ME by the SEa

• STEMscopes - Let’s Explore What’s New in STEMscopes Science!!
• Kaz Kuzminski (vendor)
• all grades
• Room: CI 102

Join us for an engaging hands on session taking participants through the 5E Model while focusing on differentiation, literacy and assessment. Participants will work in cooperative groups to gather and present their findings. All participants will receive materials to take back with them to their classrooms.

• What is Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering (TAME)?
• Christina Campos & Chanta Gidrey
• Grades 6–12
• Room: CI 112

TAME creates equitable experiences for students from underrepresented groups to explore futures in engineering by fostering their sense of belonging and equipping them with knowledge, skills, and intergenerational support through statewide programming at no cost to students.

• STEM with Storybooks: Cultivating Creativity and Innovation for Young Learners in K-2 Classrooms
• Sonia Gamez & Anne Sanchez
• PK–2
• Room: CI 106

Make your classroom a place where creativity and innovation thrive! Engage students in all types of learning that produces and showcases work in multiple learning styles through the use of high quality and engaging texts. Join us to learn, explore, brainstorm, and create a plan to immediately open the doors of your classroom to ideas and practices that foster a climate that values and nurtures innovative thinking.

• No Teacher Left Inside! “Sea”-ing How to Balance Screen Time with Green Time
• Dr. Andrea Foster, Dr. Lisa Brown, & Lola Grundy
• PK–8
• Room: CI 126

Are you Zoomed out after these past pandemic years? Would you like some practical strategies to engage you and your students in some meaningful outdoor experiences? Well this session is for you! Guaranteed to refresh your teaching soul and help you "sea" how engaging it is to teach kiddos the power of learning science and math in outdoor environments.

• Organisms and Their Environments
• Marianne Phillips, TAMU-San Antonio
• 3–5
• Room: CI 127

This session provides elementary teachers with ideas for using hands-on minds-on activities to foster inquiry and discussion, while engaging their students in learning about organisms and their environments. Several interactive activities will be shared.

• Engaging Students in Mathematics with Graphic Novels
• Alexandria Perez
• 3–8
• Room: CI 128

Students read comics and graphic novels for fun inside and outside of school. There are opportunities to engage students in mathematics by using these books, including showing them how mathematics can be used and by whom. I will share our study of mathematics in graphic novels and provide ideas about using them in the classroom.

• Buzzing into STEAM with BEE-bots
• Dr. Marybeth Green, Dr. Linda Challoo, & Dr. Lisa McNair
• PK–2
• Room: CI 138

Kinders and First Graders enjoy exploring science concepts while developing their computational thinking skills with Bee-bots. These lessons are paired with quality children's literature to create a powerful learning experiences. Let us show you how we incorporated Bee-bots and children's literature into the science curriculum with a minimum of equipment.

• Johnson Learning Systems Math Fluency in Problem Solving
• Dr. Courtney Johnson (vendor)
• all grades
• Room: CI 102

Math has its own language and helping students to become fluent in that language will occur with these researched based strategies! Conferees will discover an array of fluency techniques that WILL strengthen the mathematical intelligence of ALL students. This experience will help school leaders become aware of neurological, phonological, and retention techniques that will help teachers ensure all students retain information and improve mathematically.

• Math is Not Hard, It’s a Challenge!
• Roger Ramirez
• Grades 6–12
• Room: CI 112

Come learn how Problem of the Week challenges students to use what they know to solve difficult problems, build understanding through writing, and encourages math talks. Challenging students with engaging mathematical problems just above their mindsets builds a deeper understanding of mathematics, its properties, and increases students' confidence. Walk away with 4 problems and learn to make your own!

(10:30am)

• Thinking like a Mathematician! Creating higher levels of problem solving in young children using Montessori math methods in a traditional classroom setting
• Sonia Hall
• Grades PK–2
• Room: CI 106

This session will address elementary math basics using concrete materials that can be found in any elementary classroom. Participants will explore the nuts and bolts of addition, subtraction, place value, multiplication and division using Montessori techniques to promote higher levels of problem solving skills, even for young children.

• Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program: Processing Process Skills
• Kimberly Ogden
• Grades PK–5
• Room: CI 126

Processing Process Skills should provide an opportunity to provide you with simple methods to strengthen your students process skills AND develop the ability to communicate their thinking. Although we will focus on Science TEKS, developing good reasoning applies to all content areas.

• Vocabulary is Important in Teaching Inclusive Science
• Monique Brown & Gillian Benedetti
• Grades 3–5
•  Room: CI 127

Vocabulary instruction is important in science. It helps build knowledge necessary to understand the subject matter. One of the effective ways to do so is through the use of graphic organizers for students who are receiving special education . In this session, we will explore vocabulary graphic organizer and related activities for an inclusive approach.

• Classroom Management Tips!
• Melissa Stuart & Cynthia Quinones
• Grades 6–8
• Room: CI 128

This session will concentrate classroom management techniques. Swing by and explore new ways to manage your classroom.

• Building Discourse and Numeracy Skills through Number Talks
• Katherine Reeves & Amanda Gonzalez
• Grades 3–5
• Room: CI 138

Number Talks are discussions about a particular problem that has been crafted in such a way that the key foundational ideas of mathematics can be evaluated and demonstrated. These talks take about 5-15 minutes and are typically held 3-5 times a week. These talks allow students to share their thoughts and ideas about math.

• Shattering Mindframes: Cultivating a Classroom Environment of Innovation
• Dr. A. Anil Kumar & Dr. Elizabeth Stoerkel
• all grades
• Room: CI 102

This proposal addresses the mindframes – accepting a certain thought process or a theory without questioning as an example. When such mindframes are shattered, innovation occurs, leading to better instructional modes and learning practices at all levels of school and college education. We cite specific cases in business, science and engineering.

• Get More Math®
  
• LeKesha Malveaux (vendor)
• Grades 3–12
• Room: CI 112

Make Math Stick with Get More Math FREE 22/23 School Pilot Offer!

Get More Math takes TEKS practice to the next level by creating sessions for each student that include new material and past skills. As the year progresses and the teacher gradually introduces new concepts, these sessions continue to build. Problems are selected for students based on data collected during all former sessions. Attendees may sign-up for an unlimited one-school year FREE trial for their entire campus today. Currently supports TX grades 3 through 8, Algebra 1, Algebra 2 & Geometry.

• Making STEM Cross-Curricular with Makerspaces
• Mia Martinez & Sarah Sales
• Grades 3–8
• Room: CI 126

This session will discuss incorporating STEM across different content areas as well as implementing makerspaces in all classrooms.

• Using Technology to Enhance Elementary Science Teaching
• Marianne Phillips
• Grades 3–5
• Room: CI 127

The author describes her experiences teaching pre-service science teachers to incorporate interactive online science activities into their 4th and 5th grade science lessons. With COVID, the Internet is providing many more tools and activities for teachers to use to create curriculum to engage their students in learning. Since many students find using technology motivating, it is important to make use of these tools and activities. Several online tools will be shared during this session.

• Teaching Informational Text
• Jennifer Brown
• Grades PK–8
• Room: CI 128

Learn how to incorporate strategies to deconstruct informational text for easier comprehension. Dive into new expository question designs and discover how to help students tackle STAAR 2.0.

• The Positive Effects from the Integration of Read–Alouds with Mathematics
• Dawn Lozano
• Grades PK–2
• Room: CI 138

This review of literature focuses on studies from around the world that have explored the integration of literature and mathematics. Findings from this research indicate that read-alouds help bring abstract mathematical concepts in a story to real life by making them concrete and more relatable to students. The research also stresses the importance of read-aloud choices made by teachers when planning meaningful instruction.

• Geometry in an Envelope
• Katie Barrera & Elvira Trejo
• all grades
• Room: CI 102

Review Geometry vocabulary associated with triangles and its characteristics using an envelope. At the end of the lesson a tetrahedron is formed which can be used as a review item or a holiday decoration. This will be an interactive session.

• Save a Bunch, Learn A Lot: Math and Science Using Household Items
• Dr. Amber Beisly & Dr. Brandy McCombs
• Grades PK–2
• Room: CI 106

In this session, participants will learn how to utilize everyday objects to explore math and science concepts. For part of the session, participants will learn and play math games using dominos, dice, and popsicle sticks. Then, participants will also look at the ways to use these same items in science explorations. Participants will leave the session with a list of items that could be purchased at dollar tree and knowledge about how to use these items in their classrooms or how families can use these items to extend learning in the home.

• Tips and Tricks for Teaching Algebra 1
• Amanda Cloud
• Grades 9–12
• Room: CI 112

Tips and Tricks on how to teach the STAAR Tested subject of Algebra 1. Participants are welcome to ask questions about Curriculum, Pacing, Reviewing, or anything else needed to successfully prepare students for the STAAR. These tips and tricks can relate to any subject but will focus on Algebra 1. Sample warm ups, notes, worksheets, and assessments will be provided for participants to keep and use in their own classrooms.

• Teaching to Make it Stick
• Dr. Elizabeth Stoerkel & Dr. A. Anil Kumar
• all grades
• Room: CI 126

Evidence shows that students entering college rarely seem to retain the knowledge they gained in school though their performance was above average while in school. We discuss recent research in business and neuroscience to demonstrate ways of effective instruction that has the potential to enhance comprehension and retention.

• National Board Certification Overview
• Dr. Cynthia Hopkins, NBCT, Jane Lee-Rhodes, NBCT, & Jennifer Brown, NBCT
• all grades
• Room: CI 127

Learn how to build deep through reflective practices. Reason why people pursue their National Board Certification. Learn about benefits to the teacher and their students. Take away tips on earning YOUR certification from three NBCT educators.

• FIRST: Robotics and Student Engagement
• Gregorio Garza & Christina Campos
• Grades 3–8
• Room: CI 128

An exploration of how robotics can be integrated as a Fine Art and as an extracurricular activity to support STEM students and how to keep the STEM pipeline flowing into the junior high years.

• Youga Yoga
• Room: CI 138
  

Participants, wear comfortable clothes!

• Wildlife in Focus® Kritters 4 Kids
• Marissa Ford (vendor)
• all grades
• Room: CI 102

The Kritters 4Kids program that is completely online Natural Science program that aligns with multiple TEKs. The pictures used in the program are from local ranches so it brings the outdoors to the classroom while teaching the importance of habitat preservation and the ecosystem here in Texas and it importance. We are soon adding educational videos done by local students to add to the lessons. The program is a granted to program once we receive the funding a school will receive 30 books and the online program for 3 years.

• Building Scholarly Teaching Practices with Professional Learning Communities and Mentoring
• Panel: Dr. Celil Ekici with panelists Christine Price & Amy Lavigne
• all in-service teachers
• Room: CI 106

Panelists will share their relevant experiences with and expectations from local support networks as STEM Educators and Teachers in the Coastal bend region.  This is an opportunity for us to reflect together how we can support each other and grow together as STEM educators as we share our best practices within and across schools.

• I Can be a Scientist! The Impacts of an Informal Teen STEM Afterschool Program on the Experiences and Career Aspirations of Teen Participants
• Katie Dion
• Grades 6–12
• Room: CI 112

The STEM Café program model brings Teens and STEM professionals together in causal settings for discussions about research, hands-on projects, and socialization. Come learn about how this program impacted the experiences and career aspirations of three teens and how to implement your own program. Hands-on activities included during this session.

• Teachers' Happy Hour
  
• Panel: Kim Moore with panelists Amanda Salinas, Yvelia Munoz, & Rheana
  Gomez
• all pre-service teachers
• Room: CI 126

This session is for pre-service teachers primarily. Three veteran teachers will share and answer questions you may have about things that you don’t learn in school. How do you motivate students? How do you motivate yourself? What do you need to know about interacting with parents? How do you build trust and set up a healthy classroom environment? These teachers will answer your questions honestly.

• Inner Naturalist: Mindfulness Matters - How Mindfulness and Curiosity Open the Doors to STEM Education
• Lari Jo W. Edwards
• all grades
• Room: CI 127

Mindful practices boost creativity & complement the learning & thinking process for students. We will showcase mindfulness & curiosity activities that open doors to STEM mindsets. With just a few short minutes educators can help students reduce stress & excel in the classroom.

• Youga Yoga
• Room: CI 138
  

Participants, wear comfortable clothes!