HISD Announces Additional Improvements in Science Instruction
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| East Region Superintendent Thelma Garza, right, at the open house with Milby Feeder Pattern Executive Principal Sam Sarabia and Theresa Phillips, a project manager for the HISD/BCM Science Learning and Leadership Collaborative. |
HISD is partnering with Baylor College of Medicine to further improve science instruction at the elementary-school level, in a science-teaching lab the district has operated at George Sánchez Elementary School (2700 Berkley) for the past two years.
HISD and Baylor College of Medicine will unveil the new program to teachers, principals, and HISD administrators, including HISD Superintendent of Schools Abelardo Saavedra, at an open house on Tuesday, October 14, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Dr. Saavedra said, "This exciting new partnership brings improvements to the program, including less time away from the classroom for training and increased assistance in the classroom. In addition, having a distinguished partner such as Baylor College of Medicine enhances HISD's efforts to create a college-bound culture, beginning as early as elementary school."
Dr. William A. Thomson, a professor and the director of the Center for Educational Outreach at Baylor College of Medicine, will also be on hand for the open house. Dr. Thomson said, "Baylor is combining its expertise with that of HISD to improve science instruction for the youth of Houston. As the trained teachers create more excitement and interest for science in the classroom, more students may view it a potential profession, instead of just another school subject. These students will be better prepared to excel in science through high school, but also in higher education at institutions such as Baylor College of Medicine."
The science-teaching lab at Sánchez Elementary is dedicated to deepening the understanding of science-content integration and developing leadership, while modeling science lessons designed to help youngsters grasp scientific concepts in a memorable and fun, hands-on atmosphere.
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| Tijerina Elementary School Principal Paola Daniels (L–R) and Dr. Tracy Weeden, HISD’s assistant superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, watch SLLC interns and fourth-grade teachers Sara Zamora (from Tijerina Elementary) and Gina Zenor (from Anderson Elementary School) demonstrate lava flow and land formation. |
Teachers who are new to the program are trained for ten days in July and one day per month, for a total of eight days during the academic year. They receive additional online training via Webcasts, have access to specially designed online resources, and receive instructional support through campus coaching visits by the program staff.
After that, teachers participate in five days of training in July, along with four half-day Saturday trainings during the academic year. These program improvements result in high-quality instruction with significantly less cost to the campus and less time away from the classroom for training.
The model lab and other improvements in science instruction are paying dividends in TAKS test results. In 2008, HISD students scored record highs on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, with 79 percent of schools improving in passing rates in science. Fifth-grade science scores on the TAKS test rose six points to 71 per cent in 2007 and increased 11 points to 82 percent in 2008, outscoring fifth-graders in Texas as a whole.
In fact, students in Texas' largest school district improved in math and in science at every grade level in 2008 on the English-language TAKS, a strong indication, Dr. Saavedra said, that "HISD's emphasis on improving math and science instruction is working. HISD has invested millions of dollars in improving science labs and instruction in the last few years."
Baylor College of Medicine has a longstanding relationship with HISD, having partnered with the district for more than 35 years at HISD's DeBakey High School for Health Professions.
