10-11+Science+Report

Department, Team or Program: **Science Department**
 * Name of person submitting the report:** Franz Ruiz- Science Department Chairperson


 * 1. **** What were your successes in meeting your team goals and supporting the Site Goals? **

1. Increase in number of students passing classes department wide. 2. Develop learning targets for each unit to and develop formal and informal formative assessments to inform teachers and students of the learning taking place. 3. Continue to develop common formative/summative assessments in each content area. 4. Increase students scoring Advanced/Proficient of CST while decreasing numbers in the Below and Far Below Basic Categories. 5. AP Offerings have increased in the department. (Site Goal-AP Environmental Science) 1. __Vocabulary__ · Common content area vocabulary terms (Content Areas) · Implementation of learned literacy strategies from district trainings (vocabulary strategies, graphic organizers, foldables) (Department). 2. __Reading__ · Implementation of content area reading strategies, such as marking the text and study guides (Department). 1. Common formative and summative assessments across entire curriculum. (Biology). 2. Common summative assessments across department content areas. 3. In the process of creating common formative assessments across department content areas using Edusoft. 1. In the process of creating pacing guides in all department content areas aligned to state standards. 2. Established pacing guide (Biology). 1. A template for a curriculum guide has been created and will be used in all department content areas. Curriculum guide includes outlining the standards, content, vocabulary, activities, media, textbook sections and timing for each unit that is taught. This is still ongoing. (Established in Biology) 1. Common policies establishes and used by all department teachers. 2. Common laboratory report format agreed upon (more work needs to be done, especially in the development of templates and benchmark labs).
 * SMART Goals**
 * Literacy Strategies **
 * Common Formative and Summative Assessments**
 * Common Pacing Guide**
 * Curriculum Guide**
 * Common Class Grading Guidelines and policies**

· Finding time to develop labs, activities and lessons to engage students within the content areas. Time being spent on SMART Goals/PLC Foundation Items. · No CST release test items for the freshmen coordinated science class makes it difficult to align course exams to model the CST. · Understanding data analysis capabilities of Edusoft and the interpretation of that data. · As students progress through the science course sequence, proper placement is important and a method to provide teacher recommendations of the next course a student takes may help in increasing the passage rates of classes. · Changes to physics program took place by requiring students to have a minimum math requirement. As a result physic numbers are low. Ways to increase enrollment in this course are needed. · Small populations of students take AP Science. Finding solution to increase enrollment are necessary to sustain program. · Time (Department and Biotech Health Career Pathway) o To develop course curriculum and curriculum guides. This includes: § Course pacing § Labs/activities § Develop opportunities for student/ teacher use of technology. § Multimedia experiences § Extension/enhancement activities. § Identify expected skills/learning results/outcomes. § Scaffolding/ differentiated instruction for all student skill levels. o To collaborate and share labs, activities and ideas. § Observe other classes/teachers (at ECV or elsewhere) o Develop Department wide literacy strategies.(Literacy Action Committee) o To learn the advanced data analysis capabilities of Edusoft and the learn how to interpret the data. o To develop a science department wikispace. · Professional development (content specific) to meet site goals. o Besides the time necessary to accomplish many of the above stated tasks, the science department would like to see funds dedicated to professional development for teachers in specific content areas within the department. These funds would be used to pay for professional dues, and to attend content specific conferences such as the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) National Conference, California Science Teachers Association (CSTA) State Conference, and the American Biology Teacher (ABT) National Conference. These conferences and the workshops, training sessions and events to help keep teachers up-to-date on what is occurring in science education, technology, research and industry. Furthermore, these conferences allow teachers an opportunity to network with other teachers across the country, acquire new skills, strategies and lessons that will ultimately impact the classroom and our student population particularly our EL population. Although these conferences are not considered “ongoing” professional development, the knowledge, skills, insights personal motivation and opportunities gained by attending should not be underestimated. o Training for Biotech Health Career Pathway teachers in concepts behind AVID Tutorlogy for the support element within the pathway. o Training for Biotech Health Career Pathway in strategies behind handling the case management of students who are involved in the pathway.
 * 2. **** What were your challenges in meeting your goals and supporting the Site Goals? **
 * 3. **** What are your department/team/program needs for supporting student learning for next year in these areas? **
 * Professional Development:**

· Mandated (not optional) tutorials, for students receiving D’s and F’s, built into the school day! · Find successful models on how to effectively use interventions.
 * Interventions:**


 * Supplemental Materials and Supplies to assist students who need additional support to learn (please do not list basic classroom supplies).**
 * # Continue to support the Science TA position which has now become an integral part of the department’s initiative to increase student access to authentic, project based, science laboratory experience.
 * 1) To purchase curriculum specific software to serve as a supplement to tutorials for students who need extra help, are behind in their work due to absence, and to differentiate instruction. Software will have to be investigated to find the best solution to fit our students’ needs.
 * 2) Tutors needed for the Biotech Health Career Pathway to for the student support component of the pathway. ||