SCIENCE at New Haven

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SCIENCE at New Haven
Why, What, How
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The STEM Crisis continued

• Children from urban centers have been denied
  access to careers in STEM, 80 of future jobs are
  in STEM.
• Do they have Role Models in STEM?
• Have we made STEM a priority?
• Bottom Line We expect our kids to perform at
  levels identical to suburban peers.
• We dont accept anything else.

We will restore science to its rightful place
and wield technology's wonders B.Obama 1/20/09
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CT in STEM

• STEM (health) the number one growing field New
  Haven is the hub.
• CT Manufacturing cant find workers with enough
  STEM skills. (Green/Energy is the future)
• ALL data points to STEM skills being the key.

We will launch a "new era" of science education
in the United States, one that encourages
students to ask tough, challenging,questions
-Arne Duncan Mar 20
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WHAT do THEY NEED?

• The key to schooling is LITERACY
• The key to the future is SCIENCE

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CSDE Science Position Statement Sept 2008
District Responsibilities include

• Ensure that the instructional focus (time) for
  science is comparable to that provided for
  language arts and mathematics, and that teachers
  are able to integrate literacy and numeracy
  instruction within the context of students
  science learning experiences.
• Provide students with multiple opportunities
  every week to experience inquiry investigations
  that develop students abilities to question,
  explore, observe, gather simple data, create
  graphs, draw conclusions based on the data and
  build their understanding of natural phenomena.
• Ensure that 80 percent of science instructional
  time is devoted to inquiry-based investigations.

FOCUS INTEGRATION MULTIPLE 80 INQUIRY
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SCIENCE learning Research

• Learned best by learning cycle
• ( Engage/Explore first THEN Explain followed by
  Elaborate, Evaluate)
• Integrates math/literacy
• Provides the experiential context
• for other skill areas

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NHPS Science Curriculum Overview Vision

• Science is for All Students
• Science Literacy
• Active Learning
• Teachers Facilitators

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Science Inquiry Skills

• apply science process skills (experiment)
• read and write science-related texts
• search scientific databases
• use mathematics to make sense out of data
• pose and evaluate arguments based on evidence
• apply logical conclusions from such arguments

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Science Standards
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chart
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Science TestingHOW ARE WE DOING?

• High School CAPT, 3rd-gt4th Generation.
• Given to 10th graders, content was from grades
  6-10. (now just two grades 9-10)
• 10 Inquiry standards, 45 specific content
  standards.
• All questions divided among 5 strands
• I. Energy Transformations, II. Chemical
  Structures, III. Global Interdependence, IV.
  Cells and BioTech, V. Genetics, Evolution,
  Populations

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NHPS CAPT trends the same as the state
2008 CAPT SCI Prof Goal Inquiry Concept Scale
DERG I 2008 46 15.4 41 44 216
New Haven 50.6 15.6 44 44 219
Urban Rank 3 3 1 3 3
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CMT Science Testing

• Given for the first time in 2008
• Elem (K-5) Science, given in 5th grade
• Middle School (6-8) Science, given in 8th grade
• 1/2 Inquiry, 1/2 Concepts
• Not part of AYP.. yet

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CMT Science 2008
5th 5th 8th 8th
Prof Goal Prof Goal
State 81.1 55.2 75.2 58.9
DERG I 50.2 20.5 38.4 20.4
New Haven 53.8 21.3 45.4 25.2
rank 3 3 1 1
Data given on Earth, Life, Physical, Concepts,
Inquiry New Haven strong in Inquiry, Life Inquiry
Score (54) above 12 other towns. Several NHPS
Schools above 70 proficient.
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Other Data

• Science Kit Use K-6 up 33
• Quarterly Assessments 7-12 show growth
• Inquiry Scores going Up
• Science correlates with reading at upper grades

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DATA ANALYSIS

• Inquiry skills a plus
• Elem/Middle Physical, Earth Science not as
  strong
• High School Strands show weaknesses in
  chemistry, some bio (pacing)
• Goal for 8-10 pt gains
• across all levels

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What are we doing NOW? ELEM/Middle SCIENCE

• Kits was 2, now 3 a year
• Time defined by district
• Training adding more
• Experiences more coordinated, refocused,
  appropriate and relevant.
• Middle school teachers work hard!
• Focus on groups/Science Talk PD
• New Curriculum K-8
• Elem. Assessments with kits

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CMT Prep Plan

• Practice tests for fifth/eighth grade
• Inquiry labs right before CMT
• Small group/class discussion of concepts and
  skills.
• Elem/Middle School CMT-like assessments
• Attention to reading/writing for identified
  students.
• Connection to math measurement skills

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HIGH SCHOOL

• Int Phy Chem Required for all, ties together
  lots of important science for LIFE
• Biology CAPT prep
• Chemistry KEY course for ALL for future science
  learning
• Electives (Physics, etc..), MAGNET schools
• Increasing Work with
• Community Partners

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CAPT Prep Plan

• CAPT-like Quarterly/Formative Assessments.
• Data Teams, discussions
• Some student identification
• CAPT practice, review tests
• Experimentation skills focus
• Retesters given help

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COMMUNITY PARTNERS

• Yale Community Outreach, trying to coordinate
  (yale.edu/scienceoutreach)
• Kids Demos, SEOP, Peabody, CRISPY, Health,
  BioBus,SciSat,UNH,URI etc.
• AfterSchool TAG, LittleScientists,
  21stCentury,STEM grant, , etc..
• TeacherTraining Yale, SummerGrants, Peabody,
  UNH, URI, etc

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New Haven Science Fair

• Teaches those inquiry skills
• cause effect, connection to real world
• Gets kids TALKING about science
• Mentors, judges from all over, serve as role
  models
• May 12,13,14 nhsciencefair.org

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SciFairPic
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Key Points of Success

• Inquiry Skills as Focus,
• Student Achievement Up
• Science NH Resources
• Certified, Qualified, Hard Working Teachers
• Matt Erickson, Chris Willems CT Science
  Teachers of Year,
• John Fortier Tapestry Grant
• Lab Facilities
• Interdisciplinary,
• Re-emphasis on standards

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Challenges Teachers/Instruction

• Need certified, highly qualified for each
  subject hard to find and retain.
• Need to focus on 7-10th grade, science for ALL
  students.
• Need for coaching/training for teachers to reach
  early adolescent, special ed, ELL learners
• Changes in instruction styles
• ongoing

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Challenge Resources

• Science needs
• stuff!
• There is a need for time for training,
• data teams, Prof Development.

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Message

• Science is for all, and is important
• Time needed for science and focuses on what works
  for learning.
• Science is hard not true!
• Science is not just for college, science is for
  all our students.
• NHPS and our partners
• will focus on CT Standards.
• Science IS the
• Key to the Future!

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SCIENCE

• www.newhavenscience.org

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New Haven Public Schools Science Events and
Highlights Spring 2009See also nhsciencefair.org
for info

• ? Nov 20, Davis Family Science Night
• ? Dec 11, East Rock Family Science Night
• ? Jan 14 Nathan Hale Family Science Night
• ? Jan 16 Columbus School Science Fair
• ? Jan 28 Betsy Ross School Science Fair
• ? Feb 22 Jepson Family Science Night
• ? March 11 Ross/Woodward Family Science Night
• ? March 11-13 CT State Science Fair, with
  projects from W.Hooker, Betsy Ross, HSC, Coop
  entered and projects from HSC and W.Hooker as
  finalists.

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• ? Thursday, March 26 Bishop Woods School Science
  Fair
• ? Tuesday, March 31 Nathan Hale School Science
  Fair
• ? Thursday, April 2 Celentano, W.Hooker School
  Science Fairs
• ? Thursday, April 2 Science Fair Mentor
  Appreciation Dinner 6-9pm Amarantes
• Ted Sergi, past CT Ed Commissioner , CT Science
  Center President, Guest Speaker
• ? Tuesday, April 7 Clinton Avenue School Science
  Fair (5-8)
• ? Tuesday, April 7 Edgewood School Science Fair,
  Awards also honoring Matthew Erickson, CT Middle
  School Science Teacher of the Year
• ? Wednesday, April 8 Brennan/Rogers, Troup,
  Vincent Mauro, School Science Fairs
• ? Thursday, April 9 Barnard John Daniels School
  Science Fairs
• ? Tuesday, April 14 Clinton Avenue School Science
  Fair (K-4)
• ? Thursday, April 16 Sheridan School Science Fair
• ? Monday, April 27 Coop School Science Fair
• ? Wednesday, April 29 Davis Street School Science
  Fair

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• ? Wednesday, April 29 CT Science Teachers Awards
  Banquet New Haven Lawn Club
• o Chris Willems (Cross), CT High School Science
  Teacher of the Year
• o Matthew Erickson (Edgewood), CT Middle School
  Science Teacher of the Year
• ? 15th Annual New Haven Science Fair, Yale
  Commons Tue-Thur May 12-14th
• o Judging, Wed, May 13 9am-12pm, Public Viewing
  1pm-5pm
• o Awards Thur, May 14 Sheffield-Sterling-Strathcon
  a (SSS) Hall
• o 630pm Prek-Grade 5 Awards, 730 pm Grades 6-12
  Awards