WSST 2012 January News <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

  **Have You Seen**

Interdisciplinary
Connections:  ELA Common Core Stds. and
STEM

“The Common Core State Standards
for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science,
and Technical Subjects (“the Standards”) are the culmination of an extended,
broad-based effort to fulfill the charge issued by the states to create the
next generation of K–12 standards in order to help ensure that all students are
college and career ready in literacy no later than the end of high
school.”   Common Core State Standards
Initiative:  English Language Arts
Standards                                
http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards/english-language-arts-standards

The
connection between STEM and ELA is written into the common core ELA
standards.   Current school district budgetary
restrictions necessitate the purchase of high quality grade-level trade books
which can enhance student  learning
across multiple subjects while also meeting educational standards too.  Published through the online journal Science
Books & Films (SB&F) a judging panel, selected by the American
Association for the Advancement of Science and SB&F staff, awards an annual
prize for excellence in science books. 
SB&F also produces an annual list of “Best Books” which contains high
quality K-12 science trade books (published in January).   Access to the “Best Books” list requires
subscription however, NSTA also
produces a similar annual list which has free online access (see below).

2012 AAAS/Subaru
SB&F Prizes for Excellence in Science Books:   “The
AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prizes for Excellence in Science Books celebrate
outstanding science writing and illustration for children and young adults. The
prizes are meant to encourage the writing and publishing of high-quality
science books for all age groups.”  See
the 2012 nominees (2011 finalists and winners are also linked) at http://www.sbfonline.com/Subaru/Pages/Finalists2012.aspx

Past years AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prizes for
Excellence in Science Books winners
can be accessed for free at http://www.sbfonline.com/Subaru/Pages/PastWinners.aspx

NSTA’s
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12:  A “sneak peak” at NSTA’s annual highly rated
science trade books are now online at http://www.nsta.org/pdfs/2012OSTBList.pdf 

NSTA’s past year’s books are online
at http://www.nsta.org/publications/ostb/

Wisconsin DPI’s Approach to
Disciplinary Literacy (including science) http://dpi.state.wi.us/standards/disciplinaryliteracy.html

**Conference Updates**

The “CALL FOR PRESENTERS” for the 2012 WSST Conference – “Science on
the Terrace and Beyond” is now closed. 
There are new updates on the website including a Roommate Finder, Keynote
Speaker information, and details for a planned Murder Mystery.  Remember to register and mark your calendar
for Madison - March 8-10, 2012 
http://www.wsst.org/conferences

 **Did You Know**

 The Wisconsin Society of
Science Teachers was founded in 1958.  Today it is the largest Wisconsin
organization of individuals interested in the advancement of science
education.  Please consider joining a committee or running for an elected
office.  Nominations are open for the
following positions:

President Elect (4 year term)

District 5 Director – CESA 2 & 5
(3 year term)

District 6 Director – CESA 6 (3 year
term)

District 7 Director – CESA 1 (3 year
term)

 Please
contact Dan Nelson, Nominations Chair, for more information.  nelsoda@medford.k12.wi.us

 **Your WSST Funds In
Action**

 WSST Foundation Grants and
Awards

WSST Milton Pella, Wisconsin Science
Partnership Project, Founder, Byerly, and Front and Center grants are available
through WSST.  Descriptions and
applications for these funding opportunities can be found at http://www.wsst.org/foundation/foundation-grants-and-awards

Nomination materials for Excellence
in Teaching, Friends of Science Education, 
Ron Gibbs, Frank Zuerner New Teacher Scholarship, and Rumford awards are
available through WSST.  Consider
nominating an outstanding science teacher for one of these awards.  http://www.wsst.org/awards

**Some Interesting Websites**

Outstanding Science Websites
for All Ages 

“The Science Prize for Online Resources in Education
(SPORE) has been established to encourage innovation and excellence in
education, as well as to encourage the use of high-quality on-line resources by
students, teachers, and the public. Since 2009, the prize has helped promote
science literacy by recognizing outstanding projects worldwide that provide
freely available online resources that enhance science education.”  You can access these high quality websites at
http://www.sbfonline.com/Pages/Outstanding%20Science%20Websites.aspx

National Science Digital Library

“NSDL's mission is to provide
quality digital resources to the science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) education community, both formal and informal, institutional
and individual. NSDL's collections are continuously refined by an extensive
network of STEM educational and disciplinary professionals. Their work is based
on user data, disciplinary knowledge and participation in the rapid evolution
of digital resources as major elements of effective STEM learning.”  There is a specific section for K-12 Teachers
and access to Science Literacy Maps, Math Common Core materials, a Bilingual
Collection, and a multitude of other STEM related materials at http://nsdl.org/

NGSS Framework for K-12 Science Education:  NSTA
has released a Reader’s Guide to the Framework for K–12 Science
Education which can be downloaded for free from the NSTA
Science Store at http://www.nsta.org/about/standardsupdate/default.aspx

**In Memoriam**

Ben
Thompson, a charter member of WSST, passed away Dec 21, 2011.  He actively served on many WSST committees
and was the historian for the past twenty some years.  He was very
supportive of education at the K-8 level and was instrumental in starting WEST,
along with the Foundation and other programs.  
An obituary is available in the La Crosse Tribune, Dec 24, 2011 paper http://lacrossetribune.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/benjamin-e-thompson/article_9fa7b3ac-2dc0-11e1-80e0-0019bb2963f4.html

This installment of WSST News is
brought to you by Tim Gerber, WSST District IV Director.  Tim has been on
the WSST board since 2010.  He teaches in the Biology Department at the
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.  Happy New Year!