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

2/5/19 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

01/07/19 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.

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.

11/5/18 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.