and we certainly should be given that we were unacceptable. Fast forward a few months and what do you know? I get to be developed this school year. Not only do I get to be developed, but I get to come back to the district and develop others. This will get us on that rocket sled back to the top!

Seriously, I am planning on sharing whatever I need to via this blog, a podcast, and my website. I will argue until I am blue in the face that this is superior to forcing meetings during or after the school day. I am also doing all of this off of the school's server and will endeavor to maintain as much control of this training as possible.

With all of that being said, (no, I didn't do well in grammar classes so pick this apart if you must!) I have a schedule for training this summer and beyond from: Scott Hanes
Secondary Science Consultant
Region 8 Education Service Center
July 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30 are the initial dates. The trainings on these dates will be the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) trainings for science teachers. The trainings will include TEKS Overview k-12, Science ELPS, 5-8 Science Academy, and Biology EOC Success.

Other dates include; August 11 (still during summer break), September 16, October 14, November 11, December 9, January 20, February 10, March 17 (my spring break!) (each of these meetings will be from 9 AM to 4 PM). There will also be other trainings scheduled for our STMs to make up for any meetings they might have to miss during the school year.

If anyone happens to still be reading this shoot me an email if you would like to participate in a podcast, we can do it with something as simple as a phone-call. I believe in the height of the starcast podcasts there were at least three or four listeners! I also welcome topic suggestions.