News Items for the FL Department of Education Office of Mathematics and Science

Florida FastPacks for Teacher Certification: Florida Fastpacks.doc

Free online courses to prepare teachers for certification exams   

Standards Database

The Department of Education, in collaboration with FCR-STEM, has developed a database for content standards, course descriptions, and resources:  http://www.floridastandards.org

Office of Mathematics and Science Monthly Updates

2009

September 2009 Update: 9-30-09 OMS Update.doc
August 2009 Update: 8-31-09 OMS Update.doc
July 2009 Update: OMS Update July 2009.doc

2008

June 2008 Newsletter (Issue #5):  June 2008 Newsletter
March 2008 Newsletter (Issue #4):  March 2008 Newsletter
February 2008 Newsletter (Issue #3):  February 2008 Newsletter
January 2008 Newsletter (Issue #2):  January 2008 Newsletter
December 2007 Newsletter (Issue #1):  December 2007 Newsletter

NASA Space Place Newsletters

June/July 2008 Newsletter

Broward County Student, Thabo Abbate, is one of 10 regional winners of the National Financial Literacy Challenge

Press Release:  http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/schwab/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080618005529&newsLang=en

Student Bios:  http://www.aboutschwab.com/community/financial-literacy/winners.html

Pasco County Chemistry Teacher, Lisa Peake, wins Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/teachers/article500387.ece

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Learning in Florida's Environment (LIFE) Program

The Department of Environmental Protection's Learning in Florida’s Environment (LIFE) program hosted middle school students from Kennedy Middle School at Honeymoon Island State Park for a three-day series of labs centered on the park’s recent beach nourishment project. The students conducted science-based field labs as part of the on-site educational program, including bird observations and adaptations, ecosystem ingredients and a dune movement lab. “By planting dune vegetation, monitoring beach restoration efforts and tracking erosion, these students are not only learning to be environmental stewards but are providing a tremendous service to Honeymoon Island State Park,” said DEP’s LIFE Director Greg Ira. “The LIFE program provides a great opportunity for students to gain hands-on, engaging lessons in environmental care and restoration.” Students and volunteers planted dune vegetation on the park’s new beach last weekend in addition to the LIFE program labs that started on Wednesday. The dune movement lab in particular involved students monitoring the beach project, measuring the width of the beach along several transects and the height of the dune using a permanent benchmark. The measurements will then allow students and park staff to track erosion and accretion of the dunes within the nourishment area. The LIFE program at Honeymoon Island State Park has been a part of the Gulf Alliance Initiative by fulfilling the Environmental Education priority of the Gulf Of Mexico Alliance Governor’s Action Plan. The Gulf of Mexico Alliance is part of a coordinated response to President George W. Bush’s Ocean Action Plan, which called for the development of regional goals and priorities for safeguarding the nation’s oceans. The state-federal alliance outlines 11 actions to improve and protect water quality, restore coastal wetlands and estuarine ecosystems, reduce pollution and nutrient loading, identify Gulf habitats to support coastal management and expand environmental education. Since 2004, nearly 3,500 future scientists and stewards have participated in the LIFE program. The LIFE initiative seeks to establish a series of field-based, environmental- science education programs around the state. Each of the nine existing programs is a partnership between the DEP and a local school district. The goal of each LIFE program is increased student achievement and teacher professional development in science, with the content and delivery varying from site to site. For more information on the LIFE program, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/ed/.