Math Messages & Science Snippets

Our annual Kickoff Conference is in the planning stages! Your MPS Curriculum & EdTech teams will be hosting a half-day, Zoom-based "kickoff" conference on Friday, August 1 from 9AM-12PM. It will have sessions for elementary and secondary teachers and will cover a wide-range of content areas, technology topics, teaching strategies, and more. While it is 100% optional, this is a great way to get started on some PD opportunities for the 2025-2026 school year.

If you are interested in hosting a session contact me!

Click here to register

Topics for each session will be shared soon!

We are excited to bring Big Ideas back to Moore! We will have training on updates for 2nd year users and training for new-to-math or new-to-Moore teachers. 6th grade will be training with 7th & 8th because the platform differs from the K-5.

Location for all sessions: MNTC (13301 S Pennsylvania Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73170)

• July 30 (2nd year in Big Ideas - K- 5) - All sessions are identical
• 8:00 - 10:00
• 10:30 - 12:30
• 1:00 - 3:00

• July 30 (2nd year in Big Ideas - 6th)
• 8:00 - 10:00
• 10:30 - 12:30

• July 31 (new to Big Ideas - K - 5)
• 8:30 - 11:30 (grades 3-5)
• 12:30 - 3:30 (grades K-2)

• July 31 (new to Big Ideas - 6th)
• 12:00 - 3:00

Any teacher new to math needs to attend a training. However, we highly encourage teachers in the second year of Big Ideas to attend an update training since there have been so many changes. Any teacher is welcome to come to the first year training if they want a refresher.

SPED teachers: Please attend for the grade band you teach the MOST. You do not have to attend multiple sessions.

Please register below. Session sizes will be limited to 35 participants. Please bring your Teacher's Edition and your laptop.

The OCTM Summer Conference has been set. I will be driving so if you would like to carpool, please let me know!

Fractions Across Grades 3-5: A Learning Trajectory June 12, 9:00 - 3:30 pm

Fee $55 ;

6 hours of PD Credit (includes lunch)

Location: Willard Hall, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

Audience: 3rd - 5th Grade Teachers

Facilitator: Bridget Broome

Registration and More Information

Mystery Science (K - 2)

If you have never used Mystery Science before, this training is for you. You only need to attend one of the training options.

• August 6th - 1:00 - 1:45 (Zoom)
• August 19th 4:15 - 5:00 (Zoom)
• Register to receive the zoom link.

Discovery 101 (3rd - 5th)

If you are new to 3rd - 5th science, this is the training for you. There are two opportunities to make this training work with your schedule.You only need to attend one of the training options.

• August 4th - 9:00 - 10:00 - Conference Room 100 ASC

• August 21st - 4:30 - 6:00 Conference Room 100 ASC

Discovery 201 (All Grades)

With the discovery curriculum comes the discovery platform - an unbelievable amount of resources at your fingertips for all grade levels. Come and see what the discovery experience has to offer. Some examples of topics that will be covered: Channels, Video Quizzes, Studio, Resources, and much more!

Sept 9th 4:15 - 5:30 (Zoom) - Register to receive the zoom link.

Stemscopes Training (6th Grade)

If you are new to 6th grade science, this is the place you want to be.

• August 6th 9:00 - 11:00 - Conference Room 100 ASC
• August 14th - 4:30 - 6:00 - Conference Room 100 ASC

This year OSTA (Oklahoma Science Teaching Association) is hosting their annual conference at Southmoore. Since it's right on our doorstep, I wanted to make sure you were aware of this great opportunity. There are great sessions available at all grade levels, and breakfast and lunch are included in the price of the conference.

I hope you can join us for the fun. The information is listed below.

Join science educators from across Oklahoma for the 2025 OSTA Summer Conference—a day full of inspiration, exploration, and professional growth!

Theme: Choose Your Own Adventure

June 6 Awards and Celebration Dinner - The Well, Norman
June 7 Conference- Southmoore High School

Join us in exciting Professional Learning Including:
Keynote Speaker: Dr. DaNa Carlis, Director of NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)
Sessions for all grade levels and science disciplines
Vendor Expo
Catered lunch sponsored by Twig Science

Secure your spot today and start designing your science adventure: https://oksta.org/event-6146615

T-Shirt registration is also open if you would like to send that out as well. Right now, we are only delivering on the day of the conference - https://oksta.org/store

June 16, 2025; 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Fee $55 ; 6 hours of PD Credit (includes lunch)

Location: Willard Hall, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

Audience: Science Teachers (all grade levels)

Facilitator: Staci Thomas

Registration and More Information

We are so very fortunate to have an OERB summer workshop hosted right here at Westmoore this summer (July 24).

Here’s what you need to know:

1. It’s Free
2. You get a check for attending (received same day)
3. You receive the materials (including already laminated items and higher-priced items like calculators etc) – everything needed to duplicate the lessons in your class
4. You will receive money to take everyone enrolled in your classes on fieldtrips each year for 5 years.
5. When you need to refill items (ie: tape, paper, pencils) they send it to you for FREE.
6. You get 6-8 PD points
7. There are lessons for every subject from LA, Science, Math etc. – They are fun and engaging (and best of all – already made for you!)
8. Food, drinks and a t-shirt are usually handed out during training.

9. Summer 2025 workshop registration is now open
   

   NEW!! We have updated our registration process: Registration will now be through HomeRoom. If you do not have a HomeRoom account, you will need to create a new account to have access to the workshop registration form.

   Each teacher registering for an OERB Energy Education Workshop must be signed in to their own account when submitting a workshop registration. If the teacher is not logged in to their own account, this could cause a delay in approval.

   Reminder: we are now enforcing our new field trip policy, stating that you must attend a workshop every 5 school years to be eligible for a field trip. If you are unsure if you are still eligible, please email teachers@oerb.com.

   NOTE: If you have attended an in-person workshop recently, you do not have to attend a workshop every year to be eligible for a field trip, however, you must COMPLETELY teach the curriculum prior to submitting a field trip form.

   Please note that we have a 2 workshop cap for each school year. You are eligible to attend two workshops between the dates of July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.

   As a reminder, all of our workshops are completely free. You will receive a teacher's guide, FREE MATERIALS, stipend, and professional development hours for attending.

   If you haven't been to an OERB workshop recently, we have new additions and changes to our programs. We are currently running a Refer-A-Friend Promotion. The teacher with the most referrals at the end of the school year will win $500 towards your classroom. Be sure to tell your friends and colleagues to list your first and last name when they are registering for the workshop.

   If you have any questions, please let us know by emailing teachers@oerb.com.

   Have a great school year!

   - OERB Education Staff -

• Click here for registration

Science Museum of Oklahoma is planning several professional development opportunities for teacher this summer.

• July 23 - Developing Young Scientists (PK - 2)
• July 24 - Exploring Earth and Space Science (K - 6)

Sessions are $50 each and registration should be available soon. Check out https://www.sciencemuseumok.org/ for details to be posted soon.

Math

• Just moving grade levels but already teach math? It's easy! Just add the new grade level book to your current course. A video is linked below.
• If you currently do not teach math, ask your school secretary to make you a co-teacher in the grade/subject area to which you will be moving. This will give you access to those texts all summer.

Science

• K - 2 Science is located in Discovery, click on Mystery Science, then choose your grade level. All grade levels have access to Mystery Science in Discovery.
• 3 - 5 Science is located in Discovery.
• If you currently teach 3- 5 science, you will have access to all 3-5 books. Just change your grade level at the top of the page once your enter the techbook.
• If you don't currently teach 3 -5 and need access, ask your school secretary to make you a co-teacher in the grade/subject area to which you will be moving. This will give you access to those texts all summer.
• 6th - Ask your school secretary to make you a co-teacher in the grade/subject area to which you will be moving. This will give you access to those texts all summer.

Please register for training if you are moving to a new platform. (Training opportunities listed above.)

We will be using standard-based report card next year for second grade. This is a shift in thinking where we will be looking at activities and lesson as practice - not for a grade and then we will be assessing one objective at a time.

We have provided this excel sheet giving you the standards/objectives that will be assessed, the report card language, when to assess, and the assessment to use. Below is a link to the document and a video specifically about math and science. To see the video for ELA, check out Michelle's video from her ELA newsletter.

Just breathe. It will all be okay - and a lot less grading!

1. Avoid all of those "teacher skeptics."

You know who I am talking about - those well meaning acquaintances that, after finding out you are on your summer "break," will sigh and say, "It must be so nice to only work 8 months a year." Or, "I wish I got paid to have summers off." Hearing comments like that is bound to make your blood boil. Avoid them at all costs.

2. Sleep in or take a nap - and don't feel guilty about it!

You need to catch up on all that sleep you missed during the school year. And you need to start the next school year well rested.

3. Take time to laugh.

Laughter had been proven to help relax the whole body and release endorphins. Find that romcom or just binge watch a sitcom!

4. Color in an adult coloring book.

Admit it. When you watch your students color and doodle, you're a little jealous. Grab some colored pencils (that you don't have to share with anybody) and color away!

5. Take a long lunch.

Anything more than 15 minutes always feels like such a splurge!

6. Read an adult book.

Make sure it doesn't have ANY of the following characters in it:

• Jack and Annie
• Greg Heffley
• Judy Moody
• Captain Underpants
• Ramona Quimy
• Junie B. Jones
• Percy Jackson
• Fudge

7. Find time for YOUR hobby. It helps all of us to find an activity that is just ours and ways that we can be creative. (If you ever want to talk about quilting, just give Jenn a call! 😀)

We are beginning the edits to the curriculum pacing guides for the 25-26 school year. Some changes you will see:

• Curriculum will begin on August 25th to allow time for Leader in Me and classroom procedures.
• Some concepts will be adjusted based on the feedback from teachers.
• Additional resources will be added on concepts as they are needed.
• For math, there will be a general education classroom pacing guide and a resource (SPED) pacing guide.

All of the updated pacing guides will be available by June 11th.

Thank you for taking the time to read Math Messages and Science Snippets this month! I hope you have a restful summer!