Join us for an Orientation Session

Temple University: Tuttleman Learning Center- 12^th and Montgomery Ave.

                                             4:30pm to 6:30 pm

March 28^th, April 3^rd, April 5^th, April 11^th, April 16^th,

April 17^th, April 25^th, May 1^st, May 3^rd and May 8th

 Limited Space per session:  You must register to attend

To register for an Orientation:

Contact Chris Sadjian-Peacock, Project Coordinator 215-204-0557 or at csadjpea@temple.edu * To be eligible for candidacy you must have taught at least three years as a fully certified teacher, librarian or counselor.  Eligibility for scholarships requires that you attend a NBPTS orientation in 2012. The National Board Certification process is a voluntary, enriching, and rigorous professional growth experience that require teachers to show evidence of the mastery and integration of both content and pedagogical knowledge. It is the highest certification in the education profession. There are now more than 97,000 National Board Certified Teachers nationwide including 904 in Pennsylvania.  From its inception in 1987, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) mission is to advance the quality of teaching and learning. Should you decide to pursue National Board Certification, your success will place you among teachers and counselors who are recognized as accomplished teachers and serve in leadership roles throughout the profession. The NBPTS tuition is $2565. Scholarships of $1250 will be available to all eligible candidates* through Federal Grants (pending funding approval). Additional Scholarships of up to an additional $1250 are available to teachers in high need districts through an application process based on criteria established by the funding sources.   The Orientation Session will include information on the following:

• Eligibility criteria for certification and scholarship
• Requirements of the Certification process
• Available Candidate Supports provided by Temple University’s Center for Teaching Excellence
• Application Process

Are you ready to take your teaching to the next level? Interested in becoming a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT)? The National Board Certification process is a voluntary, enriching, and rigorous professional growth experience that require the mastery and integration of both content and pedagogical knowledge. There are now nearly 97,000 NBCTs nationwide. From its inception in 1987, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards’ mission is to advance the quality of teaching and learning. Should you decide to pursue National Board certification, your success will place you among teachers and counselors who serve in leadership roles throughout the profession. The process of becoming a NBCT involves an extensive series of performance-based assessments that include teaching portfolios, student work samples, videotapes, and thorough analyses of your classroom teaching and student learning. Some teachers and counselors finish the program in a year while some take up to three years to complete all aspects of the process. Before you make your Decision Visit the National Board Web Site (www.nbpts.org) to gain a greater understanding of how you can become a NBCT and add this certification to your professional credentials. Review the material under the “Become a Candidate” tab: “Assessments at a Glance” for your certification area. For more details go to the “For Candidates” tab:  The Portfolio. Download the appropriate portfolio, look at each of the four entries and find the “What I Need to Do” heading to see the exact requirements.  Verify your eligibility for candidacy and choose the certification and developmental level that best reflects your teaching assignment. Please Note: The average time for initial portfolio completion is 200-400 hours outside the classroom.  Financial Scholarships:  National Board Tuition is $2565. You must participate in an orientation in 2012 to be eligible for financial scholarships:  Pending funding, scholarships of $1250 will be available to all eligible candidates* through Federal Grants. Additional scholarships of up to an additional $1250 are available through an application process for teachers in high need districts. Teachers must participate in Temple’s support program to qualify.  All Candidates must pay the $65 application fee.   * You must have taught three years as a fully certified teacher and currently teach in a Pennsylvania public school **You must say yes to “Release Information” question in order for the Center to be notified to process scholarship Supports for Candidates Temple University is providing a variety of support including graduate credits, skill workshops, work sessions and mentoring by current NBCTs for candidates.  You will be notified of all workshops via email. Ninety Act48 credits will be awarded for submission of the completed portfolio and an additional ninety Act48 credits will be awarded upon certification. Timelines for applications March –May 8, 2012: Orientations May 9th: Applications for scholarships due May 18, 2012: Scholarship decisions sent out to candidate May 18- June 1:  Teachers apply online at www.nbpts.org to become candidates May 25^th-:   Support fees and/or tuition due to Temple University June 15^th:  Scholarship money submitted to NBPTS for those meeting all deadlines Please keep in touch as you go through the process and let us know if you need further assistance. You can reach us by phone at 215 -204-0557, by email at csadjpea@temple.edu or visit the Center’s website, www.temple.edu/education/CTE

CENTER FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY

Penn Science Teacher Institute is offering a workshop on Forces, Energy and Motion. The workshop combines physical science content, hands-on activities, lesson planning and instructional resources. Presenters:   Theresa King, Bill Wagenborg Penn Faculty Partner:  Bill Berner Saturday, March 10, 2012, 9:00 am -3:00 pm Location:  U of P Chemistry Building/Vagelos  Room 2000  – 231 S. 34^th St., Philadelphia Cost:  $35 includes lunch and fees.  To register:  send an email to pennsti@sas.upenn.edu.  The cost for the workshop (including lunch) is $35 which you can pay at the door.  Registration deadline is March 9. Check out this event on the Penn Science Teacher Institute Facebook Page – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penn-Science-Teacher-Institute/275415705865529 and get more details at pennsti@sas.upenn.edu

On March 29, EcoExpress is hosting its 2nd Annual Networking Event and celebration for local educators and community members.  EcoExpress is a local non profit that strives to bring awareness of environmental issues to teachers and school students through video and community connections.   This year’s event will be at the historic Laurel Hill Cemetery. (www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org) The event will feature:

• Screenings of EcoExpress.org’s Award-winning documentaries
• Exhibits by local environmental and Science Education Organizations
• Hands-on-Activity demonstrations
• Food and Drinks
• Prizes
• And More!

The other day, when I went to Google something or the other, there was a little phrase about The Google Science Fair at the bottom of the page.  I clicked on it and found this:  http://www.google.com/events/sciencefair/index.html If you or your students are in need of some Science Fair inspiration, or would like to get involved in the Google Science Fair, check this website out!

There are actually more than 365 days in a year!  It actually takes 365 days and six hours for the Earth to revolve around the Sun. The extra six hours accumulate into an entire day every four years (6 hours x 4 = 24 hours or one day).  A “leap year” will contain the extra 366th calendar day. The extra day is added as February 29, which only exists in a leap year.   This year, 2012, is a Leap Year. The term “leap year” comes from the fact that in England, the extra day every 4 years was not recognized by English law and was “leapt over” or ignored.

E=mc² at Temple University in Philadelphia

Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa. has an accelerated program for change of career, early retirees or currently unemployed individuals who have a Bachelor’s Degree with at least 15 credits in Math or Science.   This transition to teaching program is called E= MC² (Educating Middle Grades Teachers for Challenging Contexts). Visit the website at: http://ed.temple.edu//emc2/index.html   Important components of the program are as follows: ·         One year accelerated program ·         Scholarships are available for approved applicants to cover most of the tuition ·         Courses are held on two Fridays and Saturdays a month, so individuals with flexible work schedules can continue working until the last semester when they need to complete student teaching ·         Courses designed and taught by Temple University faculty that link mathematics or science, respectively, with teaching strategies appropriate for middle-school-aged children ·         Initial practical experience in cooperating schools with middle school students followed by progressively more independent and involved classroom work ·         Independent teaching supported by master teachers during 14 weeks of full-time student teaching ·         Participants are qualified to receive Pennsylvania  “Instruction I “ certification upon successful completion of the program ·         Temple provides in-class new teacher support for the first 3 years of teaching ·         Teachers must commit to working in an Urban School District (e.g. Philadelphia, Chester, Harrisburg) for 3 years after completing program If you know someone who might be interested, please forward them this message and ask them to contact Chris Sadjian Peacock at: csadjpea@temple.edu so interested individuals can be invited to one of the “lunch and learn” personalized information sessions.

Poinsettia

KINGDOM: Plantae ORDER: Malpighiales FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae GENUS: Euphorbia SPECIES:  Euporbia pulcherrima The poinsettia is the ubiquitous symbol of the holiday season.  Here at scienceismyspecialty.com we see the beauty of the poinsettia but we also like to explore the science (and the history) behind the plant. First, a little history. The first Ambassador to Mexico, appointed by president John Quincy Adams, was named Joel Robert Poinsett.  In 1828, while wandering in the Mexican countryside, Poinsett found a beautiful red shrub growing near the road.  He took cuttings and brought them back to his greenhouse in South Carolina.  He propagated these cutting, and the plant has become synonymous with the holiday season.  We now use the name poinsettia to describe the plant, in the Ambassador’s honor. The poinsettia’s red leaves are actually that: leaves, not flowers.  The flowers are the little yellow buds inside the leaves. If you live in a cold climate, make sure the plant it is wrapped properly for the trip home from the store.  I recently purchased one in a grocery store and there were large plastic bags near the plants.  I used one to wrap my plant, because exposure to low temperatures even for a few minutes, can damage the leaves.  Poinsettias should be kept away from cold and warm drafts, and ideally daytime temperatures of 60°F-70°F are best. (55°F at night).  Be sure to check the soil daily, and it is a good idea is to punch holes in the foil so water can drain into a saucer.

Aerial view approaching Las Vegas, Nevada

A trip in an airplane for every middle school student would be an excellent way for children to learn about landforms.  Looking out the window of an airplane and making observations of the changing landscape is an experience I wish all my students could have had.  A trip traveling west over the United States is particularly fascinating. But unfortunately, very few of my students ever traveled anywhere in an airplane.

When learning about deltas, canyons, erosion, deposition, mountains and valleys we make models using stream tables.  Despite the exciting hands on nature of these activities, students still have trouble translating these models to real life situations. A view from an airplane would help students visualize the landforms we are teaching about. One answer to the problem of students never experiencing airplane flight is to use Google Earth to display satellite images of the Grand Canyon, the Mississippi Delta, the Great Lakes and the meandering Ohio River. Science standards ask us to interpret aerial photographs and to compare maps and photographs taken from the air. They ask us to relate symbolic representations to features and characteristics of landforms.  What better way than to use Google Earth to introduce landforms to students?

Photo by Janine Dupree: www.janinedupree.com

While visiting Barcelona Spain earlier this month, I read the biography of Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson and while taking in the sights of Barcelona I began to realize that there is a similarity between Jobs and Barcelona’s native son Antoni Gaudi.

Antoni Gaudi, 1852-1926

Antoni Gaudi, a brilliant man, lived in Barcelona from 1852-1926.  It is said that Gaudi was a man of simple ideas and common sense.  He saw an intersection of science, mathematics and art and applied these intersecting ideas to his architecture. His work fuses structure and decoration, with nature being his guide.  Gaudi studied the geometry and principles of nature and included them in his designs.  He studied natural structures such as bones, beehives and tree trunks and observed laws of dynamics and statics to look for functional applications and solutions to his constructions. He is well known for his design of Park Güell, the Palau Güell, the Casa Batillo, and Sagrada Família in Barcelona. His vibrant tile colors, geometric shapes and whimsical constructions are breathtaking.  If you are not familiar with Gaudi, here is a website to introduce you to him and his work.

http://www.respectance.com/Antoni_Gaudi/photos/

Steve Jobs, a brilliant man as well, frequently referred to the “intersection of technology and liberal arts”.  He saw the relevance of combining technology and science with an understanding of literature, art and design.  I understood this intersection more than ever while in Barcelona. Gaudi and Jobs were similar. The architecture of Gaudi around Barcelona immerses visitors in colors, forms, spaces and various artistic techniques he used in his works.  Some people looked upon him a madman, while others thought of him as a genius.  Same with Jobs.   His clean design, along with his concern for packaging, and the look of the inside of the computer (something most of us never see) were things he was concerned about.  Some people thought of Jobs as a madman, and others as a genius.  It turns out the latter was correct in both cases. If we were to close our eyes and listen to a famous Apple advertisement from 1997 that went along with the “Think Different Campaign”, we could imagine it referring to either Steve Jobs and Apple or Catalonian artist/architect Antoni Gaudi.   The ad reads like this:   “Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”   Both Jobs and Gaudi pushed the human race forward: Jobs with the personal computer and Gaudi with his enduring art and architecture that continues to delight the viewer and influenced hundreds artists.   It is interesting to note that both men had a reputation for being incredibly expressive and individualistic in their style.  They also both had a bad temper at times, but both men were perfect examples of what can happen when science,technology, engineering and math intersect with art and design. What we get is the elegance of Apple products and the beauty of  places like Park Güell, Casa Batillo, and Sagrada Familia.   *STEM Education: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math **STEAM Education: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math Note: Some people call this combination STE²AM  (with E² being Engineering and Entrepreneurship)—Steve Jobs would certainly fit this category.

Starting Sunday, December 11, and airing through Friday December 16, an entire week of Nature’s most adored and most endangered felines will be featured on Nat Geo Wild.   FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK  (or copy into your browser) HERE: http://newsletters.nationalgeographic.com/PS!Q2Qlwg/v08cFBgIAAAAGCgFICgkxMDY2ODI2ODUKCjE2MDg2OTgyNjIJAGP6qgoJNjg0NTc2OTQ3BQ