Saturday September 19, 2009 Higgins Hall, Boston College The Urban Ecology Institute Teacher Kick Off Event

Welcome

Contacts Kim Kilcourse Education Partnerships Program Manager Lindsey Cotter Science and Research Program Manager Victoria Shelus Education Assistant, Americorps VISTA Robin Sleith Education Assistant, Americorps VISTA Dr. Eric Strauss Research Associate Professor & Director of Environmental Studies Program, Boston College Science Advisor Frank Reece Executive Director Emily Hoffman Education Program Director

Agenda of the Day 9:00-9:30Breakfast and Activity Atrium in Higgins 9:30-10:00Introductions Dr. Eric Strauss & Kim Kilcourse Higgins :00-11:30Guest Speaker – Dr. David Morimoto Higgins :30-11:40Break 11:40-12:15UEI Overview - Kim, Robin, & VictoriaHiggins :15-1:00LunchAtrium in Higgins 1:00-1:55First Breakout Session - Urban Tree Stewardship – Marsha TurinHiggins Water Quality – Lisa HendersonHiggins Soil Quality – Victoria ShelusHiggins Foundations of Urban Ecology – Robin SleithHiggins 300 2:00-3:00Second Breakout Session - Water +Soil Quality – Robin SleithHiggins IMD – Kim KilcourseHiggins New Teacher Orientation – Victoria Shelus Higgins 260 3:00-3:30Reflections, Evaluations, Farewell – Kim Higgins 300

Education Program Overview Expectations Roles & responsibilities Implementation Stipends & PDP’s Field Support Transportation Materials Volunteers Data Management - grant reporting Professional Development Student Conferences

Expectations Roles and Responsibilities UEI will help each teacher involved in UEI programming to become confident using the UEI Field Studies curricula as an enhancement of his/her primary or required curricula UEI will offer PD that will increase content knowledge & pedagogy that will help teachers implement Field Studies curriculum Teachers are expected to take the lead on lesson planning & implementation Teachers are expected to participate in workshops and student conferences in order to gain content & pedagogy that will help them with implementation of Field Studies

Implementation Plan Includes 1. What is your primary curriculum? 2. What is your overall teaching objective? 3. Where does field studies link to your primary curriculum? 4. List relevant science standards addressed 5. List student learning objectives 6. Attend ASRC and SURGE!

Stipends & PDP’s Teachers who participate in workshops receive stipend Upon completion of their implementation plans, teachers who work in high needs school districts receive an implementation stipend at the end of fall and/or spring semester Teachers who work with us and are not currently teaching in high needs school district are eligible for workshop stipends PDP’s are rewarded at the end of school year

Field Support Equipment (materials list in your packet) Test kits supplies Technology Books Other resources Transportation (limited funds in 2009) Field trip planning Support Bus reservations Americorps VISTA members New teachers support Logistical support for UEI

Field Support cont. If you want to work with volunteers in your classroom complete an application ASAP! Then UEI will provide: Initial training of field studies CORI/SORI checks Ongoing support for both teachers & volunteers Teachers are mentors and responsible for maintaining relationships with volunteers. *Northeastern University – Service Learning Students*

How to request supplies? Online request week in advance How to pick up/drop off supplies? Arrange times to meet at UEI office Coordinate with other teachers Meet at monthly meetings

Transportation Policy See manual for details – manual online September 2009 Limited funds Application process Round 1 Sept 30 th, Dec 30 th, 2009 Round 2 Jan 1 st, March 31 st, 2010 Round 3April 1 st, June 30 th, 2010

Professional Development

Calendar Of Workshops September 19Teacher Kick-Off Workshop October 1Fall SURGE! October 6, 13, 20, 27 UEI curriculum for NEW teachers October 25Bioneers by the Bay November 7IMD/FOSS/BSCS/APES/LBC curriculum callbacks December 3Fall Semester Student Conference December 4Holiday Gathering (social event for teachers) December 5Citizen Science Projects & Science Fair Planning January 9Environmental Health and Bioindicators February 2, 9, 16, 23 UEI curriculum for NEW teachers March 4Spring SURGE! March 18 – 20Spring Institute for Teachers April 10Inspiring students to create change May 8Skillshare, Roundtable Discussion May 20Annual Student Research Conference (ASRC) June 5Teacher Appreciation/UEI Evaluation Meeting

Institutes Summer Institute First 2 weeks in July 2010 changes 2009 last year of large NSF grant funding Same quality and rigor Spring Institute 2.5 day field study ‘sampler’ Geared for high needs, middle school science teachers new to the field studies curriculum Cover substitute teachers for the duration of institute

Student Community Fall & Spring Student Urban Research Gathering on Ecology - SURGE! Proposed dates 1 st or 2 nd week in October January 2010 Locations TBD Annual Student Research Conference - ASRC May 2010 Student Summer Institute College Bound Students only

Social Events Bioneers by the Bay – students & teachers December Holiday gathering – teachers Google Calendar updates – Robin & Victoria

Next Steps Read Teacher Manual and sign partnership form (new & returning) Set up a meeting with Kim to go over implementation plan for the school year Individual or group meetings Plan to attend workshops throughout fall and spring semesters

Student Conferences Fall SURGE! (Student Urban Research Gathering on Ecology)- TBA Write Preference on Evaluation: October 5-9 th, th Fall Semester Student Conference- December 3rd Spring SURGE! (Student Urban Research Gathering on Ecology)- March 4th ASRC (Annual Student Research Conference)- May 20th

uei-fieldstudies.wikispaces.com

Any Questions? Thank you!