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Celebrate Science!
Celebrate Science is a festival of B.C science writers for children and teens. The event will be taking place on Saturday, 24 September 2011, from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum at the University of British Columbia.
This science extravaganza will appeal to teachers, teacher-librarians, student teachers, public librarians, child care workers and parents. The half-day program will feature talented Canadian writers and illustrators whose books and passion for science spans all ages. They’ll explore scientific topics with the audience and highlight a wide range of books available for youth. The keynote speaker is Dr. Jeanette Whitton, Environmental biologist and Co-Director, Beaty Biodiversity Museum. Featured scientists include Dr. Wayne Maddison, the spider guy; Dr. Amanda Vincent, Project Seahorse researcher and Dr. Eric Taylor, UBC Fish Collection.
Science writers from the Children’s Writers and Illustrators of BC (CWILL BC) will be presenting their books:
Fiona Bayrock, author of Bubble Homes and Fish Farts
Tanya Kyi, 50 Questions series
Shar Levine & Leslie Johnstone, authors of over 70 hands-on science books such as Kitchen Science and their latest Snowy Science.
Cynthia Nicolson, Totally Human: Why We Look and Act the Way We Do;
Barry Shell, author of Sensational Scientists
Jim Wiese, Surrey High school teacher and author of over 40 books including Spy Science, Rocket Science and Cosmic Science.
There will be a science book fair and sales with a 10% discount for attendees.
To register online go to http://www.bookcentre.ca/store/products/celebrate_science_a_festival_bc_science_writers_kids_teens.
We hope to see you there!
Jump Math changed my life: Vancouver teacher says
The Jump Math program, which is available for free online, is getting rave reviews from teachers and researchers.
Vancouver teacher Elisha Bonnis says it changed her life. After years of being told she was just one of those people who doesn’t get math she recently completed a master’s degree in math education.
Click here to read the Vancouver Sun article
Education Minister speaks out
Education Minister George Abbott’s back to school message to parents was “We’re starting the year under a cloud. While I am disappointed at the timing, the BCTF president has assured me the pending job action won’t affect student learning and that teachers will continue to focus on students in the classroom.”
Click here to read the Vancouver Sun article
Twitter in the classroom
While still mocked in some quarters, the social networking service Twitter is gaining respect among B.C. educators and has even wormed its way into a few classrooms.Teachers who experimented with classroom tweeting during the last school year say it encourages concise writing because tweets are limited to 140 characters and opens a new channel for discussions, especially for students who are too shy to speak in class.
B.C. Teachers confirm job action to begin on 6 September
British Columbia’s teachers have confirmed they’ll be going on limited job action when classes resume next week.Students and teachers alike will head back to school on Sept. 6, but teachers will do so under what they’re calling “Phase 1” of job action, which will eliminate day-to-day administrative duties typically handled by teachers.The 72-hour strike notice came as no surprise after six months of failed negotiations between the B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF), and the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA), left the province’s teachers without a contract.