SMART Science Grant

Photo Journal 2009

 2009 - 2012

SMART Science combines a model teaching academy for science education at Shasta College and the Schreder Planetarium with a coordinated professional development program for classroom teachers in grades 3-8.  The model academy invites classroom teachers and their students to participate in science lessons covering California's Science content standards in Earth, Life, and Physical science.

The Hands on Lab, as the model teaching academy is commonly called, was developed seven years ago at CSU, Chico with funding from a NASA program for undergraduates and a California Subject Matter supplement in science. Today it is a self supporting class and professional development program for undergraduates planning to be teachers and is a precious resource for teachers and their students. The lab hosts over 100 teachers each year, 3,000 elementary school children, and has approximately 250 undergraduates enrolled each academic year as teaching interns.

The SMART Science CaMSP will focus on science standards for 3^rd, 4^th,   5^th,   6^th , 7^th, and 8^th grades and will provide travel kits for professional development use in the classroom on popular topics such as Electricity, Magnetism, Rocks and Minerals, Matter, Photosynthesis, Digestion, Water, Plate Tectonics, and Force and Motion.

An additional, immeasurable impact, of the Hands on Lab model academy includes the possible long term effect these campus visits have on children by introducing them to a college environment.  Upon arrival to the campus and walking to the Physical Science building, a fourth grader from Oroville was told that CSU, Chico was a college and that college was a type of school. After the lab experience, the 4^th grade student said "I want to go here when I go to college". The child's teacher confided to the undergraduate science intern who had been working with the child that her family had never been to the town of Chico, much less visited the campus. This, her teacher said, was the first time her student had ever mentioned the idea of college.

The result is an educational experience for all involved including children experiencing the excitement of science, undergraduates gaining an early teaching experience prior to the credential program, and teachers who combine summer and academic year professional development opportunities in the model academy with content and teaching strategies for their classrooms. This combination represents a true partnership between Shasta College, Shasta County Office of Education, CSU, Chico and participating elementary and middle school teachers and students.
(Bev Marcum, 2009)

Stay tuned for more SMART news.

January 30, 2010

To Shasta County SMART Science Teachers, Cohort 6

Congratulations!

Our excellent group of 46 Shasta County teachers is nearing the second phase of participation in the Science Portion of the California Math Science Partnership, the SMART Grant. Our grant is one of only six science grants in the State. This is a remarkable achievement and something worth celebrating. In addition, you and your school are partners and participants in a very important professional development and large-scale research grant. This is BIG and we are SMART!

The first year’s professional development is almost complete.  What remains is the balance of follow-up hours (observation time and lesson study / teacher collaboration) on course curriculum.  Some of you are already on the way to having this completed for year one.

We are fortunate to have you, your district and school(s) as a professional partner with Shasta County Office of Education, Schreder Planetarium, Shasta College and California State University Chico.

There is much value to your school district with what you are receiving. You should seek to present at School Improvement Days, staff meetings, and other professional development objectives. It’s not just great content but good, sound instructional models and powerful teacher collaboration utilizing the “lesson study” approach, and this spans to any curriculum.

We have communicated with your superintendent and site principal about the importance of planning for next year’s teacher assignments. Your administrator’s support is an important component of this program. Your school and district benefit from your participation in this program in many ways. It is critical that all 46 initial cohort members be able to continue into year two for the success of the grant. This means remaining in a teaching assignment within the 3^rd – 8^th grade band, a requirement for continued participation in this remarkable program.

We are all grateful for your commitment to excellence in science education.

Thank you,

SMART Grant

Shasta County Office of Education

Save the Date: