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Sweet Briar College

News

Arlene continues to serve as your Instructional Support Specialist. See below for her message. And please note that every teacher who fills out an ISS survey will be entered into a drawing for one of twoliquid nitrogen ice cream days! Arlene will come to your classroom and provide all supplies and instruction, so all you have to do is pick a date, sit back and enjoy the ice cream.

Our summer courses are scheduled for June 23-25; June 26-28; and June 30-July 2. Find the brochure here in Word or PDF. Stay tuned for information about our fall offerings.

The Science by Inquiry crew has returned from the VAST (Virginia Association of Science Teachers) conference in Williamsburg. The group hosted three workshops: one on adding elements of inquiry to science and math lessons; one on inquiry-based teaching for grades 1-3; and one on inquiry-based teaching for grades 3-5. The workshops were a great success. Two teacher-participants from the program helped to guide the workshops - many thanks to Betty Tabony (Nelson) and Julie Britt (Buckingham). We also met teacher-participant Amy McCarty (Altavista) at the conference. We encourage local teachers to attend the VAST conference next year to learn new teaching methods, to connect with your colleagues, and to get re-energized about teaching (not to mention fun activities like learning about physics by riding rollercoasters!). Here's the happy group:

(from left: Busch Gardens employee #1; Project co-Director Jill Granger; Program Coordinator Pam Simpson; Biology Professor Robin Davies; Nelson County teacher Betty Tabony; Buckingham County teacher Julie Britt; Altavista County teacher Amy McCarty; Busch Gardens employee #2)

Dr. Jim Alouf, co-instructor of the EDUC 656 graduate course, has published a paper in the VAST Journal of Virginia Science Education entitled "A Collaborative Approach to Preparing Pre-Service Elementary Teachers to Teach Science by Inquiry." Find it starting on page 5 of the journal.

Project co-director Hank Yochum featured in Lynchburg News and Advance article about hands-on science in Lynchburg

Project co-director Jill Granger awarded Virginia Education Advocate of the Year Award

Project co-director Jill Granger quoted in New York Times article on water

Our science and math teacher professional development program featured in the Lynchburg News and Advance

PARTICIPANT NEWS

Our spring workshop season is over. Many thanks to all the participants who made the workshops so rewarding for everyone involved! We look forward to seeing you again. See the summer workshop schedule here, or download the brochure in Word or PDF.

Participants in workshops and courses now receive a stipend of $60/day. As always, tuition will be free, and lunch and supplies will be provided. All is paid for by the SCHEV grant.

Also on our site:

A list of teacher resources from past workshops (including maps from Rebecca Amber's December 1, 2007 Maps are Cool! workshop)

A list of participating schools

Need documentation or certification of your participation in one of our previous programs or completion of a summer course?
Click here for more info.

A MESSAGE FROM ARLENE

I am still available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to visit classrooms, deliver supplies, consult about activities, etc. So, if you are in need of anything from ideas on how to teach multiplication to borrowing microscopes, just let me know.

Any time I assist you, whether it is consulting about ideas or actually coming into your classroom to be an extra pair of hands, please fill out the ISS survey. The surveys are anonymous and give us information on how to improve the ISS position to fit your needs. Remember, if you fill out a survey, you will be entered into a drawing for one of twoliquid nitrogen ice cream days! I will come to your classroom and provide all supplies and instruction, all you would have to do is pick a date and sit back and enjoy the ice cream.