2012 WPEC Common Core Training

Converse Course:

Differentiated Instruction for middle/high school

August 27 kicks off the 2011 National Board Certification Preparation Workshop Series sponsored by PSTA.  Presented by Brett Vaughn, a leader in the field of NBC preparation, these workshops are always a success!  The first workshop in the series will focus on Getting Started, Analyzing the Standards, and Setting the Foundation.  Each workshop will be held on a Saturday at the PSTA office (2015 Assembly Street in downtown Columbia) from 10am until 2pm with lunch included.  Cost is $25 for PSTA members and $50 for non-members.  Seating is limited, so register early at www.palmettoteachers.org or by calling 803-256-2065. 

On September 10, PSTA will debut our newest workshop opportunity – The Male Teacher Institute.  Male teachers interested in professional development targeted specifically at them are invited to attend.  The first of these workshops will focus on Issues and Ethics Facing Men in the Classroom.  The workshop will be held from 10 am until 12 noon.  The workshop is FREE for PSTA members or $5 for non-membersand will be held at the PSTA office (2015 Assembly Street, downtown Columbia).  Don’t miss this chance to network with other males in your profession!  Register online at www.palmettoteachers.org or by calling 803-256-2065. 

PRAXIS I and PRAXIS II/PLT workshops will be held on Saturday, November 5 at the PSTA office (2015 Assembly Street in downtown Columbia).  PRAXIS expert Rodney Estrada will present his tips and tricks for passing the PRAXIS with flying colors.  PRAXIS I will be held from 10am until 1pm.  The cost is $10.  PRAXIS II/PLT will be held from 2pm until 5pm.  Cost is $10 for PSTA members or $25 for non-members.  Register online at www.palmettoteachers.org or by calling 803-256-2065. 

Please email TraceyKLewis@bellsouth.net with any questions about these events.  We look forward to seeing you this fall!

See the SC Life flyer click here

BIOSC 730:  Inquiry Based Learning: A Companion Course for Biology
Credits: 3 hours
Dates:  June 17-22 and 25-30
Fee:  $50
Location:  Clemson University
Instructors:  Dr. Michelle Cook, Department of Teacher Education and Cora Allard-Keese, Department of Biological Sciences at Clemson University
Eligibility: Participants in this course must teach high school level biology courses that require students to take the Biology End-of-Course-Exam. The required letter of recommendation from a current school supervisor must indicate that you will teach at least one of these courses during the 2012-2013 school year.
Stipend:  $500 (upon successful completion of all course requirements)

This course is designed to assist high school biology teachers use inquiry-basedlessons to prepare students for the Biology End-of-Course Examination. Thiscourse will spend time reviewing the areas of cell biology, energetics, molecular genetics, evolution, and ecology that are in the SC Science Academic Standards and highlighted in the Biology Support Document. Also time will be spent learning and developing new inquiry-based activities to implement in the classroom to support the high school biology standards. Each teacher will be required to complete assignments (e.g., creation of inquiry-based activities and development of lesson plan modules) that can be used in the high schoolbiology classroom.

Course Application Procedures
The registration dates, fees, application procedures and contact information vary for some courses, so be sure to check each course description for details. For most courses, the application deadline is March 30.  Early applicants will receive priority for acceptance and applications will be accepted until thecourse is full.  NOTE: Admission to each course is contingent upon presentation of appropriate credentials, and approval of the SC Life director and the course instructor. Applying does not guarantee acceptance. For most summer courses, applicants will be notified of acceptance beginning April 13.

Applicants should submit a formal letter of application that must include:

•       a description of educational background and current teaching level/subjects;

•       complete home and school contact information (include e-mail);

•       the name of the course to which you are applying (if applying to more than one course, please rank them in order of priority - #1 as your first choice);

•       a letter of recommendation from a current school supervisor that includes verification of your employment;

•       a copy of your teaching certificate that includes certificate # if you are a certified teacher. If you are a nonformal or other non-certified educator, please state this in your application letter.

Application materials should be mailed to:
Ginger Foulk
SC Life Project/Biological Sciences
Clemson University
132 Long Hall
Clemson, SC 29634-0314

Online enrollment is not available. Do not send payment until it is requested.

Course fees as quoted are available to certified teachers who are currently employed full-time in a South Carolina K-12 school. Teachers from schools outside SCshould inquire as to fees. Limited enrollment is available at normal Clemson University tuition rates to individuals who are not in-service teachers. Inaddition to the specified course fees, you must pay a $55 non-degree graduate school application fee if you have not enrolled in a Clemson University course in the past six years. If the course meets on the Clemson University campus, you will be required to purchase a student parking permit (approx $2/day). Apply as early as possible for the courses in which you wish to enroll. Many courses reach the enrollment limits well before the application deadline.
Questions? See www.clemson.edu/sclife<http://www.clemson.edu/sclife> or contact Ginger Foulk, (foulk@clemson.edu, 864/656-4224)