4/19/05c.comer Chris Castillo Comer Director of Science TEA Science Update Statewide SESnet Meeting University of Texas April 19, 2005

Welcome! Goals for the Day Introductions The History of SESnet

Agenda Items… Important Logistical information… STATEWIDE SESnet Meeting

Assessment Update Elementary TAKS Middle School Information Booklets! Online Tutorials for Online TAKS Scale score Personalized Study Guides Spring 2005 Update!

Judging Student Performance Have schools look at the range of 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 are set at 2100 for passing and 2400 for Commended. In 2006 all tests will have these scale scores.

Middle School TAKS Field Test: Monday, April 18, 2005 First assessed: Thursday, 4/20/06 Bridges learning from 5 th grade to 10 th grade science TAKS assessments Includes Student Expectations from Grades 6, 7, & 8

Middle School TAKS Field Test All students will participate Purpose: to gather data about items. Districts will not receive feedback A small sub-set of the state will be administered the On-Line Pilot which will include innovative items.

NEW! TAKS Information Booklets Middle School “Hard Copy” will be printed Scheduled for August ’05 Delivery to Schools Web version scheduled for July 15 th Highlights: 5-6 items per objective Guidance on Equipment TEKS 4 (A)

‘05 Personalized Study Guides Latest shipment was sent to schools on January 7, 2005 The personalized version is online now. Students can log on and type in their CSR to see their personalized study guides The assessment items are based on released tests and student are ‘walked through’ the thinking process for reading the stem and considering the distracters.

FAQ FAQ How can I get a copy of the downloadable study guide? What is Adobe® Reader®? the downloadable study guide? How can I get a copy of the TAKS Study Guide that was developed in 2003? How can I get further help?

Trends: Research: What it tells us… Guided Inquiry Teacher Enhancement What Works Four years of Science? Earth Science?

All Teacher Enhancement should: BE TEKS RELATED: To the depth and complexity of the TEKS PROVIDE TAKS SUPPORT Improves student achievement as evidenced on the TAKS TARGET the TOUGH TEKS Most powerful when fitted to individual teacher and school needs…

Hang in there, you’re almost through that science lab, only 20 minutes till lunchtime! The Education Service Centers Implement pit crews for science teachers. Your Job Is Vital!

You do make a difference! Your efforts: Keep Teachers informed Nurture Leaders Mentor teachers Improve practice Prevent teacher burn-out!

Linking Science and Literacy: SCIENCELITERACY PREDICT Forecast what will happen; i.e.: weather Anticipate what others will do EVIDENCE Experimental data, replication Citations from the text STORY Big Ideas, scaffolding of concepts Narrative HABITS OF MIND Cognitive connectionsBehavior; self THEORY Well articulated best fit of evidence; observable and identifiable Thoughts, hunch, one’s own feelings about something

Construction

New Resources on TEA Website District and Campus Coordinator Manual 2005 TELPAS District and Campus Coordinator Manual Technical Digest SSI Grade Placement Committee Manual SSI Parent Brochures

Master Science Teacher News TEC says the Master Science Teacher (MST) stipends will be paid for the first time at the end of the school year. We should anticipate about 263 MST’s in the first year Commissioner’s Rules are under review. SBEC has approved one program, with several more applying soon. Lonna Sanderson Elementary PAEMST Awardee

Science Meetings of note: Texas Regional NAEP Framework Meeting Austin Omni Hotel; April 25, 2005 TUSC Meeting Austin Omni Hotel; May 10, 2005 TSELA Summer Meeting Austin Airport Hilton; June 7, 2005 CAST: Houston, TX October 25-30, 2005 NSTA: Anaheim, CA April, 2006

More people in the United States earn their living by doing astrology than by doing astronomy. Vital Connections, p. 38 Today’s Reality

Who To Contact: TEA Science Staff: Chris Castillo-Comer Director of Science Irene Pickhardt Assistant Director