Science
Transformation
2006/2007
Brennon Sapp
Larry Tibbs
First Steps
Lets look at the past
– Most of the school improving
 According to Science Index
 According to distribution of novice, apprentice, proficient,
distinguished scores
 According to ACT and SAT scores
– Most schools around us improving
– Most schools in our area moving ahead of us in
science
– Students NOT taking science classes
– Counselors “sticking” kids in our classes when they
have no where else to go
– Every gap imaginable unchanged in science
– Ask students about science
– Dixie is moving to Schools of Study
74.8
82.7
78.4
2003
2004
2005
2006
Reading
75.1426 79.9460 86.7956 85.9667
Math
79.5679 80.9792 80.0623 86.3243
Science
70.7808 71.5436 74.5514 73.2131
Social Studies
70.6905 82.3678 82.3600 83.8541
Arts & Humanities
74.8644 83.1203 79.0167 84.8504
Pract. Living/Voc Stud
86.2501 89.1234 89.2119 87.8471
Writing
67.5604 62.0861 70.7782 71.8933
Total
74
77.2
79.8
81.3
Dixie KPR-Total
100.0
95.0
90.0
85.0
80.0
75.0
70.0
65.0
60.0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Dixie KPR-Science
100.0
95.0
90.0
85.0
80.0
75.0
70.0
65.0
60.0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Dixie Gender Gap-Science
100.0
90.0
80.0
70.0
Female
60.0
Male
50.0
Dixie Social-economical Gap-Science
40.0
30.0
2000
2001
100.0
2002
90.0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
80.0
Free & Reduced (Approved)
70.0
60.0
Free & Reduced (Not
approved)
50.0
40.0
30.0 Dixie
2000
DisabilityGap-Science
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
100.0
90.0
80.0
70.0
No Disability
60.0
Disability
50.0
40.0
30.0
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
250
200
2001
150
2002
2003
100
2004
2005
50
2006
0
Novice
App+Prof
Distinquished
120
100
2001
80
2002
2003
60
2004
40
2005
2006
20
0
Novice
Apprentice
Proficient
Distinquished
100%
80%
60%
Distinquished
App+Prof
40%
Novice
20%
0%
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
180
160
140
120
100
Nov+App
80
Prof+Dist
60
40
20
0
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Dixie Science & Other Schools
85
80
Ryle
Simon Kenton
75
Boone
Dixie
70
Scott
Cambell County
65
60
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Dixie Science
84
82
80
78
Dixie Science
Dixie Total
76
Goal Line
74
Assistance
72
70
68
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Second Steps
Let everyone know and ask the hard
questions
 Don’t allow any blame (especially toward
the kids)
 Don’t allow excuses
 Review the new core content
 Entertain and explore any and every
option your team can come up with
 Move forward with or without the
“naysayers”

Why?
No Blame
 No Excuses
 We have to try something new—What we
are doing is NOT working!
 Kids are different each and every year, is
our teaching?
 We have more and more responsibility, are
you helping students with more and
more?

--Slides we used with our teachers--
Why?
No Blame
 We have to try something new—What we
are doing is NOT working
 What does the data indicate?
 Life Science needs the most improvement
(it is also the major focus on the new core
content)
 Open responses produce to many 0’s & 1’s

--Slides we used with our teachers--
What Can We Do?
&
What Did We Do?
Our Conclusions
Students don’t take science classes because they
are not interested in science
 Students do not score well on standardized test
because

–
–
–
–
They don’t like science
They don’t take a lot of science
They may not be in science when they take the test
THEY DON’T THINK SCIENTIFICALLY
Much of tested science is more related to
thinking than content
 Students spend a lot of time repeating content
our students have been exposed to in an earlier
grade

Our Old Science

Three Required Classes
– Biology (1 credit-freshman)
– Earth/Space Science (1 credit)
– Integrated Science (1 credit)

Electives
– Chemistry (1 credit)
– Anatomy & Physiology (1 credit)
– Physics (1 credit)
– Environmental Science (1 credit)
– AP Chemistry (2 credits)
– AP Biology (2 credits)
Science Now
Three and a Half Credits Required

Freshman Year
– Scientific Investigations (½ credit)

Sophomore–Senior Years
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
at least one science per year
Core Life Science (½ credit)
Core Earth/Space Science (½ credit)
Core Physical Science (½ credit)
Elective Life Science (at least ½ credit)
Elective Earth/Space Science (at least ½ credit)
Elective Physical Science (at least ½ credit)
What Electives Should We Have







Ask the students where there interest lie
Ask the teachers where some of their passions
lie
Scan the media for the more popular topics of
the day (Forensics)
Survey the students
Write course descriptions
Find teachers willing to participate
Give others the old required classes
What Electives Do We Have?
Electives
– Medical Science
– Chemistry A & B
– Radio Technology
– Anatomy A & B
– Horticulture
– Physics A & B
– Geology
– Environmental Science
– Meteorology
– Forensics
– Anatomy for Artist
– Zoology
– AP Chemistry
– Astronomy
– AP Biology
– Chemistry & Community
– Oceanography/Marin Biology
The kids have responded!
These Classes are Full!
Now All We Have to do
is Make it Work
Conferences—Externships
Resources—Professionals