TEA Collaborative Learning Group
Team Meetings

Llong
2004

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Date: 2-4-04
Duration: 4 hours
Location: DeLong Middle School
Parcticipants: Barb, Beth, Karen and Jeremy

Goal(s) of Meeting
School wide meeting to learn how pilot program was going based on Ken O Connors assessment program which was used in Beth's and Karen's classes.

Overview of Session (e.g., resources used, discussion points, next steps, etc.):
Karen, Beth, among others discussed the challenges of changing their grading techniques to fit the new mold. They also reported on how it was much easier grading now and that this program could provide the opportunity to grade students for their academics and their behavior but in two separate fields.

How did your team address pedagogy, content, the process of science, and the use of technology during the session?
Question/answer time. More listening with the chance for more pedagogical questions the follow up day when only our science team would get together.

Additional reflections:

Goal(s) of Meeting
Discuss specific ways grading could be changed in science classes in regards to specific lessons as well as how grades were compare using this system versus the traditional system.

Overview of Session (e.g., resources used, discussion points, next steps, etc.):
The morning session was spent mainly discussing if and how science could use this summative/formative system. The afternoon was redirecting our grade book from this year and some peoples last years to see how this would reflect on grades in each person classroom. Everyone in our group had nearly identical grades.

How did your team address pedagogy, content, the process of science, and the use of technology during the session?
We were concerned how students would learn if many of hte labs that were presented would only be 'checked' off as a formative grade with little points allowed. It appeared to make grading easir but none of the grades would take into account work ethic which many people had a problem with. The main idea is if the student understands the standard then they should recieve an A. That is the reason for a two part grading system: academic and work ethic.

Additional reflections:

Goal(s) of Meeting
Set up Forensics meet science fund raiser - money allows usto go to NSTA as a team of teachers.

Overview of Session (e.g., resources used, discussion points, next steps, etc.):
Just organize what food, drink utensils had to be ordered, who was doing what, times, etc...

How did your team address pedagogy, content, the process of science, and the use of technology during the session?
SPreadsheet!

Additional reflections:

Goal(s) of Meeting
Make money by feeding kids highly nutricious junk food for our benefit!

Overview of Session (e.g., resources used, discussion points, next steps, etc.):
1200 students from outline communities crash DeLong from 3:30 until 8:00. We sell tickets for food with little discussion..maybe a few dreams of Atlanta.

How did your team address pedagogy, content, the process of science, and the use of technology during the session?

Additional reflections:

Goal(s) of Meeting
To gain and share new ideas from the National Convention.

Overview of Session (e.g., resources used, discussion points, next steps, etc.):
As a science team we were all able to attend NSTA because of fund raising and money that was set aside by our district for staff development. Many of us take tours and then share info. that evening over dinner or back at school. The session provide the most wealth of information.

How did your team address pedagogy, content, the process of science, and the use of technology during the session?
Each person chooses different sessions bases on ideas and need. We try not to go to hte same sessions unless the session is exactly what we are looking for. Some lessons are based on pedagogy and other are how to... Each evening we informally review each person sessions and share copies.

Additional reflections:
NSTA is the most rewarding for our team of teachers. More ideas are gathered, information shared, initiatives upon returning to school, etc... These 5 days including travel or essential to our science program and keep it new and fresh.

Goal(s) of Meeting
When she is on ARCUS trip how to have students and staff access and corespond.

Overview of Session (e.g., resources used, discussion points, next steps, etc.):
We discussed how TEA worked and what the different requirements are for ARCUS. Discussed how she would be able to contact us through e-mail and one conference call. Discussed difficultly in that she is leaving the last 6 school days and that poses a probelm as the end of hte year is so busy and it is difficult enough to finsih and yet show students something new.

How did your team address pedagogy, content, the process of science, and the use of technology during the session?
We addresses different ways that she could visit our students before and while she was in the Arctic. When I called the conference call was effective but hte sound system did not work well. We will meet with the tech guru before she leaves and have it already set up as she is going to call within her first week and our last week of school.

Additional reflections:

Goal(s) of Meeting
Show eachers how to access Karen's information and how to parcticipate with the conference call.

Overview of Session (e.g., resources used, discussion points, next steps, etc.):
James Martin our tech specialist went through the steps to log on as a class and how the conference call was 'planned' to work.

How did your team address pedagogy, content, the process of science, and the use of technology during the session?
Discusses how and who could ask questions as we would be in different rooms. Students could ask questions in their class and then call to the main room were interactive call was and then a teacher or student would ask the question.

Additional reflections:

Goal(s) of Meeting
Connect with Karen and have her go through a ppt that she sent the day before and then question / answer with the students.

Overview of Session (e.g., resources used, discussion points, next steps, etc.):
Surprisingly smooth however a little short on time once everthing is set and call is made. Karen focussed on global warming and how the tundra is changing in response.

How did your team address pedagogy, content, the process of science, and the use of technology during the session?
Students parcticipated in question/answer.

Additional reflections:

Goal(s) of Meeting
End of year teacher inservice time. Plan for next year, make orders, help Jeremy in the transfer process.

Overview of Session (e.g., resources used, discussion points, next steps, etc.):
What units/ lessons need to be changed. Share information with Jeremy, especially Barb who went through most of her things and shared with each of us. Next, we planned the general units for the year so we could see when and were speicifc ideas may come up before we planned our first unit. We are trying to work a little closer so each person does not have to set up the same lab that someone used two days before. Finally, we put in the orders that we would need for the first three months of school until the new budget was set.

How did your team address pedagogy, content, the process of science, and the use of technology during the session?
Mainly on how we would be able to share technology and lab space. As we talked about each lesson in the unit each person added their twist as to what has worked for them.

Additional reflections:

Goal(s) of Meeting
Karen could tell us about her ARCUS trip while we sat at the campfire.

Overview of Session (e.g., resources used, discussion points, next steps, etc.):
We sat around for many hours however only one hour was spent solely talking about ARCUS. The rest of the time was spent solving the World's problems.

How did your team address pedagogy, content, the process of science, and the use of technology during the session?
Traditional fire, no technolgy. Karen explained and showed pictures of her trip.

Additional reflections:

Goal(s) of Meeting
Use part ofthe first two inservice days to make sure that we are all set up and organized for the first unit. Make any changes and add new ideas.

Overview of Session (e.g., resources used, discussion points, next steps, etc.):
Biggest change that we decided to implement was the reading of hte bood The Last River Rat by Kenny Salwey. Similar to Sand Co Almanac. Read it the first few days of each month.

How did your team address pedagogy, content, the process of science, and the use of technology during the session?

Additional reflections:

Goal(s) of Meeting
Write 100$ PTO mini grant.

Overview of Session (e.g., resources used, discussion points, next steps, etc.):
We sat down to write a simple grant to purchase 35 Audobon plush birds with voice tapes so students can study birds and sounds when they have migrated.

How did your team address pedagogy, content, the process of science, and the use of technology during the session?
We are trying to implement more inquiry based lessons and this is another unit/lesson that would fullfil that goal.

Additional reflections:
12-1-04 We did receive the grant!!!

Goal(s) of Meeting
TO become Wisconsin Forestry (LEAF) parcticipants. To bring the new curriculums back to each of our schools and share the resources with staff and students.

Overview of Session (e.g., resources used, discussion points, next steps, etc.):
Meet for three different sessions to be trained on the Wisconsin's forestry curriculum. Each person ws given a different level forestry guide that would match their teaching area. Throughout the 3 sessions and assignments we looked at how the booked spriralled through different age groups.

How did your team address pedagogy, content, the process of science, and the use of technology during the session?
While each group presented lessons that were part of hte curriculum we would discuss how each benefited that parcticular age group and how pedagogy could be different to manipulate for different ages.

Additional reflections:

Goal(s) of Meeting
To learn how GIS and GPS could be implemented in science and social studies classes.

Overview of Session (e.g., resources used, discussion points, next steps, etc.):
A variety of open sessions explaining the simplest to most coplicated lesson on using GIS and GPS in the classroom.

How did your team address pedagogy, content, the process of science, and the use of technology during the session?
Most people were very overwhelmed by all that could be done using GPS an GIS and because of that could not see the applications in middle school.

Additional reflections:

Goal(s) of Meeting
We are fortunate to have our lunch hour scheduled at the same time. Eat lunch, however, because it is not scheduled it is difficult to calculate the number of hours. With that being said, there is more productive time in that 30 minutes than most planned meeting times. As a science department we are able to do NSTA sign ups, paper work, work through details of lessons and units, orders, etc...

Overview of Session (e.g., resources used, discussion points, next steps, etc.):

How did your team address pedagogy, content, the process of science, and the use of technology during the session?

Additional reflections:

Goal(s) of Meeting
Plan lessons, units, lab set ups

Overview of Session (e.g., resources used, discussion points, next steps, etc.):
Our schedules are set so that we have the same prep hour times. Each day we do not meet specifically however at least three days a week we are sharing or helping each other with lessons or units. I rate the time for each person.

How did your team address pedagogy, content, the process of science, and the use of technology during the session?
A variety of conversations prevail. SOmetimes it is unit/lesson setups but sometimes the discussion is based on how or why would should teach a parcticular lesson.

Additional reflections: