1. ASK-IT 2 Aligning Student Knowledge through Inquiry Thinking Aug. 20, 2008 - - - A presentation of the Green River Regional Educational Cooperative

2. Welcome Introductions of the GRREC Team Liz Storey, Project Director Brian Womack, Project Coordinator Johna Rodgers, Grant Writer Mindy Alexander, PD Coordinator Rico Tyler, Teacher Ed – Astr./Physics-WKU Doug Jenkins, PD Coordinator of BRIMS Dr. Terry Wilson, Ctr of Math, Sci, & Env Ed (WKU) Dr. Jeanne Fiene, Project Evaluator/WKU

3. Grant overview Funding is from KDE through the US Dept. of Education’s Math/Science Partnership program Up to $500,000 over three years To provide professional development activities designed to improve content knowledge and teaching skills in science Activities should lead to improved student learning

4. Grant overview Up to 12 school teams –Teacher Leader –Team Members (up to three additional teachers) Partners –Western Kentucky University –BRIMS –Dataseam (University of Louisville)

5. Grant overview Based in the research of: –Black and Wiliam, Stiggins, Marzano (formative assessments) –Daggett, Reeves, Silver (rigor, relevance) –National Research Council, NSTA (inquiry-based learning) –NSDC, Speck, Shaha (how teachers/adults learn)

6. Project goals 1.Create a culture of rigor, relevance –Increased teacher content knowledge –Increased use of inquiry-based strategies –Increased use of real-world content –Increased teacher confidence 2.Increased student achievement –Increased student confidence –Increased student engagement –Improved KCCT results

7. Four key strategies Identification of gaps in teaching and learning Teachers observe, learn and model together (with partners, in PLCs) Addition of new curriculum (FOSS) Use of formative assessments for learning

8. Identification of gaps School-wide science program review –Teacher content knowledge –Instructional methods –Available resources/instructional materials Creation of a teacher-designed Action Plan, reviewed each semester Steve Henderson Asst Project Director & Program Manager Central KY Partnership in Math & Science

9. Partners, PLCs Team Leaders: –observe science lessons with faculty from WKU, BRIMS or other partners –“try on” the lessons and new learning targets with Team Members, then within their classrooms –share what works with the Team, refine what doesn’t –then work with Team Members to replicate the process in their classrooms

10. Curriculum tools FOSS or other research-based materials to use in trainings and in working with Teams and students Refined “script sheets” to support teachers as they learn

11. Formative Assessments Strategies Training with Align, Assess, Achieve, LLC tied specifically to science content (3 days) Development of “student friendly learning targets” and other strategies, such as: –Questioning –Homework –Grading practices and policies –Descriptive feedback

12. Benefits to middle schools and their science teachers Formation of 7 th Grade Science PLC’s A science program review Science content training to address identified needs Time for teachers to collaborate Support of a science consultant and a project evaluator

13. Benefits to middle schools and their science teachers Additional PD in inquiry-based instruction and PLCs FOSS curriculum with specific PD and modeling Support of WKU science faculty Stipends for teachers Substitutes for release days

14. School responsibilities Out-of-classroom days for Team Leaders (9 days/year; $$ for subs provided) Team Leaders (3 days) and Members (1 day) participate in summer training (stipends paid) Team Members participate in PLC (stipends) Provide access to student data (KCCT) Ensure principal involvement Technology support

15. Team Leader A 7 th grade science teacher recommended by the principal, committed to the project Stipend provided: $750/semester (year 1 and 2) for additional work with the Team, project Required to attend 9 training days during the school year (release days with subs paid), 3 training days each summer ($125/day stipend) Provide leadership for the PLC during non- instructional hours

16. Team Members Up to three additional 7 th grade science teachers, also recommended by the principal, committed to the project Hourly stipend provided for PLC meetings ($25/hour for up to 10 hours/year) Required to attend 1 training day each summer ($125/day stipend)

17. Leader and Members Meet about monthly in PLC Can be in one or two-hour sessions, as fits the needs of the Team May certainly meet more often; however, each Team Member may only be reimbursed for 10 hours/year

18. Principal/Leadership Attend today’s training: –Overview the project –Learn what you should be seeing in teachers’ classrooms Consider use of a grant-developed walk-through instrument specific to the science classroom Enable access to student data Meet with coordinator (site visits)

19. Program oversight Regional Project Team –Project Director (Liz Storey) –Project Coordinator (Brian Womack) –Evaluator (Dr. Jeanne Fiene) –12 Teacher Leaders Meet quarterly

20. Program Coordinator Brian Womack –Former Science Teacher / Asst. Principal –Former KSTA Bd of Directors –Coach, support each teacher –Schedules trainings and follow-up –Provides resources as needed –Supports collaboration of teachers –Monitors evaluation –Monitors individual Team Leader progress

21. Partners Western Kentucky University –Rico Tyler –Dr. Terry Wilson Barren River Imaginative Museum of Sciences (BRIMS; Doug Jenkins) Dataseam (University of Louisville)

22. Evaluation Evaluator: Dr. Jeanne Fiene Bi-weekly logs to the coordinator Periodic conference calls (Leaders) Site visits School data –KCCT data, other Assessments –Student/Teacher surveys –Principal observation rubrics

23. Budget GRREC is the fiscal agent Reimbursement basis –School finance officer will submit substitute costs –Teachers will invoice us for stipends and after-hours extra duty PD and materials through GRREC Grant does not cover mileage to training events within the GRREC region

24. Questions? Liz Storey –liz.storey@grrec.ky.govliz.storey@grrec.ky.gov Brian Womack –brian.womack@grrec.ky.govbrian.womack@grrec.ky.gov Johna Rodgers –johna.rodgers@grrec.ky.govjohna.rodgers@grrec.ky.gov

25. Contact info: Brian Womack "ASK IT" - Science Grants Coordinator Green River Regional Educational Cooperative 1906 College Heights Blvd., #21031 WKU, 410 Tate-Page Hall Bowling Green, KY 42101-1031 Ph# 270-745-2764 Fax# 270-745-5199