2006/2007 Brennon Sapp Larry Tibbs Science Transformation

First Steps Lets look at the past –Most of the school improving  According to Science Index  According to distribution of novice, apprentice, proficient, distinguished scores  According to ACT and SAT scores –Most schools around us improving –Most schools in our area moving ahead of us in science –Students NOT taking science classes –Counselors “sticking” kids in our classes when they have no where else to go –Every gap imaginable unchanged in science –Ask students about science –Dixie is moving to Schools of Study

Reading Math Science Social Studies Arts & Humanities Pract. Living/Voc Stud Writing Total

Second Steps Let everyone know and ask the hard questions Let everyone know and ask the hard questions Don’t allow any blame (especially toward the kids) Don’t allow any blame (especially toward the kids) Don’t allow excuses Don’t allow excuses Review the new core content Review the new core content Entertain and explore any and every option your team can come up with Entertain and explore any and every option your team can come up with Move forward with or without the “naysayers” Move forward with or without the “naysayers”

Why? No Blame No Blame No Excuses No Excuses We have to try something new—What we are doing is NOT working! We have to try something new—What we are doing is NOT working! Kids are different each and every year, is our teaching? Kids are different each and every year, is our teaching? We have more and more responsibility, are you helping students with more and more? We have more and more responsibility, are you helping students with more and more? --Slides we used with our teachers--

Why? No Blame No Blame We have to try something new—What we are doing is NOT working We have to try something new—What we are doing is NOT working What does the data indicate? What does the data indicate? Life Science needs the most improvement (it is also the major focus on the new core content) Life Science needs the most improvement (it is also the major focus on the new core content) Open responses produce to many 0’s & 1’s Open responses produce to many 0’s & 1’s --Slides we used with our teachers--

What Can We Do? & What Did We Do?

Our Conclusions Students don’t take science classes because they are not interested in science Students don’t take science classes because they are not interested in science Students do not score well on standardized test because Students do not score well on standardized test because –They don’t like science –They don’t take a lot of science –They may not be in science when they take the test –THEY DON’T THINK SCIENTIFICALLY Much of tested science is more related to thinking than content Much of tested science is more related to thinking than content Students spend a lot of time repeating content our students have been exposed to in an earlier grade Students spend a lot of time repeating content our students have been exposed to in an earlier grade

Our Old Science Three Required Classes Three Required Classes –Biology (1 credit-freshman) –Earth/Space Science (1 credit) –Integrated Science (1 credit) Electives Electives –Chemistry (1 credit) –Anatomy & Physiology (1 credit) –Physics (1 credit) –Environmental Science (1 credit) –AP Chemistry (2 credits) –AP Biology (2 credits)

Science Now Three and a Half Credits Required Freshman Year Freshman Year –Scientific Investigations (½ credit) Sophomore–Senior Years Sophomore–Senior Years –at least one science per year –Core Life Science (½ credit) –Core Earth/Space Science (½ credit) –Core Physical Science (½ credit) –Elective Life Science (at least ½ credit) –Elective Earth/Space Science (at least ½ credit) –Elective Physical Science (at least ½ credit)

What Electives Should We Have Ask the students where there interest lie Ask the students where there interest lie Ask the teachers where some of their passions lie Ask the teachers where some of their passions lie Scan the media for the more popular topics of the day (Forensics) Scan the media for the more popular topics of the day (Forensics) Survey the students Survey the students Write course descriptions Write course descriptions Find teachers willing to participate Find teachers willing to participate Give others the old required classes Give others the old required classes

What Electives Do We Have? Electives –Chemistry A & B –Anatomy A & B –Physics A & B –Environmental Science –Forensics –Zoology –Astronomy –Chemistry & Community –Oceanography/Marin Biology –Medical Science –Radio Technology –Horticulture –Geology –Meteorology –Anatomy for Artist –AP Chemistry –AP Biology

Now All We Have to do is Make it Work The kids have responded! These Classes are Full! Conferences—ExternshipsResources—Professionals