McReynolds, Madison Teachers Win Top Honors in KBR Science Awards
Armando Orduña, Bina Singh get highest marks for their innovative science lessons
May 17, 2011
Most people have heard of the “three Rs” as they relate to education: reading, writing, and arithmetic. But secondary science teachers in HISD are earning awards for “the seven Es”: elicit, engage, explore, explain, elaborate, evaluate, and extend.
These seven steps are an integral part of the KBR Science Awards program, which was developed in 2009 as a partnership between the district’s Secondary Science Curriculum Department and KBR, an international engineering firm headquartered in Houston.
Designed to recognize new and effective models of instruction that emphasize the scientific method and critical thinking skills, the program challenges educators to create engaging lessons about earth and space science, force and motion, physics, and chemistry that are aligned to the state curriculum, using a framework based on the “seven Es.”
Armando Orduña from McReynolds Middle School and Bina Singh from Madison High School were named the KBR Science Teachers of the Year for 2011 during a special ceremony held on May 11.
In one lesson, Orduña used one of his students’ favorite activities—kickball (along with an in-depth analysis of how bases are stolen during games)—to explore various science concepts, while in another, he helped students understand the phases of the moon using small foam balls, a high-intensity spotlight, and a projection screen.
Singh taught her students about the properties of acids and bases by having them design an experiment to test the effectiveness of various antacids, predict the performance of various shampoos based on their ingredients, and identify common household products as either an acid or a base using a simple test.
As winners, Orduña and Singh won cash prizes of $7,500 each. Eight other teachers received $1,250 each as finalists: Susan Broz, Pershing MS; Mellonie Boyd, Westbury HS; Lori Dunklin, CLC HS; Anna Head, CLC HS; Alicia Jackson, CLC MS; Timothy Johnson, Austin HS, Demetria Rutherford, Attucks MS; and Sharon Williams, Milby HS.
May 17, 2011
Most people have heard of the “three Rs” as they relate to education: reading, writing, and arithmetic. But secondary science teachers in HISD are earning awards for “the seven Es”: elicit, engage, explore, explain, elaborate, evaluate, and extend.
These seven steps are an integral part of the KBR Science Awards program, which was developed in 2009 as a partnership between the district’s Secondary Science Curriculum Department and KBR, an international engineering firm headquartered in Houston.
Designed to recognize new and effective models of instruction that emphasize the scientific method and critical thinking skills, the program challenges educators to create engaging lessons about earth and space science, force and motion, physics, and chemistry that are aligned to the state curriculum, using a framework based on the “seven Es.”
Armando Orduña from McReynolds Middle School and Bina Singh from Madison High School were named the KBR Science Teachers of the Year for 2011 during a special ceremony held on May 11.
In one lesson, Orduña used one of his students’ favorite activities—kickball (along with an in-depth analysis of how bases are stolen during games)—to explore various science concepts, while in another, he helped students understand the phases of the moon using small foam balls, a high-intensity spotlight, and a projection screen.
Singh taught her students about the properties of acids and bases by having them design an experiment to test the effectiveness of various antacids, predict the performance of various shampoos based on their ingredients, and identify common household products as either an acid or a base using a simple test.
As winners, Orduña and Singh won cash prizes of $7,500 each. Eight other teachers received $1,250 each as finalists: Susan Broz, Pershing MS; Mellonie Boyd, Westbury HS; Lori Dunklin, CLC HS; Anna Head, CLC HS; Alicia Jackson, CLC MS; Timothy Johnson, Austin HS, Demetria Rutherford, Attucks MS; and Sharon Williams, Milby HS.