Nominations Open for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics & Science Teaching

The National Science Foundation is now accepting nominations and applications for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching program! For more information on how to recognize an outstanding K-6 educator, please visit the PAEMST website.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to Noelle Gorbett, Science Assessment Specialist, or Jamie Rumage, Science Education Specialist, if you have any additional questions or concerns.

National Youth Science Camp

The deadline to submit applications is 6:00 PM EST on February 28, 2020. To be selected, you must be a graduating high school senior in the United States (Two participants from every state and Washington, D.C). The 2020 NYSCamp will be held from June 22 to July 15, 2020; you must be able to attend the entire program.

The National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp) is a residential science education program for young STEM enthusiasts the summer after they graduate from high school. Students from around the country (two are selected to represent each state and Washington, D.C.) are challenged academically in exciting lectures and hands-on studies, and have voluntary opportunities to participate in an outdoor adventure program, gain a new and deep appreciation for the great outdoors, and establish friendships that last a lifetime. Students who are selected will attend the NYSCamp FREE of charge.

For more information about the program, please visit the NYSCamp's web site at http://www.nyscamp.org. More information about the organization that raises support for NYSCamp, the National Youth Science Foundation, visit http://www.nysf.com

2019 OSAS Science Scoring Update

The January 16, 2020 State Board Meeting has been moved to February 20, 2020 due to expected inclement weather. As a result, we will not be able to receive approval on OSAS Science cut scores and achievement level descriptors on the original timeline we had anticipated. This will delay the release of 2019 OSAS Science Assessment Scores until possibly early March. We know that this is inconvenient and appreciate your patience.

Please address any specific questions you have about OSAS Science Reporting to: Noelle Gorbett, Science Assessment Specialist, Noelle.Gorbett@state.or.us or Dan Farley, Director of Assessment, Dan.Farley@state.or.us

OSTA Webcast: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Join Berkeley Gadbaw, middle school science teacher at Catlin Gabel School and Susan Holveck, Science Program Administrator for Portland Public Schools on Tuesday, February 11th from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Together, we will dive in to Claim, Evidence, Reasoning statements to support students to speak and write like scientists. Berkeley and Susan will cover the importance of starting with a phenomenon, and what CER statements can look like with examples of student work. They will also provide tools you can use right away to scaffold CER statements with your students!

This webcast is open to both OSTA members and non-members. To attend this webinar, please register here.

Tribal History/Shared History: Train-the Trainer 

Train-the-Trainer Event: We are looking for educators interested in learning about/becoming certified to train others on the new statewide SB 13 Tribal History/Shared History curriculum that will be implemented beginning in January of 2020.

Training Date/Location: Thursday, March 19th, 2020 from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM at Western Oregon University in the Columbia Room (Part 1).

This training will be a two part series with the second training being offered in April/May. The first part on March 19th will cover the goals listed below and the second part in April/May will include a deeper review of the lesson plans. 

Lessons will be available in grades 4^th, 8^th, and 10^th English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education and Health.

If interested in attending, please complete this online registration. We are limited on room space, so please register as soon as possible to ensure your seat is confirmed. 

Responsive Science Classrooms

You are invited to Engaging Students in Culturally Responsive Science Classrooms in Multnomah County on April 17, 2020 at Multnomah ESD (11611 NE Ainsworth Circle, Portland, OR 97220).

A major shift in Next Generation Science Standards is a focus on phenomena-driven instruction. In this session we will explore how phenomenon can be used to anchor science teaching and learning in a culturally responsive classroom. With respect to formative assessments, participants will experience the process of selecting phenomena that can support students' 3D science learning.

• 8:00 - 11:00 am   Session One for Grades 6-12
• Noon - 3:00 pm   Session Two for Grades K-5

Presenters: Jamie Rumage and Noelle Gorbett, Science Specialists, ODE

REGISTRATION is required for participation.

Additional questions? Please contact Penny Plavala.

Designing for Coherence: MS Scope and Sequence

In this webinar on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 from 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM PST Brian Reiser will share the OpenSciEd Scope and Sequence with participants.

Our Scope and Sequence articulates how the performance expectations are bundled and used to design for a target outcome, how the ideas in each unit build on prior learning, and how the three dimensions of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are reflected in the PE bundles. During this webinar, Brian will share how the Scope and Sequence was generated and how the developers are making it come to life in the units they are writing. There will be time for participants to ask questions throughout the webinar.

Click here to register.