Science Newsletter
Thank you for subscribing to the TEA science newsletter!
Today's newsletter provides information related to:
- TEA Instructional Materials
- Texas Resource Review Rubric
- Texas Medical Association Award
- NASA TechRise Challenge
- Amazon Rainforest Professional Development
Join a TEA Instructional Materials Focus Group!
Would you like to join an instructional materials focus group to collaborate, suggest improvements and make an impact on one or more of the TEA’s instructional materials offerings?
The Texas Education Agency provides school districts and educators with direct access to an optional set of high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) designed especially for Texas students.! We are seeking educator feedback as we work to continuously improve these materials. Focus groups typically meet virtually for 60-75 minutes each month, and the feedback they produce helps inform future editions of TEA’s instructional materials. We are currently recruiting for Carnegie Texas Math Solution (6-12), Math Products (K-5), Amplify English Language Proficiency (K-5), Amplify Spanish Skills (K-2), Odell English Language Arts & Reading (9-12), Social Studies (K-5) and in Development Product (Pre-K). Please stay tuned for future opportunities in other subjects and grade bands.
To fill out a short interest form, please click here. We look forward to hearing from you.
Texas Resource Review (TRR) Draft Science Rubric
The Texas Resource Review (TRR) provides Texas educators with free access to comprehensive and user-friendly information about the quality of instructional materials. As a part of this process, the agency will ensure the definition of quality is transparently communicated via Texas Resource Review rubrics that will be used to assess instructional materials.
The draft TRR K–8 and high school science rubrics have been updated to incorporate feedback we received during the public comment period and through focus groups with districts, education service centers, and publishers. We have summarized the feedback and the rubric updates on a memo of changes.
As we collect and review submitted feedback, we will track additional changes on the memo of changes and post it to the Texas Resource Review webpage and will release a final version of the rubric that incorporates those changes. We hope to have the final rubric posted by the end of October. Products will be reviewed using the science rubric in spring 2023 and reports will be available in fall 2023.
Texas Medical Association (TMA) Award for Excellence in Science Teaching
Each year, this program recognizes and rewards Texas science teachers at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Please click here to see the previous year's winners. TMA is delighted to continue recognizing teachers who share their energy and enthusiasm for science. This year’s award categories and amounts are:
Grand Prize: One Texas science teacher will receive $20,000 plus a $5,000 school resource grant.
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Distinguished Awards: Three teachers (one at each level) will receive $7,000 and a $3,000 school resource grant.
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Rookie Award: A teacher with less than seven years’ experience will receive $5,000 and a $2,000 school resource grant.
TMA will be accepting nominations and self-nominations until December 3, 2022. The application deadline is January 2, 2023. All areas of science are welcome.
NASA Seeks Student Experiments to Soar in Second TechRise Challenge
Lee esta nota de prensa en español aquí.
NASA is now accepting entries for the second NASA TechRise Student Challenge. Open to students in sixth through 12th grade, the challenge invites teams to design, build, and launch science and technology experiments on high-altitude balloons. Entries are due on October 24, 2022, and NASA will announce the challenge winners in January 2023. Each winning team will receive $1,500 to build their experiment, and an assigned spot to test it on NASA-sponsored balloon flight. Educators can register for the virtual educator workshop on August 27, 2022, to learn more about the challenge and to get inspired about experiment ideas.
Scholarships and Grants for Amazon Rainforest Professional Development Workshop
Educator Academy in the Amazon Rainforest
The Educator Academy in the Amazon Rainforest provides powerful professional development designed to transform student learning. Immersed in the Peruvian Amazon, teachers learn about this key global ecosystem while building their ability to engage students in scientific research, engineering design, cross-cultural connections, and stewardship projects. Field workshops support NGSS 3D learning, STEM, 5E and more.
With specialized tracks for elementary, middle school, and high school/AP educators, participants will:
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Work side-by-side with scientists and researchers on citizen science projects and field studies on the ACTS Rainforest Canopy
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Walkway in one of the world’s most biologically diverse environments.
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Explore conservation and sustainability via hands-on workshops with indigenous communities.
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Spend a day in an Amazon village and explore the role of education in creating a sustainable future for Amazon children.
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Work in grade-level cohorts to develop strategies for using the Amazon as a vehicle for incorporating standards-based inquiry,
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STEM, and sustainability education into the classroom.
Academy fee of $3195 includes a pre-departure prep course, resource kit, on-site workshops & in-country land costs (air is not included).
~ $200 mini-grants will be awarded to all participants who complete the pre-departure course work and submit a classroom connections action plan prior to departure.
~ Scholarship and Grant applications open on October 15,, 2022. Submission deadline is December 15, 2022. Space is limited to 26 educators. Get the details and download a syllabus and scholarship application at: www.morphoinstitute.org/educator-academy
Thank you for your commitment to serving Texas students.
Science Team
Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division
curriculum@tea.texas.gov
(512) 463-9581
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