Contents

Volume 55, Number 2 May 2011

Calendar

President’s Message

New STAT Officers

STAT Awards
Nominations

Farewell
from the
Past President

CAST 2011

Candy-coated Labs

3-D Learning to 2-D

Performance
Inside:
STAT Membership
News • New STAT Officers
When They Drive
• STAT Awards Nominations
You Crazy • Lesson Plans and Tips
Contacts
• Membership News and Pics
• and much more!

1
The Official Newsletter of the Science Teachers Association of Texas
 Contents
Remember
the first time
you fell in love
with science?
Calendar
We do. It is the reason we
believe in hands-on scientific
President’s Message technology. It engages
students in a meaningful
New STAT Officers way, develops keen analytical
skills, and awakens a love
STAT Awards for discovery.
Nominations
www.vernier.com
Farewell for product tours, training
from the videos, FREE sample labs, and
to look for FREE workshops
Past President
in your neighborhood.

CAST 2011

Candy-coated Labs 0.8

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3-D Learning to 2-D

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Performance
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STAT Membership
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WHEN YOU BUY
News 8 OR MORE
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When They Drive 12:40 pm

You Crazy

Contacts

Vernier Software & Technology | www.vernier.com | Toll Free: 888-837-6437

2
 Contents

About Us
Calendar We are STAT, the Science Teachers Association of Texas.

President’s Message STAT is committed to the enhancement of the teaching of science in Texas at all levels
and in all science disciplines.
New STAT Officers
For STAT Position Statements, go to: http://www.statweb.org/positions
STAT Awards
Nominations STAT is:
o A statewide organization of elementary, middle level, and high school
Farewell teachers, college educators, supervisors of science, and others dedicated to
from the maintaining the highest levels of science and education in our schools.
Past President o A chapter of the National Science Teachers Association
o Visit the NSTA site
CAST 2011
STAT seeks to:
Candy-coated Labs o Serve as a unified voice for the science teachers of the state.
o Keep science teachers and other members informed about current trends in
3-D Learning to 2-D science education.
Performance o Provide opportunities for members to examine techonology, curriculum,
materials, and services.
STAT Membership o Inform members of local, state and national meetings, conferences, seminars
News and workshops related to sciences.
o Cooperate with other science oriented organizations and teacher associations
When They Drive in the promotion of teaching of science.
You Crazy

Contacts History:
STAT, Science Teachers Association of Texas, was formally organized in 1957 during
the 4th Annual Conference for the Advancement of Science & Mathematics Teaching
(CASMT). STAT membership is now more than 8,000 strong!

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 Contents

Calendar

President’s Message
Calendar..............................................................5
President’s Message .........................................6
New STAT Officers
New STAT Officers ...........................................8
STAT Awards
Nominations
STAT Awards Nominations ............................9
Farewell from the Past President...................10
Farewell
from the CAST 2011.........................................................13
Past President
Candycoated Labs ...........................................14
CAST 2011 3-D Learning to 2-D Performance ................15
Candy-coated Labs STAT Membership News ..............................16
3-D Learning to 2-D When They Drive You Crazy ........................18
Performance
STAT Contacts .................................................20
STAT Membership Elected Officers ....................................20
News
Appointed Positions ............................20
When They Drive
You Crazy Affiliate Congress ................................21
Contacts
Texas State Board of Education..........22
Cover art illustrating “The Art of Science”
by Avery Hodges, student at
Frenship Middle School in Wolfforth, TX.

4
4
 Contents

September
TAEE Conference
September 23-25
Navasota, TX
Calendar
October
President’s Message
CAST 2011 Committee & STAT BOD
Meeting
New STAT Officers

June November
STAT Awards
TSELA Meeting, June 17 CAST 2011:
Nominations
Jewish Community Center The Art of Science
7300 Hart Lane, Austin, TX November 17-19
Farewell
Dallas, TX
from the
Past President July
NSTA’s Chapter and CAST 2011
Associated Groups Meeting STAT Board Meeting
CAST 2011
July 12 - July 16 November 19
Baltimore, MD Dallas, TX
Candy-coated Labs
www.hmheducation.com/tx/science Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Holt McDougal
Texas Supplemental Grades 5–12 Science
3-D Learning to 2-D
Performance

STAT Membership
News

When They Drive One-Stop Solutions

You Crazy Enter the digital classroom and find everything you need, all in one place-
virtual labs, animations, editable materials, and other rich media to
complement your current science instruction.

Contacts

Enter the digital classroom and try our
one-stop solutions for Texas Science at
www.hmheducation.com/tx/science
Resources include virtual labs, animations,
and other rich media to meet the learning
needs of all students.
Search by TEKS to locate comprehensive
instruction over all science concepts, as well as Prepare for STAAR with instruction,
connections to current science issues through review, and practice assessments.
SciLinks, and correlations to current science
programs.

ENGAGE EXPLORE ENRICH EQUIP

5
Great Source • Heinemann • Holt mcDouGal • international • riGby • riverDeep • riverSiDe publiSHinG • Saxon • Steck-vauGHn
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
 Contents
Calendar A Message from President Hill
As your brand-new
President’s Message President of the Science
Teachers Association of
New STAT Officers Texas, please allow me
to introduce myself. My
STAT Awards name is Ross Ann Hill,
Nominations and I have had the honor to educate sev-
enth and eighth graders at Idalou Middle
Farewell School for the past twenty-seven years.
from the Idalou, a small West Texas town outside
Past President of Lubbock, is where I was born and
reared. This year has been an exceptional
CAST 2011 year to be an Idalou Wildcat with our
successes athletically and academically!
Candy-coated Labs
As the school year winds down, we
3-D Learning to 2-D educators notice definite changes on the
Performance horizon. With the ongoing legislative
session, who knows what modifications
STAT Membership will transpire before the dust settles
News with new TEKS, the STAAR test, and
end-of-course exams. More on that in a
When They Drive moment.
You Crazy
Thankfully, the Science Teachers
Contacts Association of Texas is experiencing
enormous growth as we are now more
than 8,000 members strong! Currently,
we are gearing up for the Conference
for the Advancement of Science Teach-
ing at the Dallas Convention Center on
November 17-19. This year’s theme - The
6 6
Art of Science – recognizes the student
(and her teacher) as a whole; some might
invoke left brain/right brain references. I
prefer to think that if we are well-round-
ed and open to “creative” learning op-
portunities, we will better forward our
young people into the complex world
they are inheriting. CAST is always an
enlightening adventure, so I encourage
your attendance this fall.
In addition, the Award Nomination
site is accepting nominations for those in-
spiring science teachers in your life who
deserve recognition: http://www.statweb.
org/awards. Please take time to recom-
mend someone so we can honor our best!
As promised, another word about
elected officials and their processes in
Austin. We all know that the resolution
of the school finance issue is reduced to
two options: very bad and much worse.
We will again be asked to do more with
less, and most of us will do so. The big
loser is the children (and their future
employers, and the Texas economy, and
these children’s children, and American
international competitiveness, and soci-
ety’s safety, and higher education’s ex-
pectations, and….). STAT can no longer
stand by with crossed fingers.
 Contents

Calendar I feel compelled to take this oppor- Representatives and any other captive
tunity to thank the many folks of STAT, audience on science education issues.
President’s Message most of whom prefer to remain nameless, Sandra, on behalf of all of us, thank you
who have been rolling up their sleeves very much for your selfless service to our
New STAT Officers and participating in the public process to profession.
reduce the detrimental changes that are
STAT Awards occurring in Texas science education. My Hopefully, your brief summer will
Nominations one shout-out is to Sandra West, STAT’s be relaxing, educational, and restoring
Legislative Committee Chair, who on because a new school year with its
Farewell numerous occasions has driven to Austin multiple challenges shall be looming.
from the to testify at hearings of the State Board of
Past President Education, the Senate, the House of

CAST 2011
CONGRATULATIONS!
Candy-coated Labs TO THE Small Districts Argyle ISD • Splendora ISD • Aransas County ISD

2011 REGIONAL FINALISTS Large Districts Mesquite ISD • Conroe ISD • Edinburg CISD • Brownsville ISD • Harlandale ISD

3-D Learning to 2-D Lifetime

Performance Rising Star Leadership Achievement
Ms. Jayne Doxsey
Principal
Ms. Jennifer Garcia Mr. Michael Massad, Sr. Ms. Ann Lilie
Hornsby Dunlap Elementary Patton Elementary Reeces Creek Elementary Summitt Elementary
Ms. Lindsay Richard Ms. Jimmie Walker Dr. Diana Maxwell Ms. Levinia Lara
STAT Membership Wilderness Oak Elementary
Ms. Kimberly Buskirk
Cambridge Elementary
Ms. Cindy Cormier
Fort Sam Houston Elementary
Mr. Richard Landmann
John Hoffmann Elementary
Ms. Erin Tite
News Gardens Elementary
Ms. Vanessa Rincones
Jan Schiff Elementary
Mr. Michael Sweet
Forest Ridge Elementary
Ms. Dora Newell
James F. Bay Elementary
Ms. Dolores Cisneros Emerson
Sam Houston Elementary Carman Elementary Thigpen-Zavala Elementary Morningside Elementary
Ms. Christy Zamora Ms. Martha McLeod Ms. Belinda Silva Ms. Galen Hoffstadt
When They Drive Flour Bluff Fulton 4-5 Grade Learning Center Moses Menger Elementary Luther Jones Elementary
Early Childhood Center Ms. Melissa Cooper Ms. Ella Whitley Mr. David Gonzalez

You Crazy
Ms. Jennifer Welch Murchison Middle School Midway Middle School George Washington Middle School
Claude Cunningham Middle School Mr. David Foss Ms. Janice Cuccia Dr. Patricia Castillo
Mr. Jason Sabotin Alamo Heights High School Fox Tech High School Claude Cunningham Middle School
Arlington Heights High School Ms. Carol Briggs Ms. Carole Smithwick-Kiebach Mr. Charles Pickitt
Ms. Penny McCool Westfield High School Seven Lakes High School Richardson High School
Contacts Robert E. Lee High School and STEM Academy
Dr. Nghia Le
Ms. Rachelle Grace
McAllen Memorial High School
Ms. Yolanda Fernandez
Del Rio High School
Mr. Michael Cardona
Robert E. Lee High School
Booker T. Washington High School Ms. Judy Holmgreen Ms. Linda Colman Dr. R. Scott Allen
Mr. James Butler Alice High School Cuero High School The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
Uvalde High School

Finalists receive the following AWARDS • Teachers receive $1,000 and a matching grant goes to their school.
• Principals receive $1,000 and their school receives a grant for $2,500. • Small School Districts receive $2,500. Large School Districts receive $5,000.
All of these finalists will go on to the statewide competition in May where they have a chance to win $5,000 to $100,000 for themselves and a matching grant for their school.

Visit heb.com/education in June for the list of 2011 awards winners

©2011 H-E-B, 11-2424 and to nominate your favorite educator or district for the 2012 awards program.

7
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 Contents

Calendar

President’s Message The Votes Are In!

New STAT Officers Congratulations to the new STAT Executive Committee.
Officers will take their positions June 1st, 2011.
STAT Awards
Nominations

Farewell
from the President Ross Ann Hill
Past President

CAST 2011 Past-President Joel Palmer

Candy-coated Labs President-Elect Sharon Kamas
3-D Learning to 2-D
Performance Vice President Donald Burken
STAT Membership
News
Secretary Jo Anne Jackson

When They Drive Treasurer Terry Ward

You Crazy
Member At Large Kiki Corry
Contacts
Member At Large Denise Hill

Member At Large Deidre Parish

8
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STAT Award Nominations

Calendar It’s time to nominate yourself, a

President’s Message
friend, colleague, or mentor for a
2011 STAT Award.
New STAT Officers

STAT Awards
Nominations
Applications will be accepted until
June 15, 2011.
Farewell
from the
Past President
Show your appreciation for an
CAST 2011 excellent teacher who deserves
Candy-coated Labs recognition!
3-D Learning to 2-D Please Note:
Performance Only current STAT members may be nominated.

STAT Membership
News

When They Drive

You Crazy Click Here to go to the
Contacts online awards page.

9
 Contents
Farewell from the Past President
by Joel Palmer
31,600,000 seconds ago
(give or take 100,000 or
Calendar so) I sat down to write a
very different letter. That
President’s Message letter was my first letter
as the new President of
New STAT Officers STAT. This letter is my
farewell letter.
STAT Awards
Nominations 31,600,000 seconds ago, gas was an
average of $2.90 per gallon1, and we were
Farewell complaining about the price. Today the av-
from the erage is $3.96 and we think fondly of prices
Past President a year a go. 31.6 x 106 seconds ago (or 1 year
for those of you who have not figured it out
CAST 2011 yet) there was a teacher surplus. Districts
around the state were having record num-
Candy-coated Labs bers of people showing up at job fairs. Some
districts had as many individuals show up
3-D Learning to 2-D at their job fair as they had teachers in their
Performance districts.
STAT Membership Nevertheless, there were openings.
News My district hired about 20% fewer teach-
ers than in prior years, but we had some
When They Drive openings. This year my district and all the
You Crazy districts near mine simply canceled their job
fairs and most have hiring freezes. While I
Contacts have not heard of any science teachers
being laid off yet I know of several Science
Curriculum Coordinators and Instructional
Specialists that are looking for jobs. I have
openings in my district for science teachers
but am not allowed to fill them. Budgets are
not yet adopted at the district level because
a budget has not been adopted by the State
10
Legislature. Until the Legislature votes on
the budget there is a great deal of uncertain-
ty.
In addition to the budget decisions
that the Legislature has yet to make, they are
looking at a number of bills that will impact
legislation. STAT is tracking these bills and
making them available to you as a member.
You can see the bills that relate to education
on the STAT website under News/Legisla-
tive Tracker. There are links to each bill on
Texas Legislature Online where you can find
the entire bill and see the status of the bill.
These bills address educational funding,
unfunded mandates, professional employee
salaries, deadlines for notification of teacher
of nonrenewal of contracts, implementation
of the STAAR, teacher appraisal and more.
STAT is actively tracking these bills and
engaging in conservations with the legisla-
tors. It is easy to think that your voice is not
important. Nothing could be further from
the truth. Last December, four STAT mem-
bers went before the state school board to
advocate for the 9-12 supplemental science
textbook adoption. By the end of the meet-
ing, not only had the board reversed it deci-
sion on the 9-12 adoption, it had reinstated
the 5-8 supplemental adoption.
Teachers make up a large demographic
in Texas. If we remain silent the Legislature
will not know what we want. One role of
STAT is to be a voice for science teachers,
but your voices are needed as well.
 Contents
Farewell from the Past President (cont’d.)

It has been an interesting year as STAT more continuity with all positions, allowing
President. New TEKS, transition to new as- members to serve for more than one year.
sessment, budget crises, and an outstanding,
Calendar record-breaking CAST. I cannot take any Ross Ann will lead a very different
credit for the 2010 CAST in Houston. The STAT board than the one I had, and I believe
President’s Message credit goes to Past President Patsy Magee that it will be a stronger board that can
and her committee. My job now is to make continue improving STAT’s benefits to its
New STAT Officers the 2011 CAST in Dallas just as good. STAT membership. Working together, we can
is committed to providing the premier pro- provide better educational opportunities for
STAT Awards fessional development for science teachers. all students in Texas.
Nominations As I hand off the presidency of STAT to Ross
Ann Hill, I know that the organization is in
Farewell good hands.
from the 1
Narayanan, R., U.S. Pump Price Update –
Past President In addition to the success of CAST May 11, 2011, American Petroleum Institute
www.api.org/aboutoilgas/gasoline/upload/
2010, STAT has a number of other successes
CAST 2011 PumpPriceUpdate.pdf
this year. We impacted the State Board of
Education decision on the supplemental
Candy-coated Labs adoption. STAT began offering professional
liability insurance to its members. In addi-
3-D Learning to 2-D tion to CAST, STAT sponsored a number of
Performance successful MiniCASTs around the state. The
biggest accomplishment for STAT this year
STAT Membership is a reorganization of the STAT Board. Prior
News to this year the STAT Board consisted of the
President, Vice President, President Elect,
When They Drive Past President, Secretary and Treasurer. This
You Crazy year you, the STAT membership, voted to
add three additional positions. These posi-
Contacts tions are the Member At Large positions,
and the individuals may run for two consec-
utive terms. In addition, the Vice President
and Secretary may also run for two con-
secutive terms. These changes will provide
broader representation on the board and

11
 MOLU_PE3 Clr StateliteAd 4-11:Layout 1 4/20/11 10:22 AM Page 1

presents
Contents
The Mobile Offshore Learning Unit (MOLU)
The Mobile Offshore Learning Unit (MOLU) is
a $1.2 million dollar engaging traveling exhibit.
It features six self contained learning centers with
curriculum-based, hands-on activities about energy
and the technologies and sciences involved with
Calendar
the oil and gas industry. The curriculum for each
of the 24 activities is based on national and Texas
President’s Message
state standards (TEKS). Although the MOLU is
geared for 5th grade students, it is also appropriate
New STAT Officers
for other age groups. The MOLU is sponsored by
Teachers will need to accomplish Following the visit, teachers are asked to:
STAT Awards the following prior to the visit: Devon, Dominion, ExxonMobil, Halliburton,
■ Review and correct answers in the
Nominations ■ Administer pre-test MOLU Pass booklet with students Marathon Oil Company, and Schlumberger.
■ Have students view 2 complimentary DVDs, ■ Administer post-test
OEC’s The Offshore Story ■ Score pre/post tests and mail to OEC
and API's Fuel-less For more information about the MOLU
Farewell ■ Have students complete a
■ Complete online teacher evaluation form
and to download a MOLU Request Form,
from the Career Interest Profile form A pre-visit package containing all
necessary materials will be sent to the please visit www.oceanstaroec.com
Past President school prior to the MOLU visit.

CAST 2011

Candy-coated Labs

3-D Learning to 2-D

Performance
Presents Project E³: Expanding Energy Education Workshops
At Ocean Star Museum in Galveston – 20th Street at Harborside Drive
STAT Membership 20 11 W O R K S H O P D AT E S
News Knowledge Box Grades 6-12 Playing with Petroleum Grades K-5
Thursday, June 16, 2011 Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011 Tuesday, July 12, 2011
When They Drive
Thursday, August 4, 2011 Tuesday, August 2, 2011
You Crazy Saturday, September 24, 2011 Saturday, September 17, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011 Saturday, October 8, 2011
Contacts Saturday, December 10, 2011 Saturday, November 19, 2011
Participants will receive free admission to the Museum, a complimentary guided tour along with a light breakfast, lunch, and the Project E³: Expanding Energy Education
Teacher Guide (a $35.00 Value). We require a $35.00 refundable deposit to discourage NO-SHOWS. Registration deposits will be cheerfully refunded to registrants that Mail checks to:
attend the workshop and those that cancel three days prior to the workshop date. Workshops begin at 9:00am and end at 4:00pm. Each participant will also receive 6 CPE Offshore Energy Center
hours and will be able to check out the Knowledge Box or Playing with Petroleum Kit up to 30 days to utilize in their classrooms at no charge. ( Free pick-up and delivery 200 N. Dairy Ashford, Suite 4119
within the Houston area.) The first time a 2011 workshop attendee checks out a Knowledge Box or PWP Kit, he/she will receive a $25.00 incentive bonus Houston, Texas 77079
upon the OEC’s receipt of a completed survey. (281) 544-2435 Fax: (281) 544-2441
Ask about workshops outside of the Houston/Galveston area.

For more information about the workshops, visit our website: www oceanstaroec.com
or contact Doris Tomas, Education Director, dtomas@oceanstaroec.com

12
 Contents
CAST 2011
District budgets are a...
Calendar Balancing Act.
President’s Message

New STAT Officers

STAT Awards
Nominations
Extra-Early Registration is only $115.
Farewell Visit www.statweb.org/cast to learn more.
from the
Past President

CAST 2011 Click Here

Candy-coated Labs
to Register for
CAST 2011!
3-D Learning to 2-D
Performance
Thank You to Our Sponsors for Making CAST 2011 Possible!
STAT Membership
News Sponsorships are still available. Visit the menu HERE for more details.

When They Drive

You Crazy

Contacts

13
 Contents
Candy-coated Labs
by Deena S. Harper

Simple labs to use in order to introduce students to the concepts of scientific processes
TEKS 1A; 2A, B, C, D, E; 3A, B, C, E
Calendar
Scientific processes are skills science students should be introduced to early and used
often throughout their 6-12 science classes. The Candy labs are the result of trial, error,
President’s Message
experience, and a profound interest of mine in the nature of science. The use of plain and
peanut chocolate in a colorful candy shell is not new to some science teachers, but I have
New STAT Officers
developed these labs to focus on specific scientific processes.
STAT Awards
In order to introduce my students to the scientific processes and the nature of science,
Nominations
I use the following activities. These activities establish the beginnings of lab procedures for
our class and have worked well with 6th through 9th graders. As with all procedures, we
Farewell
may need to reteach at times. I explain to my students that we may be using candy, but we
from the
are learning scientific processes that we will use as scientists. In addition to the scientific
Past President
process terms, I introduce the terms metacognition and constructing knowledge. I share
with them that it is important that they are aware of how they learn and knowing this
CAST 2011
makes them responsible and active in their own learning (metacognition). They learn that
in order to construct their own knowledge, they need to be able to link what they know and
Candy-coated Labs
what they are familiar with to what is unfamiliar (constructing knowledge).
3-D Learning to 2-D
The use of plain and peanut chocolate candies as the focus of the endeavor provides
Performance
them with something familiar, non-threatening, and fun. The lab activity introduces them
to making observations, measuring, classifying, organizing data, inferring, defining opera-
STAT Membership
tionally, predicting, hypothesizing, making models, and exploring variables. Conducting
News
this activity at the beginning of the school year introduces the students to the vocabulary
and concepts of the scientific process and provides a reference point for future and more
When They Drive
rigorous lab activities. This activity is conducted at our desks and not in the lab.
You Crazy
Each lab has a vocabulary that should be taught to the students in context to the lab.
Contacts
Allow time for students to reflect on each experience and make connections between their
experiences and the value of each scientific process to their future experiences in your class.

Click Here for the Full Article.

14
 Contents
3-D Learning to 2-D Performance©
by Barbara ten Brink, Ph.D.

On the Brink of Success

Calendar 3-D Learning to 2-D Performance©
3-D to 2-D©
President’s Message By Barbara ten Brink, Ph.D.
New STAT Officers How can we ensure that our students will transfer their
knowledge from the instructional practices we implement
STAT Awards in the science classroom to the state assessment?
Nominations • What is 3-D?
• What is 2-D?
Farewell • I know I taught it. I know my students learned it. How
from the can my students transfer their knowledge to a test?
Past President

CAST 2011

Candy-coated Labs
The value of district benchmark tests and statewide assessments is: we can assess
3-D Learning to 2-D students’ knowledge on specific state and national standards; we can predict student
Performance performance on those assessments; and we can identify gaps in the cycle of Curriculum,
Instruction, Learning, and Assessment.
STAT Membership
News In this case study, we discovered the students’ inability to transfer their learning from
the lessons in class to the district’s benchmark test. If this trend continued, we foresaw a
When They Drive disappointing performance on the State’s assessment. We will extrapolate the success of this
You Crazy case study to instructional strategies to improve science performance.

Contacts

Click Here for the Full Article.

15
 Contents
STAT Membership News

Calendar

President’s Message

New STAT Officers

STAT Awards
Nominations
The numbers are in. STAT is now 8,000 members strong and growing each day.
Farewell
from the If you know a science teacher or administrator who isn’t yet a member of STAT, invite them
Past President to join for only $25/year. We provide year-round benefits such as access to publications,
email alerts, and social networking.
CAST 2011
Remind your friends to attend CAST 2011
Candy-coated Labs and receive a year of STAT membership included!

3-D Learning to 2-D

Performance
In the News...
STAT Member Bhavna Rawal has been named a regional winner in NSTA’s Shell
STAT Membership
Science Lab Challenge, a new competition for middle and high school science teachers.
News
See the full story here.

When They Drive

STAT member Jim Westgate is a Piper Award winning professor of science at Lamar
You Crazy
University.
See the full story here.
Contacts
Past President Michael Baldwin chronicles his daring escape from Libya, where he
moved for a teaching assignment immediately following CAST 2009.
Read about his adventures here: http://www.dinomike01.blogspot.com/

16
 Contents
STAT Membership News

Calendar

President’s Message

New STAT Officers

STAT Awards
Nominations

Farewell
Sandra West Moody, STAT’s Legislative
from the Committee Chair, joined STAT Executive
Past President Director Chuck Hempstead at the Capitol. The STAT Executive Board: Joel Palmer, Deidre
Parish, Terry Ward, Ross Ann Hill, Sharon Kamas,
CAST 2011 Kiki Corry, Jo Anne Jackson, Donald Burken, and
Denise Hill.
Candy-coated Labs

3-D Learning to 2-D

Performance

STAT Membership
News

When They Drive

You Crazy

Contacts

Joel Palmer passes the gavel of STAT

Past-President Joel Palmer congratulates the Presidency to Ross Ann Hill.
newly-elected Members At Large: Kiki Corry,
Deidre Parish, and Denise Hill.

17
 Contents
What to Do When They Drive You Crazy
by David Peters

I am sure when she acted out in class I would act like

we’ve all had that I didn’t see or hear her, but that didn’t work
student, that one, the only one that drives well at all. I tried praising and encourage-
Calendar
you nuts! You know the class is coming, ment: when she made a high score on a test
and you stand in the hallway and see them or project I would let the whole class know.
President’s Message
walking towards the classroom and you This worked sometimes but at others was
cringe. You think, “How am I going to make disastrous. In the end, she was just a dif-
New STAT Officers
it through another class with that student?” ficult student to figure out. We finally just
Then the bell rings, the class begins, and as came to a mutual understanding that she
STAT Awards
you begin to take roll... it starts. You hear was going to act as she wanted and I was go-
Nominations
the voice and you see the movement and ing to just have to accept it.
you know it’s going to be a tough class. It’s
Farewell
the student that isn’t quite bad enough to She wasn’t bad all the time. She
from the
send out of class or even write a discipline always made very high grades on tests and,
Past President
referral on, but, bad enough to cause some when she did daily work, her work was
class disruption and drive you crazy trying excellent. Just getting her to concentrate and
CAST 2011
to control the class. do the work was the problem.
Candy-coated Labs
I had one of these, we’ll call her Lucy. I’ve had several students like this one
Lucy was 16 years old and in my Pre-Ad- in my years of teaching, but she definitely
3-D Learning to 2-D
vanced Placement (PAP) Physics class. She stood out as one of my most difficult. I
Performance
was super intelligent, but she was a chal- guess the most difficult part was she was so
lenge to my patience and teaching. She had intelligent and so hard to work with. Most
STAT Membership
the qualities of a Gifted and Talented (GT) of my difficult students were usually not
News
student, but had not been identified in the very highly motivated or were of average
schooling system. She obviously knew she intelligence, but Lucy was definitely above
When They Drive
was gifted as she was in a PAP class, but, the norm. I believe this is why I found her
You Crazy
just had just never been labeled. She had the to be so difficult: I saw such tremendous
knack for saying the perfect thing at the per- potential.
Contacts
fect time to completely disrupt the class or
my train of thought. When she took a test, Fortunately I was able to keep with up
she would actually come to me and ask me Lucy over the years. After she left my class,
for the answers! we became friends and she also became
friends with my daughter, who was roughly
I tried several different approaches in my her same age. This friendship has lasted
treatment of this student. I tried ignoring: for several years, so I know how her life has
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When They Drive You Crazy (cont’d.)
proceeded. I found out in the course of time
that one of the reasons she was so difficult
Calendar in my class is that at the time she was go-
ing through a lot at home. Her parents
President’s Message had just split up and in her grief she was
experimenting with drugs and drinking and
New STAT Officers acting out. Over the next few years she quit
the drugs and drinking and accepted her
STAT Awards parents break-up. She went on to receive
Nominations a full athletic scholarship at a Midwestern
university and studied pre-med. At this
Farewell time she is a medical student at a major
from the university and will soon be a pediatrician.
Past President So, in the end, this most difficult student
became highly successful.
CAST 2011
Is every difficult student going to be as
Candy-coated Labs highly successful as this one? Unfortu-
nately, probably not, but you never know
3-D Learning to 2-D which one will be. So, it is always best to be
Performance patient and work with the difficult students
as best you can, because you never know,
STAT Membership the next difficult student could end up be-
News ing a doctor, lawyer, or even President of
the United States and all they needed was
When They Drive a little patience and understanding in their
You Crazy early years.
Contacts So, when you hear that student com-
ing down the hall and you cringe, remem-
ber: that student may be having problems
you are not aware or at the very least, the
acting out could be a mask covering tremen-
dous potential. Of course, they could just
be a bad student that needs more discipline,
but most likely, there are some deep-seated
reasons behind the behavior.
So, if you are a new teacher, or even
a veteran, when you have a student that
drives you crazy in your class what do you
do? You approach them with patience and
understanding as much as you can. You
can try and find out what underlying is-
sues could be causing the behavior through
a counselor, parent or even the student. If
you find an underlying cause then you
know how to react to the student and hope-
fully, how to reach the student and regain
control of the class. If you are unable to find
a cause or if the student is just challenging
beyond our efforts, then, you can always
try the traditional methods of write-ups
and consequences, but in most cases this is
not effective and only a stopgap measure. I
have always found that using patience and
understanding is much more effective than
consequences (although it’s sometimes a
nice break when they are out of class in
detention or in-school-suspension (ISS)!).
19
 Contents Elected
Officers
As of
STAT June 1
Office
President: Past President:
Mailing Address: Ross Ann Hill Dr. Joel Palmer
Calendar 5750 Balcones Dr., (806) 892-1900 (972) 882-7388
Ste 201 president@statweb.org pastpresident@statweb.org
Austin, TX 78731
President’s Message President-Elect: Treasurer:
Phone: Sharon Kamas Terry Ward
(512) 491-6685 (281) 604-4357 (817) 305-6741
New STAT Officers presidentelect@statweb.org treasurer@statweb.org
Fax:
(512) 873-7423 Vice President: Secretary:
STAT Awards www.statweb.org Donald Burken Jo Anne Jackson
Nominations stat@bizaustin.rr.com
(713) 723-0273 (806) 766-1162
vicepresident@statweb.org secretary@statweb.org
Farewell
Members At Large:
from the Kiki Corry kiki@statweb.org
Past President Dr. Denise Hill denise@statweb.org
Dr. Deidre Parish deidre@statweb.org
CAST 2011 Appointed
Positions
Candy-coated Labs

3-D Learning to 2-D Executive Director: Texas Science Teacher

Performance
Chuck Hempstead Editor:
STAT Membership (512) 491-6685 Dr. Joel Palmer
News stat@bizaustin.rr.com (972) 882-7388
president@statweb.org
When They Drive
CAST Exhibits Manager &
You Crazy Advertising Manager: STATellite Editor:
(512) 491-6685
Frank Butcher
Contacts stat@bizaustin.rr.com
(281)424-1230
frank.butcher@comcast.net
TEA Representative:
Dr. Kenn Heydrick
(512) 463-1827
Kenn.Heydrick@tea.state.tx.us
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Calendar ACT ISEA

Associated Chemistry Informal Science
President’s Message Teachers of Texas Education Association

New STAT Officers Amiee Modic Chip Lindsey

amodic@sbcglobal.net chip@dhdc.org
STAT Awards
Nominations

Farewell
TABT TAEE TCES
Texas Association of Texas Association for Texas Council of
from the
Biology Teachers Environmental Education Elementary Science
Past President
Michael Wells Sally Wall Deborah Rang
CAST 2011
mwells@springisd.org swall@gccisd.net deborah_rang@roundrockisd.org

Candy-coated Labs
TESTA TMEA TSAAPT
3-D Learning to 2-D Texas Earth Science Texas Marine Texas Section of the
Performance Teachers Association Educators Association American Association of
Physics Teachers
STAT Membership Gail Gant Marolyn Smith
News ggant@sjs.org marolyn.smith@yahoo.com Karen Jo Matsler
kjmatsler@gmail.com
When They Drive
You Crazy
TSELA
Texas Science Education
Contacts
Leadership Association

Kevin Fisher
kfisher56@msn.com

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 Contents
Gail Lowe, Chair William B. Travis Building
Bob Craig, Vice Chair 1701 North Congress Avenue
Mary Helen Berlanga, Secretary Austin, Texas 78701-1494

Calendar SBOE District 1 - Charlie Garza

12453 Tierra Cipres Dr.
SBOE District 10 - Marsha Farney
P.O. Box 99
El Paso, Texas 79938 Georgetown, Texas 78627
(915) 630-2427 (512) 966-6771
President’s Message
SBOE District 2 - Mary Helen Berlanga SBOE District 11 - Patricia Hardy
2727 Morgan Avenue 900 North Elm
New STAT Officers Corpus Christi, TX 78405 Weatherford, TX 76086
(361) 881-1000 (817) 598-2968
(361) 881-1028 fax (817) 598-2833 fax
STAT Awards
Nominations SBOE District 3- Michael Soto SBOE District 12 - George Clayton
2034 W. Kings Hwy. 526 Tiffany Trail
San Antonio, TX 78201 Richardson, Texas 75081
Farewell (210) 685-8378 (972) 834-3618

from the SBOE District 4 - Lawrence A. Allen, Jr. SBOE District 13 - Mavis B. Knight
Past President 2130 Vermillion Oak St. 6108 Red Bird Court
Fresno, Texas 77545 Dallas, TX 75232
(713) 203-1355 (214) 333-9575
CAST 2011 (214) 339-9242 fax
SBOE District 5- Ken Mercer
P.O. Box 781301 SBOE District 14 - Gail Lowe
Candy-coated Labs San Antonio, TX 78278-1301 11 Chris Avenue
(512) 463-9007 Lampasas, TX 76550
(512) 556-6262
3-D Learning to 2-D SBOE District 6 - Terri Leo (512) 936-4319 fax
23516 Twin Oaks Dr. RR#5
Performance Spring, TX 77389 SBOE District 15 - Bob Craig
(281) 257-0832 fax P.O. Box 1979
Lubbock, TX 79408-1979
STAT Membership SBOE District 7 - David Bradley (806) 744-3232
(806) 744-2211 fax
News 2165 North Street
Beaumont, TX 77701
(409) 835-3808
When They Drive SBOE District 8 - Barbara Cargill
You Crazy 61 W. Wedgemere Circle
The Woodlands, TX 77381
(281) 465-8095
Contacts
SBOE District 9 - Thomas Ratliff
P.O. Box 232
Mount Pleasant, TX 75456
(903) 717-1190
Need to find your state legislators?
Search by zip code at:
http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us
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 Contents

Want to be published?
E-mail us your letters and articles!
Calendar
STATellite Due Dates
President’s Message
Due dates for publication of articles in The STATellite are:
New STAT Officers
Submission Deadline Publication Date
STAT Awards February 1 February 15
Nominations
May 1 May 15
August 1 August 15
Farewell
from the December 1 December 15
Past President
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CAST 2011 are also acceptable.

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3-D Learning to 2-D
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When They Drive stat@bizaustin.rr.com
You Crazy
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