Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Professional Development
2015 - 2016
Summary
Dr. Elie Bracy, III
Division Superintendent
Dr. Anita W. Taylor
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
Science Instruction
Laura J. Nelson, Coordinator
Phone: 393-8535
August 26, 2015
Science Fusion Beyond the Basics
TARGET AUDIENCE: Grade K – 5 Science Teachers
FACILITATOR: Richard Neefe
LOCATION: Wilson High School, room 219
TIME: 12:30-2:00 p.m.
DESCRIPTION: For grades K-5 teachers!!!! YOU know that
there are great digital resources available with Science Fusion
– now work with a Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) trainer
to use the digital platform to teach and access your students.
August 26, 2015
Science Fusion-Elementary Science Kits
TARGET AUDIENCE: Grades 2 and 3 Teachers
FACILITATOR: Patrizia Grigsby
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory Teaching Arena
TIME: 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Be the first teachers to see and use the new Science
Equipment Kits purchased for every teacher in grades K-3.
The kits are designed for the Science Fusion Textbooks and
will really get your little scientists exploring, designing, and
learning.
August 26, 2015
Science Fusion-Elementary Science Kits
TARGET AUDIENCE: Grades K and 1 Teachers
FACILITATOR: Patrizia Grigsby
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory Teaching Arena
TIME: 12:30 -2:30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION:
Be the first teachers to see and use the new Science
Equipment Kits purchased for every teacher in grades K-3.
The kits are designed for the Science Fusion Textbooks and
will really get your little scientists exploring, designing, and
learning
August 26, 2015
Science Fusion-Initial Program Overview
TARGET AUDIENCE: New elementary teachers
FACILITATOR: Patrizia Grigsby, Richard Neefe
LOCATION: Little Theater, Wilson High School
TIME: 4:30-6:00 p.m.
DESCRIPTION: Join a Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH)
trainer for an Initial Program Overview.
November 17, November 19
TARGET AUDIENCE: PreK Teachers (Churchland PreK and
Olive Branch PreK) AND (Mt. Hermon PreK and Emily Spong
PreK)
FACILITATORS: Richard Neefe, Patrizia Grigsby
LOCATION: November 17, Churchland PreK and November
19, Mt. Hermon PreK
TIME: 4:30 -5:30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION: The Facilitators will introduce new materials
and equipment to the PreK teachers. These will be participatory
sessions.
Monthly starting September 15, 2015
CHROME Monthly Meeting
TARGET AUDIENCE: CHROME Sponsors
FACILITATOR: Maria Cooper
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory Room 403
TIME: 3:15 – 4:15 p.m. (Middle/High School) or 4:15 – 5:30
p.m. (Elementary)
September 15, 2015
DESCRIPTION: Meet our Keep Portsmouth Beautiful
citizen champion, Jonathan Nye. Learn the Portsmouth
Public Schools participation initiative and develop a plan
for your club.
OUTCOME: Sponsors will discover creative means to
incorporate the Keep Portsmouth Beautiful initiative into
CHROME Club activities and utilize available resources
for our LEGO WeDo Waster Wise Challenge (May 6,
2015).
October 13, 2015
The Engineering Design Loop, Using the LEGO WeDo
Simple Machine Kit in Engineering Design
TARGET AUDIENCE: CHROME Club Sponsors
FACILITATORS: Maria Cooper
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 3:15 - 4:15 p.m. Secondary, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Elementary
DESCRIPTION: Design, build, and program a
sampling of the LEGO WeDo Amazing Mechanisms.
OUTCOME: Sponsors will experience use of the
LEGO WeDo Simple Machine Kits for students
modeling of the Engineering Design Loop.
November 10, 2015
Hampton Roads STEM & The Next Steps in
Engineering Design – Learning the VEX IQ Robotics
Platform
TARGET AUDIENCE: CHROME Club Sponsors
FACILITATORS: Maria Cooper
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 3:15 - 4:15 p.m. Secondary, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Elementary
DESCRIPTION: Design and build the new VEX IQ
competition robot. Participate in a simulated
programming challenge.
OUTCOME: Sponsors will explore the use of VEX IQ
in middle school as an extension of the high school VEX
program.
December 8, 2015
TARGET AUDIENCE: CHROME Club Sponsors
FACILITATORS: Connie Askew
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 3:15 - 4:15 p.m. Secondary, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Elementary
DESCRIPTION: Capture the engineering design
process in digital photos and utilize an electronic
storytelling platform.
OUTCOME: Sponsors will explore the use of Photo
story to enrich STEM reading and Writing (technical
writing).
January 12, 2016
The Engineering Design Loop LEGO WeDo Challenge
TARGET AUDIENCE: CHROME Club Sponsors
FACILITATORS: Maria Cooper
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 3:15 - 4:15 p.m. Secondary, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Elementary
DESCRIPTION: Share in the planning of our annual
LEGO WeDo Challenge – review of competition rubrics
and mechanism design guidelines.
OUTCOME: Sponsors will review design rubrics
planned for use at the LEGO WeDo Challenge.
February 9, 2016
The Engineering Design Notebook, LEFO WeDo
Challenge
TARGET AUDIENCE: CHROME Club Sponsors
FACILITATORS: Shana Deans & Nicole Rountree
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 3:15 - 4:15 p.m. Secondary, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Elementary
DESCRIPTION: Share in the planning of our annual
LEGO WeDo Challenge review established guidelines
for presentation of Engineering Design Notebooks.
OUTCOME: Sponsors will coordinate LEGO WeDo
Challenge presentations of student design notebooks.
March 8, 2016
LEGO Builds, STEM EXPO Club presentations
TARGET AUDIENCE: CHROME Club Sponsors
FACILITATORS: Betty Stallings
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 3:15 - 4:15 p.m. Secondary, 4:30 - 5:30 pm
Elementary
DESCRIPTION: Share in the planning of our annual
STEM Day presentations.
OUTCOME: Sponsors will coordinate our CHROME
STEM EXPO design/build showcase.
April 12, 2016
Wedo Challenge Pep Rally, Rubrics/Judges Question
Sets
TARGET AUDIENCE: CHROME Club Sponsors
FACILITATORS: CHROME Club Sponsors
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 3:15 - 4:15 p.m. Secondary, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Elementary
DESCRIPTION: Share in the planning of our annual
WeDo Challenge.
OUTCOME: Sponsors will critique rubrics for use in
judging the competition and will help to coordinate the
event schedule.
May 10, 2016
Equipment return and inventory;
Replace Parts Requisition
TARGET AUDIENCE: CHROME Club Sponsors
FACILITATORS: CHROME Club Sponsors
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 3:15 - 4:15 p.m. Secondary, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Elementary
DESCRIPTION: Sponsors will return LEGO WeDo
materials and kits.
OUTCOME: Sponsors will assist in the coordination of
inventory and will complete order forms for
replacement.
Monthly starting September 2015
Science Grade Group Meetings: Beyond the Basics of Science
Fusion (Textbook)
TARGET AUDIENCE: Elementary Teachers
FACILITATORS: Patrizia Grigsby and Richard Neefe
LOCATION: School sites
TIME: Planning blocks
DESCRIPTION:
September: Grade level meetings (35 minutes)
Goals:
 Curriculum Overview (navigation and upcoming
units of instruction)
 Science Fusion Teacher Accounts
 Leveled Readers
 Student Textbook Order check
October, November, December, January: Grade level
meetings (35 minutes)
Goals:
 Curriculum Overview (upcoming units of
instruction)
 Science Fusion Student Accounts
 Student Assessments – checking for
understanding
 Using Data from Science Fusion for
understanding
 Using Data from Science Fusion for re-teaching
and remediation
 Student Textbook Order check
October 15, 2015
Electrical Energy
TARGET AUDIENCE: Grades 4 and 5 teachers
FACILATORS: Patrizia Grigsby and Richard Neefe
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION: Major concepts of the Electricity unit will be
shared. The objective: Students will master how to build and
understand electrical circuitry. Also, the major historical
contributions will be presented.
Elementary Performance Based Assessments (Local
Alternative Assessments)
TARGET AUDIENCE: Grade 3 teachers and special education
teachers
FACILITATORS: Patrizia Grigsby and Richard Neefe
December 10, 2015 Planning Meeting
Who’s Eating Who? (food chains)
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION: Teachers will practice the lesson,
review scoring rubrics, review required reporting
documents and the materials order form.
Professional Learning Community
February 2, 2016
LOCATIONS: Churchland Academy (for CAES, CES,
CPI, JTES, NDC, PVES, WES) and STARBASE
Victory (for BES, DPES, LES, JHES, HMES, SES,
VES)
TIME: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION: Teachers will reflect on the task,
rubrics, and instructional practices. Questions for
discussion will include the following:
o What revisions are necessary to the task and/or
rubrics?
o What concepts and skills might need additional
instruction and assessment?
o What student misconceptions are evident?
o What content or process skills need revisiting?
TARGET AUDIENCE: Grade 3 teachers and special education
teachers
FACILITATORS: Patrizia Grigsby and Richard Neefe
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Around and Around? (water cycle)
January 21, 2016 Planning Meeting
DESCRIPTION: Teachers will practice the lesson,
review scoring rubrics, review required reporting
documents and the materials order form.
Professional Learning Community
March 8, 2016
LOCATIONS: Churchland Academy (for CAES, CES,
CPI, JTES, NDC, PVES, WES) and STARBASE
Victory (for BES, DPES, LES, JHES, HMES, SES,
VES,)
DESCRIPTION: Teachers will reflect on the task,
rubrics, and instructional practices. Questions for
discussion will include the following.
o What revisions are necessary to the task and/or
rubrics?
o What concepts and skills might need additional
instruction and assessment?
o What student misconceptions are evident?
o What content or process skills need revisiting?
TARGET AUDIENCE: Grade 3 teachers and special education
teachers
FACILITATORS: Patrizia Grigsby and Richard Neefe
Moon Phases
March 3, 2016 Planning Meeting
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION: Teachers will practice the lesson,
review scoring rubrics, review required reporting
documents and the materials order form.
Professional Learning Community
April 5, 2016
LOCATIONS: Churchland Academy (for CAES, CES,
CPI, JTES, NDC, PVES, WES) and STARBASE
Victory (for BES, DPES, LES, JHES, HMES, SES,
VES)
DESCRIPTION: Teachers will reflect on the task,
rubrics, and instructional practices. Questions for
discussion will include the following.
o What revisions are necessary to the task and/or
rubrics?
o What concepts and skills might need additional
instruction and assessment?
o What student misconceptions are evident?
o What content or process skills need revisiting?
TARGET AUDIENCE: Grade 3 teachers and special education
teachers
FACILITATORS: Patrizia Grigsby and Richard Neefe
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Sun Sensors
April 28, 2016 Planning Meeting
DESCRIPTION: Teachers will practice the lesson,
review scoring rubrics, review required reporting
documents and the materials order form.
Professional Learning Community
June 1, 2016
LOCATIONS: Churchland Academy (for CAES, CES,
CPI, JTES, NDC, PVES, WES) and STARBASE
Victory (for BES, DPES, LES, JHES, HMES, SES,
VES)
DESCRIPTION: Teachers will reflect on the task,
rubrics, and instructional practices. Questions for
discussion will include the following.
o What revisions are necessary to the task and/or
rubrics?
o What concepts and skills might need additional
instruction and assessment?
o What student misconceptions are evident?
o What content or process skills need revisiting?
TARGET AUDIENCE: Grade 4 teachers and special education
teachers
FACILITATORS: Patrizia Grigsby and Richard Neefe
Weather
January 19, 2016 Planning Meeting
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION: Teachers will practice the lesson,
review scoring rubrics, review required reporting
documents and the materials order form.
Professional Learning Community
March 22, 2016
LOCATIONS: Churchland Academy (for CAES, CES,
CPI, JTES, NDC, PVES, WES) and STARBASE
Victory (for BES, DPES, LES, JHES, HMES, SES,
VES)
DESCRIPTION: Teachers will reflect on the task,
rubrics, and instructional practices. Questions for
discussion will include the following.
o What revisions are necessary to the task and/or
rubrics?
o What concepts and skills might need additional
instruction and assessment?
o What student misconceptions are evident?
o What content or process skills need revisiting?
TARGET AUDIENCE: Grade 5 teachers and special education
teachers
FACILITATORS: Patrizia Grigsby and Richard Neefe
Bats Around the World (adaptations and
ecosystems))
December 3, 2015 Planning Meeting
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION: Teachers will practice the lesson,
review scoring rubrics, review required reporting
documents and the materials order form.
Professional Learning Community
January 28, 2016
LOCATIONS: Churchland Academy (for CAES, CES,
CPI, JTES, NDC, PVES, WES) and STARBASE
Victory (for BES, DPES, LES, JHES, HMES, SES,
VES)
DESCRIPTION: Teachers will reflect on the task,
rubrics, and instructional practices. Questions for
discussion will include the following.
o What revisions are necessary to the task and/or
rubrics?
o What concepts and skills might need additional
instruction and assessment?
o What student misconceptions are evident?
o What content or process skills need revisiting?
TARGET AUDIENCE: Grade 5 teachers and special education
teachers
FACILITATORS: Patrizia Grigsby and Richard Neefe
Rock Cycle
February 3, 2016 Planning Meeting
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION: Teachers will practice the lesson,
review scoring rubrics, review required reporting
documents and the materials order form.
Professional Learning Community
March 10, 2016
LOCATIONS: Churchland Academy (for CAES, CES,
CPI, JTES, NDC, PVES, WES) and STARBASE
Victory (for BES, DPES, LES, JHES, HMES, SES,
VES)
DESCRIPTION: Teachers will reflect on the task,
rubrics, and instructional practices. Questions for
discussion will include the following.
o
o
o
o
What revisions are necessary to the task and/or
rubrics?
What concepts and skills might need additional
instruction and assessment?
What student misconceptions are evident?
What content or process skills need revisiting?
TARGET AUDIENCE: Grade 5 teachers and special education
teachers
FACILITATORS: Patrizia Grigsby and Richard Neefe
Down Under the Ocean
February 23, 2016: Planning Meeting
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION: Teachers will practice the lesson,
review scoring rubrics, review required reporting
documents and the materials order form.
Professional Learning Community
April 14,, 2016
LOCATIONS: Churchland Academy (for CAES, CES,
CPI, JTES, NDC, PVES, WES) and STARBASE
Victory (for BES, DPES, LES, JHES, HMES, SES,
VES)
DESCRIPTION: Teachers will reflect on the task,
rubrics, and instructional practices. Questions for
discussion will include the following.
o What revisions are necessary to the task and/or
rubrics?
o What concepts and skills might need additional
instruction and assessment?
o What student misconceptions are evident?
o What content or process skills need revisiting?
END Elementary PERFORMANCE BASED ASSESSMENTS
(Local Alternative Assessments)
Monthly starting September 16, 2015
Lead Science Teachers Meeting
TARGET AUDIENCE: Lead Science Teachers
FACILITATOR: Patrizia Grigsby and Richard Neefe
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory Room 404
TIME: 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
o September 16, 2015
o October 1, 2015
o November 4, 2015
o December 2, 2015
o January 7, 2016
o February 3, 2016
o March 4, 2016
o April 6, 2016
o May 4, 2016
DESCRIPTION: Lead Science representatives from the 13
elementary schools and New Directions Center will meet,
share and discuss best practices in science education. On-
going professional development on the Science Fusion and
Interactive Achievement will be included in all the meetings.
Lessons pertaining to the current Standards of Learning will
be taught to strengthen the teachers’ knowledge in inquirybased learning. Leads will also be trained on new equipment
and will share and use with their colleagues at their home
school.
Sept 23, Oct 21, Nov 18, 2015; Jan 20, Feb 17, Mar 16, Apr 20, 2016
Grade 6 Science Teaching Academy
TARGET AUDIENCE: Grade 6 Science Teachers
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory Elementary
TIME: 4:15 – 5:45p.m. (Wednesdays)
PRESENTER: Brena Daniels
DESCRIPTION: The Grade 6 Science Teaching Academy will provide
the Grade 6 Science teachers with clustered, sustainable skills in best
practices for Science instruction. Many elementary teachers are not
formally trained in Science with most holding a non-specific content area
Virginia State teaching license. This learning series will offer teachers a
network of support and resources to deliver instruction confidently and
accurately thus, compensating for any gaps in their depth of Science
content knowledge. The vision is to increase the division Grade 8
Science SOL assessment scores in the years to come with the notion that
such results will be evident because students were adequately prepared
with quality Science instruction by Grade 6 Science teachers who
participated in this yearlong training.
September 2, 2015
Secondary Science Teachers Academy
TARGET AUDIENCE: Middle and High School Science teachers,
including Special Education teachers
FACILITATORS: Brena C. Daniels, Daniel Lewandowski, Paul
Wilson, Cheryl Coronado, Walter McDonald, Danielle Morgan
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Sessions will include 2015 SOL Data Analysis, Lesson Plan Structure
and Format, and Curriculum Review. The facilitators will share the
Scope and Sequences for each subject as well.
Sept 16, Oct 7, Nov 4, and Dec 2, 2015; Feb 3, Mar 2, Apr 6, 2016
Life Science Assessment Literacy & Professional Learning Community
TARGET AUDIENCE: Grade 7 Science Teachers
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory Elementary
TIME: 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. (Wednesdays)
PRESENTER: Brena Daniels
DESCRIPTION: As an extension of the Virginia State legislature
(House Bill 930), which mandates the local school board to administer
cross-curricular, authentic performance-based assessments for non-SOL
tested grade levels, the Grade 7 Life Science teachers will be trained in
assessment literacy as they pilot the Virginia Department of Education’s
New Student Growth Assessments for Science. A strong cohort of
Portsmouth Public School elementary and middle school Science
teachers participated in a two-year professional development funded by a
VDOE Math and Science Partnership grant and created these
assessments that will be made available to all Virginia licensed teachers
through the VDOE Office of Science and Health Education. Through this
training series, teachers will explore instructional strategies and
assessment best practices. They will also engage in quarterly
professional learning communities focused on collaborating with fellow
Life Science teachers about student performance and subsequent datadriven instruction following the administration of the division
performance-based assessments.
October 6, Nov 10, and Dec 1, 2015; Feb 9 and Mar 1, 2016
Grade 8 Science Professional Learning Community
TARGET AUDIENCE: Grade 8 Science Teachers
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory Elementary
TIME: 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. (Tuesdays)
PRESENTER: Brena Daniels
DESCRIPTION: In response to the latest Science 8 Standards of
Learning assessment data and aligned with the direction of Science
education in the state of Virginia, this collaboration-based, professional
learning community will focus on increasing student achievement
through researched instructional best practices including scientific
inquiry, formative assessment strategies, and instructional delivery
methods for 21st Century learners. The PLCs will also provide insight on
how to effectively use digital student data platforms such as Science
Fusion and Interactive Achievement to drive instruction. Each session
will immerse the teachers in hands-on, minds-on activities and
intellectual discussions that will be translated into lesson plans and
implemented immediately into their classrooms as aligned to the Virginia
State academic review guidelines. In addition, teachers will be required
to bring in and discuss ‘accountability artifacts’ that demonstrate how
they have infused their lessons with the methods taught at each previous
training session.
August 2015 – April 30, 2016
KEYS: Knowledge through Experience for Youth in Science
TARGET AUDIENCE: Grade 6 – 8 Science Teachers
LOCATION: Asynchronous & Old Dominion University
TIME: In-person meetings 10/10/15; 12/10/15; 02/25/16; 4/23/16
plus virtual, asynchronous classes
GRADES: 6, 7, 8
FACIITATORS: Brena Daniels and ODU Faculty
DESCRIPTION: The three year Knowledge through Experience for
Youth in Science (KEYS) project will provide professional development
for middle school science teachers in Portsmouth Public Schools.
The
goal of the program is to train a cohort of educators in sound science
content and the Argument Driven Inquiry (ADI) instructional strategy
(Sampson, et.al., 2013). The program also aims to seek the expertise of
this group of teachers in the creation of assessments aligned to the ADI
lessons.
The professional development will involve two components, the first
incorporates a three credit graduate course which will be held during the
school year and the second features summer institutes starting in August
of 2015 and continuing thereafter. The graduate level, credit-bearing
courses will take place in an online hybrid platform involving
asynchronous, synchronous, and four face to face meetings and will be
taught by a professor from Old Dominion University.
May 20, 2016
D’n’A Cohort II: Follow-Up Meeting
TARGET AUDIENCE: D’n’A Cohort II Grade 6 & 7 Science Teachers
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory Elementary
TIME: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
FACILITATOR: Brena Daniels
DESCRIPTION: In a TEDx-style platform, teachers who participated
in the second cohort of the VDOE Math and Science Partnership grantfunded Discourse and Argumentation (D’n’A) training will gather to
discuss and present best practices in implementing Argument-Driven
Instruction (ADI). A quick tips sheet will be developed as well as a
series of live recorded vignettes that will be compiled into a streaming
training video for teachers new to the division.
October 6, November 10, December 1, February 9, and March 1
Best Practices in Biology Education
TARGET AUDIENCE: High School Science 9-12
High School Biology
FACILITATOR: Paul Wilson
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory: October – February dates
Wilson High School: March 1
TIME: 3:00 -4:30 PM
DESCRIPTION: This professional development series will
focus on increasing student achievement through research-based,
instructional best practices. Each session will immerse the
teachers in activities that can easily be translated into lesson plans
and implemented immediately into their classrooms. In addition
to instruction from the Facilitator, specific teams of teachers will
demonstrate effective research based strategies that engage
students in their classroom.
October 6, STARBASE Victory: Unit 4: Cell Respiration &
Photosynthesis. Teachers will develop a curricular plan to
maximize instruction. End product will be a test specification
table based upon the big ideas and learner goals.
November 10, STARBASE Victory: Unit 6: Patterns of
Inheritance. Teachers will develop a student-centered
assessment to measure achievement as the unit progresses.
Emphasis placed on maximizing opportunities for authentic
writing, purposeful reading, and interpretation of diagrams in
science.
December 1, STARBASE Victory: Pacing and instruction
needed to maximize student achievement in preparation for
the January SOL. Sharing of best practice resources for the
remaining units, and decide on review material.
February 9, STARBASE Victory: Team successes and areas
for growth from first semester data. Revisit the “three why’s”
protocol used during the September 2 meeting. Develop
collaborative groups to report on team progress in next
session.
March 1, Wilson High School: Unit 5: Mitosis and Meiosis.
Teachers will develop anchor charts as a means of making
thinking visible during the learning process. STEM Expo
Preparations
October 6, November 10, December 1, February 9, and March 1
Best Practices in Earth Science I and II Education
TARGET AUDIENCE: High School Science 9-12
High School Earth Science and Earth Science II teachers
FACILITATOR: Daniel Lewandowski and Daniel Borick
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory: October – February dates
Wilson High School: March 1
TIME: 3:00 -4:30 PM
DESCRIPTION: Leveraging professional development offered
within the realm of problem based learning and the 5E Learning
Cycle, team members will explore and critique revisions to the
Earth Science I and II curriculum. Focus upon local coastal
oceanographic issues detailed by the 2014 Chesapeake Bay
Watershed Agreement (CBWA) and the intent to provide a
Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) to all
students. Sessions will explore a CBWA issue presented in a 5E
lesson format activity.
October 6, STARBASE Victory: Human Impact upon
Sustainability of Chesapeake Bay Systems
November 10, STARBASE Victory: Land Use Policy and
Impacts upon Bay Watershed
December 1, STARBASE Victory: Sea Level Rise and Climate
Change Impacts
February 9, STARBASE Victory: Habitat Restoration and
Sustainability of Public Access
March 1, Woodrow Wilson High School: STEM Expo
Preparations
October 6, November 10, December 1, February 9, and March 1
Best Practices in Chemistry Education
TARGET AUDIENCE: High School Science 9-12
High School Chemistry
FACILITATOR: Walt McDonald
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory: October – February dates
Wilson High School: March 1
TIME: 3:00 -4:30 p.m.
DESCRIPTION: The chemistry professional development
meetings will focus on teaching Chemistry with Inquiry,
Technology, and other BEST Practice Strategies. Sessions will
emphasize use of computer modeling, virtual simulations, and
hands-on experimental investigations to enhance student
comprehension and mastery of chemistry. In addition to the
facilitator presentations, chemistry teachers will share and present
activities, strategies, and resources found to be effective within
their own instruction.
October 6, STARBASE Victory: The chemistry team will
develop a calendar with instructional goals and activities
paced to maximize student success on the SOL test. Teachers
will explore activities that focus on use of models and virtual
simulations with special emphasis on Pearson Chemistry and
PhET resources. (CH.1)
November 10, STARBASE Victory: This workshop will
focus on chemistry in aqueous systems with emphasis on
solubility, reactions, and equilibrium. LabQuest units and
probeware will be used. (CH.1, CH.3, CH.4)
December 1, STARBASE Victory: Evaluation of midterm
and test data with focus on adjustments in instructional
pacing and remediation as needed to maximize student
success on the SOL tests. (First college students to be tested
in December)
Workshop activities will focus on organic chemistry and
biochemistry (CH.6).
February 9, STARBASE Victory: Sharing of first semester
SOL assessment data – team successes and areas for growth.
Using feedback from the SOL data the team will adjust
pacing and time allotted to instructional goals and activities
as needed for the 2nd semester. Chemistry teachers will share
and present activities, strategies, and resources found to be
engaging and effective with their 1st semester students.
March 1, Wilson High School: STEM Expo Preparations
(theme, materials, activity stations, implementation)
October 6, November 10, December 1, February 9, and March 1
Best Practices in Physics Education
TARGET AUDIENCE: High School Science 9-12
High School Physics
FACILITATOR: Danielle Morgan
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory: October – February dates
Wilson High School: March 1
TIME: 3:00 -4:30 PM
DESCRIPTION: The physics professional development
meetings will focus on teaching Physics with Inquiry,
Technology, and other BEST Practice Strategies. Sessions will
emphasize use of computer modeling, virtual simulations, and
hands-on experimental investigations to enhance student
comprehension and mastery of chemistry. In addition to the
facilitator presentations, physics teachers will share and present
activities, strategies, and resources found to be effective within
their own instruction.
October 6, STARBASE Victory: The physics team will
develop a calendar with instructional goals and activities
paced to maximize student success in the Mastering Physics
platform. Teachers will explore activities that focus on use of
models and virtual simulations with special emphasis on
PhET and Explore Learning resources.
September 2, October 6, November 10, December 1, February
9, and March 1
Advanced Placement Biology Professional Learning Community
(PLC)
TARGET AUDIENCE: AP Biology Teachers
FACILITATOR: Cheryl Coronado
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 3:00 -4:30 PM
DESCRIPTION: In response to the latest revisions by the
College Board to the AP Biology Curriculum Framework,
scheduled for implementation this Fall 2015, this PLC has been
formed. This professional development series will focus on
increasing student achievement through research-based,
instructional best practices including inquiry, peer review, and
modeling with an infusion of instructional delivery for 21st
Century learners and effective formative and summative
assessments. Each session will immerse the teachers in hands-on,
minds-on activities that can easily be translated into lesson plans
and implemented immediately into their classrooms. In addition
to instruction from the Facilitator, teachers will monthly discuss
and evaluate artifacts gathered from current student work. The
artifacts will be demonstrations of student work using the
research based strategies presented during the course of these
year-long staff development sessions. The goal of this program is
to have improved student and teacher performance in AP
Biology.
Session 1: September 2, 2015; 8:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Planning for a Successful School Year – Facilitator will review
current syllabus/pacing guide, and available AP Instructional
Planning Reports as well as demonstrate how to use the online
resource AP Teacher Community. A laboratory activity and
material needs and formative assessment strategies will also be
shared.
November 10, STARBASE Victory: This workshop will
focus on physics in Kinematics and Newton’s Laws of
Motion. LabQuest units and probeware will be used.
Sessions 2 –5: October 6, November 10, December 1,
February 9
Hands-on/Minds-on strategies for laboratory investigation on
pace, along with using tools for classroom student led discussion,
writing strategies, and formative assessment will occur. Current
student artifacts will be discussed and evaluated for each session.
December 1, STARBASE Victory: Evaluation of midterm
and test data with focus on adjustments in instructional
pacing ,remediation and differentiated instruction as needed
to maximize student success in the Mastering Physics
platform. (First college students to be tested in December)
Workshop activities will focus on Energy and Electricity
Session 8: WWHS; March 1
This final session will focus on strategies for success on the
national AP Biology Exam, scheduled for May 9, 2016. Released
secure exams and a review of specific content and testing
strategies will be the focus of these activities. Preparation for
participation in the STEM EXPO will also be discussed.
February 9, STARBASE Victory: Sharing of first semester
exam data – team successes and areas for growth. Using
feedback from the SOL data the team will adjust pacing and
time allotted to instructional goals and activities as needed
for the 2nd semester. Physics teachers will share and present
activities, strategies, and resources found to be engaging and
effective with their 1st semester students.
March 1, Wilson High School: STEM Expo Preparations
(theme, materials, activity stations, implementation)
October 13, October 20, October 23-24, November 17,
December 8, January 12, January 26*, February 16, March
15, April 19, May 3, June 1-3
Systems Science: Eyes Over the Critical Zone
TARGET AUDIENCE: SCHEV TEACHERS
Elementary Science 4-6
Middle School Science 7-8
High School Science 9-12
FACILITATOR: Daniel Lewandowski and Daniel Borick
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: Tuesdays 4:30 – 7:00 PM, except October 23-24
(Kiptopeke State Park) and, June 1-3 (Claytor Lake State Park).
DESCRIPTION: This 3 credit hour graduate course is offered
through a SCHEV grant in partnership with Hampton
University’s College of Atmospheric Sciences. In proclaiming
2015 as an International Year of Light, focusing on the topic of
light science and its applications, the UN has recognized the
importance of raising global awareness about how light-based
technologies promote sustainable development and provide
solutions to global challenges in energy, education, agriculture
and health. Light plays a vital role in our daily lives and is an
imperative cross-cutting discipline of science in the 21st century.
Teachers will explore the multiple roles of light in remote sensing
technology and geospatial platforms within a 5E (EngageExplore-Explain–Elaborate–Evaluate) learning cycle.
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GIZMOS TRAINING: Embedded in the Science curriculum
grades 3 through high school.
September 24, 2015
Expanding the GIZMOS Experience
TARGET AUDIENCE: Division Science Program Specialists,
STEM Teachers if available
FACILITATOR: Aaron Fristoe
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory Arena
TIME: 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
DESCRIPTION: Participants will be immersed in the Explore
Learning platform known as GIZMOS.
September 30, 2015
GIZMOS For Secondary Science Teachers
TARGET AUDIENCE: Middle and high school science
teachers, including Special Education
FACILITATOR: Aaron Fristoe
LOCATION: Wilson High School rooms 129 and 221
TIME: 12:45 -315 p.m.
DESCRIPTION: Sessions will be tailored to the novice and for
those in search of a refresher in the use of the Explore Learning
platform known as GIZMOS. Those users with a history of use
will experience the GURUS Session.
September 22, 2015
PRINCIPALS’ INTENSIVE
TARGET AUDIENCE: Elementary, Middle, High School
Principals and Assistant Principals
FACILITATORS: Daniel Lewandowski, Brena Daniels,
Richard Neefe, Patrizia Grigsby
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
DESCRIPTION: Training topics include the following.
 Cross-cutting curriculum (WIKI & Google Docs)
 Scope of Continuing Professional Development
 Expansion of Performance-Based Assessments (PBAs)
Science Department Chairs’ Meeting
TARGET AUDIENCE: Secondary Science Department Chairs
FACILITATOR: Laura J. Nelson, Cheryl Coronado
LOCATION: Wilson High School, room 218
TIME: 3:15 -4:30 p.m.
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September 23, 2015
October 21, 2015
November 18, 2015
December 16, 2015
January 20, 2016
February 17, 2016
March 16, 2016
April 20, 2016
May 18, 2016
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Topic: Assessment for Learning
Time-line: Eight one hour sessions, once per month
starting September 2015.
Resources: The primary resource for these sessions will
be Pearson Assessment and Training Institute, second
edition Seven Strategies of Assessment for Learning by
Jan Chappuis. Professional development and education
materials from BSCS (Biological Science Curriculum
Study) will also be used in support of each session.
Professional Development Goal: The goal of these
sessions is to deepen teacher understanding of formative
assessment and to collaboratively develop effective
practices for classroom instruction that makes
meaningful use of these research based assessment
strategies. Department Chairs will journal their progress
and develop a portfolio to demonstrate implementation
and to allow for their self-reflection over the course of
the sessions. The session strategies for the portfolio will
focus on a student-centered approach, as teachers
(Chairs) will teach students how to self-assess and set
goals for their own academic progress.
 Program Overview:
September 23: Introduce the topic of formative
assessment, evaluate a case study, model formative
assessment as participants work through a simple
common science classroom experience. Participants will
evaluate this first session and begin the reflection
process by journaling their current strategies for
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October 6 and 8, 2015
GIZMOS For Grades 3 through 6 Science Teachers
TARGET AUDIENCE:
October 6, 2015: Brighton, Churchland Academy,
Hodges Manor, James Hurst, Park View, John Tyler
October 8, 2015: Churchland Elementary, Churchland
Primary and Intermediate,
Douglass Park, Lakeview, Simonsdale, Victory,
Westhaven
FACILITATOR: Aaron Fristoe
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory rooms 401, 402, Arena
TIME: 3:45 -5:45 p.m. on October 6, 2015
4:15 – 6:15 p.m. on October 8, 2015
DESCRIPTION: Sessions will be tailored to the novice and for
those in search of a refresher in the use of the Explore Learning
platform known as GIZMOS.
END GIZMOS TRAINING
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formative assessment (when it is used, how often, what
follow-up use occurs as a result of those strategies).
They will read the Pearson publication as time permits,
especially Chapters 1 and 4, they will also begin the
portfolio by completing “Activity 4.2” in the
publication; determine student readiness to self-assess.
October 14: Introduce “Seven Strategies of Assessment
for Learning”, video discussion, model self-assessment
as participants evaluate a common science phenomena.
Identify 4 key learning targets of student self-assessment
strategies as the professional development progresses.
Participants will continue to document in their reflective
journal and complete “Activity 4.3” select a quick selfassessment activity.
November 4: Participants will design a simple science
experiment, presenter will model quick strategies for
student-self assessment. Teachers will assess and discuss
the demonstration as well as their own experiences in
their classroom as they carried out “Activity 3.”
Department Chairs will continue to reflect in their
journals and add “Activity 4.4” as they select a selfassessment activity for use with a selected response or
written response quiz or test.
December 9: Participants will use a BSCS strategy to
evaluate and write about data. They will give peer
feedback during the activity. A video concerning the
value of peer feedback will be discussed along with a
discussion of the results of “Activity 4” as time permits.
Participants will continue to journal and carryout
“Activity 4.5” as they prepare a selected response
evaluation for use as a self-assessment.
January 13: Participants will discuss results of
“Activity 4.4 and 4.5.” A video discussion of using
assessments results to guide learning. Teachers continue
reading the Pearson book and reflecting in their journals.
“Activity 4.6” will be used to further develop teacher
portfolios.
February 10: Participants will use a BSCS strategy for
scientific writing as they assess a data set. A rubric will
be used to have participant practice self-assessment of
their shared experience during the BSCS activity.
Discussion about that experience as well as the student
work that they have in their portfolio will end the
session. Again participants will continue reflection of
their practice and they will communicate with each other
as needed to carry out “Activity 4.7” helping students to
create specific and challenging goals with a plan for
success.
March 9: Department Chairs will use a BSCS strategy
for using analogies in the classroom. They will share
examples of completed student frames developed as they
carried out “Activity 4.7.” As time permits participants
will discuss a video that helps students become aware of
their misconceptions in science. Teachers will continue
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to reflect and develop their portfolio as they carry out
“Activity 4.8 and 4.9”.
April 13: Participants will revisit the case study
evaluated at the start of this eight session series. They
will share best practice strategies from the portfolio
development. Participants will complete a final
evaluation of the sessions.
STEM Teachers Meeting
TARGET AUDIENCE: STEM Teachers
FACILITATOR: Laura J. Nelson, Heather Overkamp
LOCATION: STARBASE Victory
TIME: 3:15 -4:30 p.m.
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August 31, 2015 (9:00 a.m. – noon)
September 9, 2015 (1:00 – 4:00 p.m.)
October 14, 2015
November 4, 2015
December 9, 2015
January 13, 2016
February 10, 2016
March 9, 2016
April 13, 2016
May 11, 2016
June 8, 2016
DESCRIPTION: STEM Teachers will meet to share and discuss
best practices in STEM education. STEM Teachers will
participate in a yearlong training facilitated by Mrs. Heather
Overkamp. Topics will include Inquiry-based Instruction and the
Nature of Science, as well as Problem-based teaching and
learning.