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)

 

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?).