Chapters and Associated Groups E-Packet
June 2010
Table of Contents
Happenings
2010 National Congress on Science Education (NCSE)
The 2010 National Congress on Science Education (NCSE) will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada,
July 21–24, 2010. Complete program, hotel, and registration information is now available. If you have any questions please feel free to contact NSTA Chapter Relations at chapters@nsta.org or 800-722-NSTA (6782), ext. 364, or 703-312-9364.
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2010 NSTA Conferences on Science Education
The 2010 NSTA Conferences on Science Education are coming to a city near you. Help us to spread the word by posting this flyer (PDF) in your upcoming newsletters or just by sharing the information at your next board meeting. Visit www.nsta.org/conferences for more information.
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2010 NSTA Elementary Science Institute
NSTA’s Elementary Science Institute brings together the collaborative efforts of school building administration, lead teacher/coach, and classroom teacher on behalf of quality science education. Partnering with renowned leaders in science instruction, this powerful NSTA professional development experience will transform science in your school. For more information visit our website.
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2010 NSTA Professional Learning Communities Institute
Once again, NSTA will be conducting a Professional Learning Communities (PLC) Institute designed for science teacher leaders, department chairs, administrators, and teams of science teachers working in or starting PLCs.
Through a combination of plenary and breakout sessions, presenters will provide tools, models, and strategies to focus PLCs on science content and science learning. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in a simulation game on how to implement effective school-based professional development and build a learning community focused on science education, and develop a plan for applying what they learn in their own schools and districts.
For more information, please visit the PLC Institute web page.
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2010 Urban Science Education Leadership (USEL) Academy
The 2010 Urban Science Education Leadership (USEL) Academy aims to positively affect student achievement through the development of leaders who will help guide reform of the learning, teaching, and assessing of science in elementary and middle schools. Participants will create or modify a district strategic plan to improve science education. They will collaborate and network with other urban district peers. The academy is led by expert facilitator Dr. Adriane E. L. Dorrington, president of the Dorrington Group, an education consulting organization. Featured speaker this year is Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr., the first African American astronaut to walk in space. For information on this dynamic opportunity, visit our website.
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Services
NSTA Student Chapter Program Chartered More Than 100 Chapters
NSTA's Student Chapter Program continues to touch universities and colleges throughout the United States to promote excellence and innovation in teaching science. NSTA is committed to helping science teachers at all levels grow, learn, and connect. Join the more than 100 student chapters and help your preservice teachers make the transition to confident and effective in-service science teachers by starting an NSTA student chapter at your college or university. For more information, download the student chapter brochure (PDF) or e-mail chapters@nsta.org.
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Chapters and Associated Groups List Server Provides Tips
We very much value and encourage information sharing among the chapters and groups. That's why we started the NSTA Chapters and Associated Groups List Server. If you received this e-packet, then you are a subscriber. Simply post a message to cag@nsta.org.
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Deadlines
NSTA 2010 Call for Papers
Science and Children editors are seeking manuscripts for the 2010 journal issues. To submit your manuscript on subjects such as "What Do Sciences Do?" and "Student Science Notebooks," submit your manuscript today. Click here (PDF) for further information on deadlines and specifics.
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NSTA 2011 Elections
NSTA Nominations for NSTA Board of Directors and Council applications are being accepted. If you are looking for a challenging leadership position that impacts local, state, and national science education, we have some awesome positions to fill—see this flyer (PDF). Submission deadline is October 15, 2010. You may apply online or download an application.
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NSTA’s Programs and Products
NSTA Awards
NSTA Awards programs offer more than $80,000 in cash and prizes each year. These programs honor teachers and principals from all grade levels for outstanding work. To find out about the great awards we offer, visit the website or view this flyer (PDF). If you have any questions or concerns, send them to awards@nsta.org.
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NSTAs Book Beat
We’re pleased to announce a new resource for science teachers: NSTA's Book Beat, a monthly e-newsletter designed to quickly connect you with lesson and activity ideas, new resource books, free chapters, and special offers from NSTA Press®. Visit the NSTA website to read the first issue or to sign up to receive future monthly issues of this and other NSTA e-newsletters. We look forward to hearing your feedback and suggestions! Click here (PDF) for further details.
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NSTA Bookstore Sizzling Summer Savings
The NSTA Bookstore is offering 10% off the listed price when you purchase our hot summer titles. Purchases of any of the titles listed in this flyer (PDF) will receive an additional 10% off when you purchase by August 31, 2010. To place your order, visit the online NSTA Science Store. Share the flyer with your members.
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NSTA Learning Center Online Professional Development
Find advantages, accountability, and affordability for high-quality professional development through NSTA's Learning Center. Draw from the rich resources of NSTA and its collaborators; the Learning Center's online professional development resources have been researched, field-tested, and reviewed for content, accuracy, and pedagogy by experts. We also have included a handout on the NSTA Learning Center products and offerings. You will find the information useful as you plan your professional development for the next school year. For more details, view this brochure (PDF); to register, visit the NSTA Learning Center.
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NSTA Science Program Improvement Review (SPIR)
Science Program Improvement Review (SPIR) assesses the quality of a school or district science program against research and standards-based best practices. This service encompasses a comprehensive review of a school's science instructional program by expert reviewers with detailed reports and recommendations for improvement. Using NSTA's standards for high-quality programs as a roadmap to excellence, SPIR helps administrators build on their current program to reach that which is exemplary. To find out more about this program, visit the SPIR web pages or click here to view a flyer (PDF).
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