State Affiliate of the National Science Teachers Association

Whats New
  • The May 2012 E-Blast is now available in the E-Blast section
  • Explore the rest of the site for exciting new adventures, resources, workshops,and challenges.
  • And don't forget the new message from the President.

 

Seeking Lesson Plans for NSTA/STANYS Book!

The National Research Council of the National Academies has developed "A Framework for K-12 Science Education" to guide the development of the Next Generation Science Standards(scheduled for release in 2013). To assist teachers in implementing the principles of this Framework, NSTA and STANYS are authoring a book entitled Science Literacy and Our Nation's Future

This book has already had several important endorsements, including a foreword by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. The entire venture is non-profit with all the sales of the book benefiting STANYS.

But we need your help to make all this happen. We are soliciting sample lesson plans from teachers that will help others to implement the framework. The Science Literacy Standards website (http://www.scienceliteracystandards.org/) will tell you more about this important book and how you can contribute, and provides an easy-to-use template to draft the outline for a lesson. If your submission is selected, the authors will ask you to provide a more detailed lesson for inclusion in the book.

Gain the recognition of colleagues throughout the nation and see your name in print! Help STANYS and NSTA make science an integral part of our children's future. We thank you in advance for your interest in being a part of this national effort.

Your Friends in Science,

William Banko, M.D. Marshall L. Grant, Ph.D., Michael E Jabot, Ph.D., Alan J. McCormack, Ph.D., and Thomas O'Brien, Ph.D.




 


 

LSTA is an organization of Louisiana science educators dedicated to the advancement of scientific literacy at all levels.

Encouraging lifelong learning is central to its mission.


From the President..

Tera LaPrarie

I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful spring weather we’ve been experiencing lately.

Last month Charlotte Bihm, Jean May-Brett, and Ann Wilson were members of a state team that attended a meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina on The Frameworks for K-12 Science Education Discussed at the meeting was the vision for science learning. Participants attended presentations and heard updates on the Next Generation Science Standards and how to help teachers, districts and the state make the transition to these new standards.

The first draft of the Next Generation of Science Standards will be released at the end of the month. And while things will be hectic with the end of the school year we hope all LSTA members will take the time to review the draft and submit comments. A dimension of the Next Generation of Science Standards is the Science and Engineering Practices.

We are working with the colleges of engineering to arrange a strand of engineering sessions to be presented during the joint conference for math and science teachers. The sessions will convey the importance of engineering and the career skills our students will need for future endeavors, content will be provided by professors of engineering familiar with K-12 educators.

Start making plans for the 2012 Math-Science Joint Conference in Shreveport, La. Please note the conference dates have changed. The conference will now be held from Monday, November 12th through Wednesday November 14th. The Monday – Wednesday format allows us to secure hotel lodging at a reduced cost and permits high school teachers with responsibilities for weekend sports events a chance to attend.

Jan Graff has once again agreed to serve as the Science Co-Chair for the joint conference. Start planning now to present with a colleague the proposal link will be ready soon. All submissions – extended/field trips and regular concurrent sessions-will need to be submitted online. Remember to apply for the LSTA Awards and travel grants. Information will be appearing soon on the LSTA website. These LSTA funded programs come with monetary awards members can use to help support conference participation.

We are really excited to announce that Page Keeley will be returning to Louisiana for the joint conference. Page has agreed to present an extended session and a few concurrent sessions for attendees of the conference. I would like to send a special thanks to Page for agreeing to return to our state to work with both our math and science teachers during this year’s conference.

Over the last week, as LSTA representatives, Shavonne Garner-Price and Jean May-Brett attended the NSTA conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.

I would like to thank all of our members who visited our booth at the Environmental Education Symposium.

Tera LaPrarie

LATM / LSTA

Joint Conference 2012

Measure Up to New Standards

Shreveport Convention Center
Shreveport, LA

Conference Applications Forms:


Concurrent Sessions (1-hour) Proposal
Short Course (Extended Session) Proposal



 

 

State of the Coast 2012 conference
Save the Date – June 25-27, 2012 in New Orleans!


The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) and Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana (CPRA) are proud to announce that the State of the Coast 2012 conference will be held June 25-27, 2012 at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

State of the Coast 2012 will gather hundreds of scientists, business leaders, federal and state agency personnel, formal and informal educators, elected officials, land owners and interested citizens for the largest forum of its kind, focused entirely on Louisiana’s coastal restoration challenges and solutions.

For more information on State of the Coast 2012, visit www.stateofthecoast.org or call (888) LA-COAST. Registration for the conference is open on the site.