Speaking Up for Science:  Sustaining the Momentum 

The teacher voice is often the least heard, but most important one in education today.  The knowledge, training and experience that we bring to science education makes a difference.  Individually and collectively, as science teachers, we can shape the classrooms of the future.  In this year's conference we will be sharing our best ideas, resources and practices.  We will highlight sessions within the following strands, along with other great sessions from excellent science educators around Georgia. Join us - and have your voice heard!  

• Strand 1: Speaking Up on Integrating Literacy to Advance Science Instruction:  Science supports literacy and literacy supports science.  Scientific literacy depends upon making meaning of observations and investigations using reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.  This strand will demonstrate what strategies can be utilized that support literacy and science, and why teachers should incorporate best practices in literacy.
• Strand 2:  Speaking Up on Building STEM from Science: STEM is more than a buzzword.  Effective STEM instruction bridges the divide across disciplines and makes real-world connections possible.  Sessions will focus on programs and approaches that truly integrate learning experiences across the STEM disciplines with the goal of supporting science learning for all students.
• Strand 3: Speaking Up on Developing Partnerships, Leadership, and Policy:  The teacher voice is powerful, but we cannot do it alone. Sessions in this strand will focus on how to build partnerships with local businesses, informal science centers, colleges and universities, museums, other science educators, education policy-makers, and more to take your classroom to the next level by creating networks for teachers and students.
• Strand 4:  Speaking Up on Effective Classroom Assessment:  Using effective classroom assessment is paramount in this era of changing standards, data analysis, and teacher and student accountability.  This strand will focus on how to maximize your instruction by creating meaningful formative assessments and activities, addressing challenges in assessing science/engineering practices, and how to assess cross-cutting concepts.
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Submission Details:

The 2016 annual conference will be held February 4-6, in Stone Mountain.  Session proposals will be accepted through November 7, 2015.  Members or nonmembers may submit session proposals.  All presenters must register and pay for the conference, which includes one year of GSTA membership, upon acceptance of the session proposal.  If you are a current GSTA member, then please log into your account before submitting your proposal.