TEACHER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE BERKSHIRES:

Summer Courses and Workshops for teachers:

Upper Housantonic River Valley Exerience (3) credit graduate course
Museum Institute for Teaching Science Summer Institute (4) credit in-service graduate credits or 90 PDPs
Got Math?
Everyone is a Scientist (3) credit graduate course
The Psychology of Mathematics (3) credit graduate course
Learning Foundations of Mathematics from Arithmetic to Algebra (3) credit graduate course

This is a three (3) Credit Graduate Course offered through the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Sponsored by the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, Inc. in cooperation with the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce , Berkshire Community College , Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and the Berkshire County Regional Employment Board

July 7-11, 2008, 8am to 5pm held at sites throughout the heritage region.

To sign up contact STEM Coordinator Lisa Provencher at <Lisa.provencher@mcla.edu>, or call (413) 662-5525

This course is intended for middle/high school teachers of history, social studies, English, science and industrial technology, this interdisciplinary, team-taught course provides a contextual experience that will integrate these core subjects by introducing information about the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area. History, business, and environmental experts will weave their content and perspective through a series of mini-lectures, hand-on activities and guided field trip experiences.

• Stipends will be provided to participants who complete the course. The stipend will cover course tuition, fees, supplies and materials.
• Enrollment is capped at 16 participants so be sure to register early.
• Deadline for registration is June 6th

For more information or program questions, please contact Julie Hannum at 413.236.2180 or <JHANNUM@berkshirecc.edu&

MITS: Headline Science
Museum Institute for Teaching Science Summer Institute
Berkshire Region July 7-18, 2008

Credits and PDPs: 90 PDPs or 4 in-service graduate credits through MCLA ($150)
Schedule: 9am to 3pm Monday July 7 to Friday July 11 & Monday July 14 to Friday July 18
Contact: Curtis Asch at the Berkshire Museum <CAsch@berkshiremuseum.org> or 413-443-7171
Participants will expore a variety of science-related topics that can be found in today's headlines. Techniques for bringing K-8 lessons in math, sicence, technology and engineering will be made, including interdisicplinary connections to social studies, reading, writing and art.

Participants will discover educational resources available in the Berkshire region, share ideas with other educators, and develop new inquiry-based lessons covering Massachusetts' farmeworks. The institute will begin with an exploaration of what Inquiry Learning is and why it is a valuable teaching approach.
for more details click here. Downloadable flyer pd

MITS Cooperating Ogranizations:

Berkshire Museum, Berkshire Botancial Gardens, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Outside in Education, Hancock Shaker Village, Center for Ecological Technology, MA Wildlife: Project Wild, WGBY

Got Math? is an after school program designed to connect elementary school students, college student mentors and local businesses together to explore mathematics. The focus of the program is to discover and udnerstand how mathematics is used in the work place.

Who: Middle school teachers
When: Spring 2008
Who: Middle school teachers
Where: Berkshire Community College and your school

Got Math? Celebration to be held June 26 at BCC

Questions: Please contact Professor Annette Guertin (41 3) 499-4660 x 4561 or aguertin@berkshirecc.edu. More information regarding Got Math? is available on the BCC website at http://www.cc.berkshire.org/studentservices/sl_gotMath_downloads.html

Everyone is a Scientist
Sponsored by the Center for Ecological Technology in cooperation with the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and the Berkshire STEM Pipeline

A three (3) Credit Graduate Course offered through Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
(Course number: ENVE 601-02)

DATE: July 21-25, 2008
TIME: 8AM – 5PM (M-F)
LOCATION: Murdock 213 (and field trips)

DESCRIPTION: This one-week course is a comprehensive introduction to environmental science for elementary and middle school teachers. It will be co-taught by Mike Ganger, Adrienne Wootters of MCLA and Nancy Nylen and Cynthia Grippaldi, representatives from CET based in Pittsfield. Some of the topics to be explored will be recycling, energy conservation and renewable energy in the home and school environments. Participants will apply their knowledge to lessen the environmental impact of their schools and in turn their homes and communities.

GOALS:

• To strengthen the science curriculum in participating schools
• To enhance teachers’ knowledge of STEM content aligned with MA Curriculum Frameworks and learning standards
• To increase teachers‘ comfort levels when doing inquiry-based science activities with their students
• To enhance teachers’ sensitivities to local and global environmental issues, and to enable and empower them to explore these issues with their students with appropriate classroom activities

Register in person at MCLA or print out the registration form and mail it in with payment ($690)
Deadline to register is June 9th
For more information, please contact Lisa Provencher at 413.662.5525 or lisa.provencher@mcla.edu

The Psychology of Mathematics Learning
Aug 4th through 8th 8am to 5pm
Dr. Christopher Thomas, MCLA Mathematics Department
This course is designed for teachers in K-8. This course will explore how children learn mathematics. The nature of mathematical content will be discussed. Differences in learner characteristics will be examined. Paticipants will experience how students develop an understanding of mathematical concepts and skills. Participants will develop a variety of cognative strategies for facilitating effective classroom learning and teaching. Participants will study how, why, and where learning problems commonly develop.

Course Objectives:

• To understand the nature of mathematical content and the components of mathematical ideas
• To emphasize the role of pattern-recognition in mathematical learning
• To explore the manner in which children learn mathematical concepts and skills
• To compare the effectiveness of different methods for teaching mathematical concepts, skills, and procedures
• To study differences in learner characteristics and what children bring to mathematics learning tasks
• To address the most common mathematical topics where learning problems occur
• To discuss techniques for addressing learning problems effectively
  

Course objectives will be achieved through lectures, discussions, assigned readings, group activities, collective problem solving, homework assignments, and the development of lesson plans.

Register in person at MCLA or print out the registration form and mail it in with payment ($690)

For more information, please contact Lisa Provencher at 413.662.5525 or lisa.provencher@mcla.edu

Foundations of Mathematics from Arithmetic to Algebra

Aug 18 through 22 8am to 5pm

Dr. Christopher Thomas, MCLA Mathematics Department
This course is designed for teachers in K-8. Participants will explore mathematical concepts and how these concepts are developed through their teaching. This course will provide effective activities and materials that will enhance the learning of algebraic concepts and skills.

Course Objectives:

• To examine the concepts underlying numbers, operations, fractions, and variables
• To explore patterns and relationships in numbers, geometric shapes, and concepts
• To promote student understanding of the relationships between mathematical concepts and their abstract representations.
• To make connections between different concepts, procedures, and skills
• To study techniques of vertical acceleration which develop algebra from arithmetic
• To examine effective materials and activities for illustrating arithmetic and algebraic concepts and skills
• To discuss common areas of student difficulty, especially fractions, integers, and slopes
• To practice arithmetic and algebraic computations
  

Course objectives will be achieved through lectures, discussions, assigned readings, group activities, collective problem solving, homework assignments, and the development of lesson plans.

Register in person at MCLA or print out the registration form and mail it in with payment ($690)

For more information, please contact Lisa Provencher at 413.662.5525 or lisa.provencher@mcla.edu

STEM OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND THE BERKSHIRES:

NSTA Web Seminars

Engineering for Classroom Teachers
Civil and Environmental Engineering in Our Everyday World
An Improving Teacher Project

• Date: July 21-25, 2008
• Availability: 25 spaces available for middle school science teachers; priority given to teachers in high needs school districts. Spaces fill up quickly, so please register early.
• Credits: 3 graduate credits available through UMass Continuing Education: CE-ENGIN 797C
• Optional: Course also available for 40 PDP's
• Take home materials: Substantial classroom materials for participants
• Register: There is no charge for registration if taking the course for PDP's. If taking the course for PDP's, email <kstcyrde@educ.umass.edu> to be added to the list.

IPY STEM Polar Connections
University of Massachusetts Amherst
July 14-18, 2008

Announcing a unique new opportunity for middle and high school STEM teachers. Funded by NSF and by UMass Amherst, STEM Polar Connections is designed to promote the teaching of science concepts and processes related to the Polar Regions and to emphasize connections to State and National Science Standards for the middle and high school.

Features of the program include:

- July 14-18 at UMass Amherst plus academic year online discussions
- Sponsored by the STEM Education Institute and the Climate System Research Center
- Middle and High School Science, Math, and Technology Teachers
- Housing and meals provided for teachers outside the commuting area and travel costs for attending the institute
- $75/day stipends ($375 total)
- Funds to attend conferences for dissemination
- 3 graduate credits available at reduced cost; free PDPs (professional development points)
- Ongoing partnerships with UMass faculty

The summer institute will focus on current science research in the polar regions, and making connections to the science curriculum within participating teachers regions. It will address the rapid changes occurring in the physical environment, the corresponding impact on the biosphere, and the history and politics of the polar regions. During the institute, participants will preview the curriculum units provided and draft a plan for incorporating materials into their classroom instruction and commit to dissemination within their district and at least one regional venue. They will complete their plans in the fall, using the online discussion forums to facilitate collaborative efforts among participants and UMass faculty.

Three graduate credits will be available for the institute and curriculum unit; the cost will be $300 plus a $40 registration fee. Professional Development Points (PDPs) will be available at no cost for those who do not want graduate credits. The stipend for the summer workshop is $375.

Housing and meals will be provided for those who live outside the commuting area, along with travel costs for attending the workshop. Participants will receive various materials plus a materials budget as well as funds to support the dissemination efforts.

Application process: Teachers should prepare a narrative statement of how they plan to use the information from this institute within their classroom and their plans to disseminate the study of Polar Regions within their school, school district and a wider region within their geographic area. Please include a specific regional venue that you plan to attend for dissemination of the information gained during the institute. You must also include a recent resume and a letter of support from your school principal or superintendent. The application package can be submitted by email, fax, or US mail. Applications are due April 1, 2008. Late applications will be accepted on a space available basis.

More information and application forms: www.umassk12.net/ipy or > voice: 413-545-0734, fax: 413-545-3697

UMASS Nanotechnology Summer Institute

Monday to Friday, July 7-11, 2008 at UMass Amherst

Funded by the National Science Foundation, Sponsored by the STEM Education Institute and the Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing

• Middle and High School Science, Math, and Technology Teachers
• $75/day stipends ($375 total), materials, parking, lunches
• Housing and meals for those outside the commuting radius
• 3 graduate credits available at reduced cost; free PDP's
• (Professional Development Points)
• Ongoing partnerships with UMass Faculty

The UMass Nanotechnology Summer Institute will explore the basic science and engineering concepts of this exciting new field, and will illustrate how they may be integrated into the usual math, science and technology courses in middle schools and high schools. The content and pedagogy will be aligned with the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Framework.

During the institute, participants will begin to develop curriculum units for their own classes. They will complete and implement these in the fall and report on their progress and results online. Three graduate credits will be available for the institute and curriculum unit; the cost will be $300 plus a $40 registration fee. PDP's will be available at no cost.

Application process: An application form and additional information are available at www.umassk12.net/nano.

Teachers should also prepare a narrative statement of how they intend to use the institute materials in their classroom, and include in their application package a recent resume and a letter of support from their school principal or superintendent. The application package can be submitted by email, fax, or US mail. Applications are due April 1, 2008. Late applications will be accepted on a space available basis.

STEM Ed Institute: www.umassk12.net/stem, 413-545-1908, fax: 413-545-3697

Registration for credit: $100.00 per credit and a $45.00 registration fee per student which totals $345.00. Full payment must be included for the registration to be processed. Please make checks payable to Continuing & Professional Education. Contact Nancy Elwell at 545-0704 or email nelwell@contined.umass.edu with any questions.

Forest Ecology Research in the Schoolyard Summer Institute for Teachers
Hemlock Trees and the Pesky Pest, The Woolly Adelgid

August 6, 2008

Teachers from all districts are encouraged to participate in this orientation to our year long Schoolyard Ecology program which includes two Schoolyear Seminars in addition to the Summer Institute. PDPs awarded to all participants.

To register: Contact Pamela Snow at <psnow@fas.harvard.edu> or call (978)724-3302

For more information on Harvard Forest research and education opportunities, refer to our website: http://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/education/k-12.html

Research Experiences for Teachers

The National Science Foundation's, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst is soliciting applications from middle school and high school teachers for this summer's Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program.

Ten teachers will be selected to participate in team research at the Silvio O. Conte National Center for Polymer Research. Examples of topics under consideration are nanomembranes, crystallization in confined geometries, sensors, polymer deformation, and nanostructures. Participants will develop teaching modules based on their research in order to transfer their experiences to their classroom curricula. Since research on polymers includes chemistry, physics, engineering and mathematics, the modules can readily fit into state mandated frameworks.

The program commences at the end of June and has a flexible duration. Teachers can choose to participate for 6, 7, or 8 weeks. Benefits include a stipend of $1,000 per week, six graduate credits and 135 pdps. For those relocating to Amherst, an additional $1,000 housing allotment is also provided. No previous research experience is required and further

information can be obtained from our website at http://www.pse.umass.edu/mrsec/ret.html.

Dr. Greg Dabkowski <gdabkowski@research.umass.edu> tel-413-545-0045 fax-413-545-0082

SEA Expedition - An Adult Continuing Education Experience
Sea Education Association , an educational organization in the Woods Hole community of Cape Cod runs the only academic program in the world that incorporates a six-week voyage under full sail on one of our tall ships.

Last year we very successfully ran SEA Expedition - An Adult Continuing Education Experience with 22 participants aboard the brigantine SSV Robert C. Seamans in French Polynesia. We are gearing up for our second annual adult program which will again sail in January 2008 from Papeete to Moorea, and other French Polynesian islands including Bora Bora.

Please look at our recent article in The Falmouth Bulletin at
http://www.wickedlocal.com/falmouth/news/education/x1633051175

During the 8-day sail you will actively engage in all aspects of the ship's operations, and this is what makes this such an unusual opportunity. There are no chaise lounges and no cocktail hours - you are on watch and learning about the ecology of the islands both above and under water, the cultural history of the Polynesian people and, together with our scientists, participate in oceanographic sampling in deep waters. This Expedition will set off on a 400-mile sail in concert with lectures and guided land tours giving an in depth introduction to the tropical forests and rugged landscapes of this terrestrial oasis in the middle of the South Pacific.

Please contact: Claire K. Stern, Sea Education Association, P.O. Box 6, Woods Hole MA 02543
800.552.3633 Desk: 508.540.3954 x13 FAX: 508.457.4673

TEACHER RESOURCES:
Berkshire Museum: Living Landscapes Outdoor education can be an inspirational, fun way to interact with the natural world.Based on the eleven lesson plans in the Living Landscapes: Teaching in Nature curriculum guide, the resources here are designed for teachers to explore the outdoors as a way to teach core subjects; and offers kids a chance to discover nature while learning math, English language arts, science and the visual arts.

Exploratorium: Tools for Teaching, Science Snacks

Earth & Sky Teachers Center

BioMolecular Explorer 3D Software CD

Science NetLinks

Massachusetts Guide to Teaching Renewable Energy and Global Warming

"Building a Cleaner Energy Future"

Massachusetts Solar Energy in Action This website resource provided by MTC that helps teachers and students learn how more than 65 solar installations in Massachusetts

The Early Years K-2 science resources and conversations

The House of Representatives Science Committee has a link on their web site titled "Science Education and You," which can help teachers (and students) access federal science and mathematics resources. Model lesson plans organized by grade level and other resources from the Department of Energy, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the Environmental Protection Agency can be found at the site. Students will find links that allow them to ask scientists questions.

FUNDING
Taconic foundation Berkshire Educational Grant

Lowe' s The Outdoor Classroom Grant Program Deadline March 15, 2008

This grant provides outdoor, hands-on science education to students in grades K-12 and assists schools in enhancing their core curriculum in all subjects. Lowes Charitable and Educational Foundation, International
Paper and National Geographic Explorer! classroom magazine have partnered to create an outdoor classroom grant program to provide schools with additional resources to improve their science curriculum by engaging students in hands-on experiences outside the traditional classroom. All K-12 public schools in the United States are welcome to apply.

Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grant Program Deadline Feb. 15, 2008

To empower parents and further encourage their involvement in their children's schools, Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation has established the Lowe's Toolbox for Education grant program to fund school improvement projects initiated by parents.

Yawkey Foundation
Grants for Education and After School Programs
The Yawkey Foundation II is now accepting grant proposals from community organizations under the education priority. The Yawkey Foundation supports organizations that provide and encourage educational endeavors for youth, young adults, and adults. The foundation seeks to assist organizations that support the learning needs of the most disadvantaged members of the community through after-school programs, immigrant and adult literacy programs, programs for youth, and scholarship programs.

Toshiba America Foundation.

Grants to Improve Science and Mathematics Education (Deadline Feb. 1, 2008)
The Toshiba America Foundation aims to contribute to the quality of science and mathematics education in United States communities by investing in projects designed by classroom teachers to improve science and mathematics education.

NEA Foundation (2008 deadline paste)

Toyota Tapestry (Applications available August 2008)

OPPORTUNITIES
Science Buddies Teacher Resources for Science Fairs

USEFUL LINKS:

Assessment Tool Search Engine
This is an excellent site. Field-tested learning assessment guide for science, tech,
engineering and math

Access Excellence
This is a great link full of innovative ideas for everyone who teaches STEM topics.

NASA Quest
An educational website dedicated to bringing NASA people, space and science into the classrooms through the internet.

NSTA Teacher Resources

PUZZLEMAKERS
Discovery School- Create word searches using your own vocabulary.

ed Helper.com-fast and easy puzzle maker. Includes crossword, word search, math searches, bingo, and logic puzzle makers.

Science NEWS:

NOVA Science NOW for Educators explore teacher guides, get the latest science news!

Live Science Great site for current science news.

CONTESTS:
Cratering the Moon Challenge (NASA)
In this challenge, students will design a lunar impact simulator and determine the optimal impact angle to
obtain the most information from the impact.

LIMA Quest (NASA)
The Landsat Image Mosaic of Antarctica (LIMA) info to be posted soon

ExploraVision (Deadline pasted)
is a competition for all students in grades K-12 attending a school in the U.S., Canada, U.S. Territory or a Department of Defense school . It is designed to encourage students to combine their imagination with their knowledge of science and technology to explore visions of the future.

Look for the Bubble Wrap Competition 2009