4/19/19 Biology PLC Minutes

Members Present: Wise, Vermillion, McCandless, Baker

1. Lesson Update- Just finished...
   a. Vermillion- Lesson 7
   b. Wise- Lesson 6
   c. Baker- Lesson 7
   d. McCandless- Lesson 6
2. Next week- Finishing Genetics
   a. No class on April 24- ACT
   b. No block day
   c. Field trips next week
3. Following- Reviewing for testing
   a. Start with ecology and review one unit a week
   b. Prepare students for the setup of the test
   c. Tie up loose ends/practice tests/vocabulary
   d. CER finch argument- Go over this for natural selection
   e. Site for Case Studies for practice Case Study Link
   f. Approx. 13 days for review
   g. Intro, work with concepts again, give practice. Maybe a 10 minute mini lesson
   h. Ecology April 29-May 2
   i. Natural Selection
   j. Evolution
   k. Genetics
   l. Energy
4. Testing May 20 and 22
   a. 60 minute sections
   b. Chemistry- cross-cutting concepts (energy, chem, etc.)
   c. TCT to go through from bio and chem- Energy flows through a system
   d. Do a TCT on Fridays of the week related to that topic


Next Steps: Finish genetics, prepare for review for EOC, look at TCTs to decide on one for each week, look at AP schedule and plan for review weeks, prepare to choose a topic for review to plan (one topic per teacher)

4/12/19 Biology & 1A PLC Minutes

Members Present: Montgomery, Baker, McCandless, Wise, Roberts, Rahmlow

1. Argumentative Essay Progress and data
   a. Wise- Going very well.
   b. Drafts- Final today (Baker and Wise)
   c. McCandless- Final Monday
   d. Digital copy for backpack
   e. English connection and science (genetics) connection
   f. Wording. Punctuation. Capitalization. All things our students need to work on.
   g. Add this to the curriculum for Bio next year at Valley
2. Stella lesson 5 on Monday for Baker, Wise
3. McCandless lesson 3 on Monday
4. Bio testing schedule- EOC Block week
   a. May 20 and May 22, in two parts (No school May 21).
   b. Thurs/Friday juniors are taking on demand writing, so fun science lesson/experiment
   c. Weds/Thurs block dissection May 29-30.
5. Planning a field trip- Zoo- May 28, AP Bio, AP Environmental, Hero
   a. First choice date May 28, after the EOC

Next Steps: Bring data from essays to discuss at next PLC, orders are due April 19 to Baker

3/26/19 Biology PLC Minutes

Members Present: Montgomery, McCandless, Wise, Baker, Vermillion

1. Jurassic World
   a. Location for streaming
   b. Instructional purpose
   c. Schedule for showing- Block Day
   d. Watch, and the day we get back, documentary on positive GMO's (TEDtalk)
   e. Choose a side, write an argument for/against GMO's using evidence from the things you have seen/learned. 6 paragraphs- Intro, 3 arguments, counter, and conclusion.
   f. Can use this as a high-quality backpack artifact by going through feedback process. Real-world, ethics.
2. Lesson 5- Transcription/Translation
   a. Using codons to get amino acids, use the square not the wheel
   b. Mosquito mutations
3. Lesson 6- Proteins
   a. Students given Jaguar, mate and predict the babies
   b. Alleles, no probabilities (not part of the standards, but still important to know)
   c. Homozygous dominant and recessive traits
   d. Write a paragraph using vocabulary
4. Lesson 7- Packaging DNA
   a. PowerPoint and a reading
   b. Meiosis, independent assortment and segregation
   c. Appropriate to do something different if you do not like the lesson for the needs of your students
   d. A lot of vocabulary
   e. Looking at chromosomes, not necessary to know all of the phases
   f. Close read an article of meiosis
5. Lesson 8- Pedigrees
   a. Jaguars
   b. Use the BSCS book for this. Baker will put up on the drive.
   c. CER- Answering the unit central question
6. Timing
   a. Whole week returning from spring break, working on the paper. Start lesson 5 the week after.
   b. Turn in the essay by Friday, or teacher choice.
   c.

Next Steps: Prepare for film; pre-teach argument essay so they know what they are looking for in the film; preview the Stella lessons and prepare for after spring break;

2/26/19 Biology PLC Minutes

Members Present: Wise, Montgomery, McCandless, Baker, Vermillion

1. Genetics Lab Station Feedback
   a. Stations took longer than 20 minutes, they typically took the entire period (50 minutes). Will need to run this activity through Friday.
   b. Station 5 options- print lab instructions for your choice of virtual lab
   c. May flow into Monday, then start Stella.
2. Genetics unit 5 folder created- Wise
   a. McCandless uploaded materials
   b. Wise uploaded intro materials
   c. Vermillion- Stella lessons next week are in the old folder 17-18, McCandless moved to 18-19
3. Energy and Matter Assessment Data Discussion
   a. Math walk-through to help with calculations corrections
   b. Baker AP- 83% after corrections, 75% before corrections (both multiple choice and terrarium CER)
   c. Baker Comp- 58% after corrections, several with zeros and haven't done corrections.
   d. Wise Comp- 62% after corrections
   e. Vermillion- Gave bio AP test, average was lower than last year
   f. Understand vs. just copying down the material
   g. Apathy- not giving full effort on test, sleeping during test.
   h. Terrarium CER was the greatest struggle.
     i. Math
     ii. Written portion expectations (Vermillion)
     iii. Pre-teaching the expectations for the CER
     iv. Next year, have a practice CER and then the formal CER, in the same style.
4. Grades and data discussion
   a. Viking Time intervention for next round list
   b. Round 5 and 6 teachers
   c. Study Island- Standard Recovery Folder- Vermillion sharing materials
   d. Use Study Island for intervention- check with Cotton for access- Baker
5. Department Meeting today

Next Steps: Attend department meeting, prepare Stella lessons for next week, finish grading assessments

2/22/19 Biology PLC Genetics Stations

1. Genetics Stations Folder is complete. See link in previous minutes, or go to Biology 18-19 drive.
   a. Virtual lab- two choices, see document.
   b. Close reading- Two choices, both close reading passages.
   c. Vocabulary- use the frayer model. Make an exemplar, and put out template for students to draw in their notebooks.
   d. Hands-on- Twizzler DNA. Buy/organize your materials! Twizzlers, 4-colored mini marshmallows, toothpicks, paper clips, masking tape.
   e. Making babies coin toss station
2. Plan for 20 minutes for each station. Students who are finished early, have enrichment ready to go. Use the extra close reading passage, extra virtual lab, etc.

Next Steps: Copies, gather materials, etc.

2/19/19 Biology PLC Minutes

Members Present: Wise, McCandless, Vermillion, Baker
(Montgomery in a meeting)
1. Stella emails
2. Equipment- Wise
3. Genetics stations FOLDER
   a. Folder created in the Bio 18-19 drive
   b. Twizzler lab station- McCandless- Materials needed
       i. Mini colored marshmallows (approx. 9 of each color per group)
       ii. Twizzlers (2 strands per group)
       iii. Toothpicks (12 per group)
       iv. Paper clips (5 per group)
       v. Masking tape
   c. Virtual Lab- Wise Virtual Lab Links
       i. Has a great one for AP, working on one for comp
       ii. Classical genetics simulator- can be very detailed if you want it to be
       iii. Analysis page is complicated- goes into chi square analysis.
       iv. Punnett square virtual lab
   d. Making Babies genetics coin toss station-Baker
       i. Uploaded into folder
   e. Literacy- Wise to upload to folder
   f. Vocabulary Frayer Models
       i. Uploaded into folder
   g. Genetics coloring and articles for enrichment
4. Earth/Space science cohort program with U of L

Next steps: Finish uploading the station activities in the folder. Prepare enrichment materials.

2/12/19 Biology PLC Minutes

Members Present: Baker, Montgomery, McCandless, Vermillion, Wise

1. Upcoming Unit: Genetics
2. Next week- Finish up cell resp.
3. Genetics will start Feb 25
   a. Week of the advancED visit
   b. Genetics lab with centers. Online lab, literacy, teacher walking around asking questions, redirecting, assisting.
   c. Notes, intro Feb 25
   d. Stations Tues and Weds/Thurs
   e. Mendelian Genetics Station: teacher decides pacing/rotating schedule based on student needs
             Literacy- Baker, Virtual Lab- Wise, Craft- McCandless/Wise, Vocabulary Foldable- Baker, Creation of genotype/phenotype lab. Plan for approximately 20 minutes.
4. EOC window- Starting May 17
5. Plan to have all review and content done by Derby, May 2nd.
6. Grades for EOC- scores back, 20% final. No scores back, you passed.

Next Steps: Prepare stations, finish cell resp. unit, prepare for advancED visit.

2/11/19 Science PLC Minutes

Members Present: Vanegas, Wise, Montgomery, Baker, D. Smith, Vermillion, McCandless, Stevens (Biology, Chemistry)

1. February 25 audit begins by AdvancED
   a. Gossett presents with a team the 25th (at a Hotel)
   b. Feb 26 enter at 7 am, interviewing all staff members, all ILT, conduct observations of english, math, science, social studies. Also observe self-contained ECE, unless you have less than 10 students. Also interviewing groups of parents, groups of students, support staff.
   c. More student-centered ELEOT rubric.
   d. During the mini-audit, student engagement was low. Pre-plan to engage students at all points during class (if they finish early, if they have trouble, proactively help, etc.)
   e. Observe about 15 minutes, they can come in at any point during the class period.
   f. Like to see student discussion, group work.
   g. Think about student learning outcomes for your lesson.
   h. Trying to see every classroom, including ECE with over 10.
   i. Non-essential classrooms will be observed, but not using the ELEOT observation tool.
2. February 28 audit ends.
3. Questions
   a. Not tied back to individual teacher names, but data is aggregated
   b. Technology- using Google to do a Webquest (not considered using technology), searching, etc. Creating something with technology= great! Using technology to manipulate, create. Virtual lab- yes. Using probeware- yes.
   c. Stay on your routine. Not about students being perfectly behaved, its about using your routines and responding appropriately to the students' behavior to redirect.
   d. For teacher interview: look out for more information from Mrs. Winter. Know the big rocks, mission and vision, Academy versions.
   e. Interviewers will have different sets of questions. Expect them to not respond to your answers.
   f. No hospitality, be friendly but don't make a big deal of them being here.
4. Two weeks until this process begins.

Next Steps: Look for follow-up regarding interviews. See Dawn or Megan for lesson support. Regular PLC tomorrow, February 12.
PTC Day Feb 18- MTSS Strategy sessions. Look for schedule to choose a session for an hour, will get a reward for attending. Cooperative learning strategies (3 strategies presented during each session). Strategies presented: Mastery learning, Cooperative learning/Jigsaws, and Reciprocal Teaching.

2/5/19 Biology PLC Minutes

Members Present: Vermillion, McCandless, Baker, Wise, Montgomery

PLC in 119 with Megan Winter

1. Packets given- Notes and Frayer Models
   a. Two Column Notes- Another tool to use
    i. First way- put your slides on one side, questions on the other. Gives student time to stop and think about notes and synthesize what is being said with the notes.
    ii. Second way- Close reading. Tailor reading to only what is necessary. Questions are created for content specific needs.
    iii. Actively Learn (LINK)- Science related texts website. This allows you to create questions for content-related material. You can freeze the kids screen. You can post their thinking on the screen for discussion. High school reading levels, not tailored to student levels.
    iv. Bring a text next PLC in 119 to do this with Mrs. Winter if you want.
    v. Already doing forms of this- Baker, Vermillion shared methods used currently. "Stop" sign on Stella, teacher created tools for reading.
   b. Frayer Model Templates
    i. 5-7 words a week goal
    ii. Students have to use a word 15 times to learn it, to learn a max of 5-7 each week.
    iii. Choose 2 words, or root words, to work on in your classroom. Science can use root words to teach vocabulary. Link on Valley Harbor: Vocabulary Instruction
2. Science Fair Coverage
   a. 4th period- No one with plan has volunteered. Split classes. Sub for Lawler?
3. Cellular Respiration
   a. Yeast lab- Vermillion
   b. Baker, Wise, McCandless- around the same location
   c. Assessment up- Terrarium justification
   d. Human impact on these processes- Articles from Stella- part of NGSS that is new this year for our standards. For example- too much CO2 is a bad thing because...
   e. Wise- working on a quiz for cellular respiration.
   f. Probeware vs. balloon lab options
   g. Limiting reagent discussion
4. Block next week is CSA terrarium. Modify CSA to add carbon cycle and water cycle. (No school Friday!)
5. Week after- Articles to read and talk about. (No school Monday!)
6. Genetics unit coming next.

 Next Steps: Prepare modified CSA to your needs. Prepare lab materials for yeast lab. Get articles ready for after CSA, Baker coming up with word for Frayer Model (maybe -ase, or -ose)

 

2/4/19 Biology PLC Minutes

Members Present: Vermillion, Wise, McCandless

1. Reviewed this week's topics of photosynthesis and cellular respiration
2. Common assessment- CER in Drive
3. Vocabulary for this week- Uploaded into drive by Wise
4. Student issues with photosynthesis cycles- discussed common issues and planned how to help students.

Next Steps: PLC in 119 tomorrow 2/5/19. Science fair is Friday! Attain after school this week, see schedule on main science page.

1/25/19 Biology PLC Minutes

Members Present: Baker, Montgomery, McCandless, Wise, Vermillion

1. Quiz shared- Photosynthesis on drive
2. Starting cell respiration Jan 28
   a. Intro and practice Monday-Tuesday
   b. Activity on Wednesday/Thursday- Drawing the cycles
      i. Use both Krebs and Citric Acid terminology
      ii. Posters, notes, etc.
      iii. Cell respiration practice sheet to accompany drawing activity
   c. Literacy on Friday
3. Next week
    a. Yeast balloon cellular respiration lab on block day
    b. Virtual lab Radish Seed- 1 day
    c. Cell respiration practice
    d. Carbon and water cycles lab
4. Cell respiration vocabulary- Wise uploading to the drive
5. in 17-18 Bio drive folder, use the cellular respiration folder. Cellular Respiration Folder

Next Steps:
Get virtual lab for radish seeds link (Vermillion); make vocabulary cell respiration; use PLC vocabulary lists in daily lessons; reserve technology; Homecoming themes.

01/18/19 Department Meeting Minutes

Members Present: D. Smith, Roberts, Montgomery, McCandless, Rahmlow, Stevens, Vermillion, Vanegas

1. Interventions-Give work to the intervention teacher for your students.
2. Lab 256- Being left unlocked. Be sure to lock it, put the chairs back, put the materials back. Chemicals need to be put in a cart in the back, even if you are in there multiple days. Label everything.
3. Science Fair
   a. Students interested in doing fair- Send students interested to Vermillion or Vanegas, sign up online on STEMwizard. Required!!
   b. Fair is on a Friday, we cannot get subs. Need people willing to cover- 1st, 4th, 6th, 7th for Vanegas. Vermillion- 4th, 6th need covered. EMAIL to follow.
   c. Opening 5th and 6th for peer judging. Students invited to arena to check it out. Bring your 5th or 6th if they are respectful and enjoy it. EMAIL to follow. Students who really want to go but you do not want to take the whole class- Give names to Vanegas/Vermillion so they can get a pass to go.
   d. Experiments- Send to teachers for help if it is not in your area.
   e. Emails are coming. Lots of them. Read and follow up!
   f. 2nd period- Rather than having PLC, please go to the fair and help get kids set up, fix any issues, etc.
   g. Family that wants to judge- Let Vanegas or Vermillion know.
   h. Staff award to give out to the kids- Go vote.
4. Member update: Julie is doing well, no return date yet. Check on her.

Next Meeting: Sometime in March.

01/15/19 Biology PLC minutes

Members Present: McCandless, Vermillion, Baker, Wise

1. Labs this week
   a. Leaf disk lab discussion
   b. Pre-lab needs to be before
   c. Baking soda in the water
   d. Put leaves in the sun ahead of time
   e. Swirl it around
   f. Box for dark one
   g. Run for approximately 20 minutes
2. Virtual Lab
3. Elodea Lab- Vermillion today/tomorrow. McCandless Friday.
4. Technology needs and sign-ups
5. NGSS standards break down- Wise and Rahmlow discussion. Use Stella to help, ask Vermillion and Baker to help.

Next Steps:
Emergency sub plans, common formative/summative assessment creation

01/11/19 Biology PLC Minutes

Members Present: Baker, McCandless, Montgomery, Wise

1. Lab prep for next week
   a. Elodea lab- Waiting on delivery
   b. Do leaf disk first. Vermillion doing this today, others next week.
2. Biology Curriculum
3. Achieve3000- Rostering Issues
4. 1st Semester Failures
   a. Recovery Options- Put student in intervention, go through credit recovery route (Within 5% of passing) Otherwise, they need to repeat the course next year.
   b. Most failures are chronic absentee students.
   c. Teacher discretion for who can go the recovery route.
   d. Home hospital grade changes an issue. Calling during class.
      i. Work being sent to HH teacher
5. Department Meeting next Friday January 18 during 2nd period.
   a. Failure options
6. Formative assessments
   a. Small, daily checkpoints to guide instruction the next day.
   b. Adjust instruction based on results of the daily checkpoints.
   c. Vermillion a day ahead to pilot lessons.
   d. If your kids do not get it- Review and modify based on student needs.
   e. CFA. For example, having issues with building the terrarium. Next day, gave students an article about the carbon cycle to address issues.
   f. Individualized with teachers, based on their student needs. PLC staying on the same page of standards, not necessarily pace (but it is close).

Next steps: Department meeting. Continue using CFAs to adjust instruction. Create a common summative assessment (should we use last years or make a new one?).

01/07/19 Biology PLC Minutes

Members Present: Baker, Wise, Vermillion, McCandless

1. Unit 4 Discussion- Energy and Matter
   a. Labs- Leaf Disk, Elodea
   b. Plants take in CO2 and put out Oxygen- Main point of this week's lessons
   c. Carbon and water cycles
   d. Nitrogen cycle not included- may be more confusing than its worth. Can add in after feedback for this unit.
   e. Draft- Piloting these lessons and activities.
   f. Sequence is similar to last year, slight changes.
   g. Space out this week on characteristics of life and review, Vermillion starting sooner with the AP to work out kinks. GIVE FEEDBACK TO VERMILLION
2. Week 1
   a. Introduction- Articles and terrarium Videos, Characteristics of life- 1 to 2 days
   b. Review abiotic and biotic factors
   c. Slideshow for 1st lesson- Wise uploaded a more detailed slide deck for the 8 characteristics
   d. KEY to get the terrarium drawings started, because they go back to the drawings
3. Week 2
   a. Elodea and leaf disk- Order doesn't matter- Mon-Thurs
   b. Grab leaves off auditorium plants or bring them
   c. Friday- Reading/Literacy
4. Week 3
   a. Two-day online lab Mon and Tues
   b. Block Weds and Thurs- Poison system with an Inhibitor
   c. Lab needs for Wise and McCandless- 1st McCandless, 7th Wise, 7th McCandless borrow Baker/Vermillion rooms

Next Steps: Get through pre-lesson reviews, lesson 1, and lesson 2 by next Friday. Give feedback to Vermillion. Prepare for technology use and lab setups.

12/4/18 PLC Minutes

Members Present: Baker, Vermillion, Wise, Montgomery, McCandless

1. Unit Planning
   a. Active and passive transport
   b. Poster projects
2. Review/Next Week
   a. Finals creation
   b. Schedule for review
   c. Vocab word list revising will happen on Friday 12-7 in PLC.

11/20/18 PLC Minutes

Members Present: Baker, Wise, Vermillion, McCandless, Montgomery

1. Planning for after break
   a. Monday
      i. Plan for review of expectations
      ii. Intro to cell membrane- Notes/coloring
   b. Tuesday
      i. Diffusion and osmosis- Notes/activity
   c. Wednesday/Thursday
      i. Lab- Gummy Bears (VERMILLION)
   d. Friday
      i. Intro to House Project (WISE)
2. EOC
   a. Multiple science subjects
      i. Switching classes with chemistry teachers to provide reviews for bio students
      ii. Test will ask about cross-cutting concepts
   b. Meetings will go into more details over test topics
3. Questions/Concerns

Next Steps- Teachers plan assigned lessons, we will plan for next weeks upon our return from break. Vermillion out on the 6th. Baker- will be with Wise December 4.

11/13/18 PLC Minutes

Members Present: McCandless, Vermillion, Wise, Baker, Montgomery

1. Week 1- Cells and Cancer
   a. Library reservations for HHMI interactive
   b. House clips for hook
   c. The House project- Friday introduction
2. The House project- What are the requirements for each component?
   a. PowerPoint additions so students can keep track
   b. This week- Draw slips for their topic
   c. How will students make connections from their illness to the studied system?
   d. Public audience for the PBL project
   e. Other options-
     i. Endangered Species- make into PBL by adding components
     ii. Body systems multimedia project
   f. Time spent on body systems vs. evolution?
3. What are our standards/goals for the next 5 weeks?
   a. Cell Types
   b. Organelles- Structure and function
   c. Cell Transport
   d. Mitosis
4. Using case studies to create teaching teams
   a. First one- Girl Lost
5. Action items- Friday, bring case studies and we will choose which ones we want. Create rubrics/guidelines for each teaching team.

11/5/18 PLC Minutes

Members Present: Montgomery, Vermillion, Wise, McCandless

Next 6 Weeks Planning Document
PBL Document

1. This Week
   a. Wise/Vermillion- Review Cells from middle school, test recovery
   b. Baker/McCandless- Test and test recovery
2. PBL Project
   a. Virus/Bacteria for HSA
   b. Repetitive work injury for IMA
3. Next Week- Unit 4
   a. What is a cell/types of cells/ppt- Week 1 (WISE)
   b. 5 weeks- Cover everything up photosynthesis
       i. Mitosis and Cancer vs. normal cell division- Week 1 (WISE)
       ii. Immune/Vaccinations (HSA connection) Week 2 (THANKSGIVING BREAK) (VERMILLION)
       iii. Respiratory (Diffusion and osmosis) Week 3 after break (MCCANDLESS)
            ~Gummy Bear Lab
            ~Can you stand the heat? lab
       iv. Cardiovascular Week 4 (BAKER)
            ~Blood Pressure lab
       v. Skeletal/Muscle Week 5 (WISE)
             ~Microscope lab
       vi. Christmas Break
   c. Weekly Structure
       i. Monday- Introductions
       ii. Tuesday- Worksheet/Practice/Investigations
       iii. Block day- Labs
       iv. Friday- Review/Literacy connected to body system and PBL Evidence
    d. PBL is going to occur throughout the unit. All learning is geared towards building evidence for their cases. Specifically, Friday they will synthesize information for their case. See the 6 weeks planning document for PBL info

10/26/18 PLC Minutes

Members Present: Vermillion, Wise, McCandless, Rahmlow,  Roberts, Montgomery, Roy

1. Unit 3 Assessment- Evolution HERE
   a. Key vocabulary terms are in a Google Doc HERE
2. College expectations of binders and science notebooks
3. Metric conversions
4. Walk-through feedback
5. Teaching photosynthesis- concept of energy, not details.