2014 Science PLUS Institute Participants announced

Roper Mountain Science Center, a facility of Greenville County Schools, announces that the following School District of Oconee County teachers have been selected to attend the Science P.L.U.S. Institute during the summer of 2014.  From Northside Elementary Laura Land, Eddie Chavis from Seneca Middle, from Tamassee-Salem Middle and High Patricia Childress, Sandy Whiteford from Walhalla Middle and Lisa Curry and Shirley McKinney from West-Oak Middle. The Institute, 100% funded by a South Carolina Education Improvement Act grant, gives intensive training in science teaching methods and activities to public school science teachers from throughout South Carolina.  The Institute emphasizes the Center’s belief that all students deserve a good science education. At least one teacher chosen to attend the Institute represents each school district that submitted applicants.  In the Institute’s 22-year history, over 4,000 public school science teachers have participated in Science P.L.U.S. classes. The courses for the 2014 Science P.L.U.S. Institute include six different one-week classes in weather, earth science, life science, space and physical science.  Classes are built around specific grade levels corresponding to the South Carolina Science Academic Standards for grades 1-12.  Institute courses encourage teachers to incorporate math and language arts skills into their science lessons and to look for opportunities to make science connections when teaching other disciplines. A major goal of the Science P.L.U.S. Institute is to provide teachers the resources needed to do hands-on science activities with their students.  Each participant receives science materials and supplies to duplicate lessons learned.  These materials extend the Institute into the state’s classrooms by empowering teachers with new tools for teaching science.  New skills, enhanced content knowledge, and tested ideas shared by other teachers enable Science P.L.U.S. participants to return to their classrooms with confidence and renewed enthusiasm for science instruction. The fifth penny of sales tax on each dollar generates South Carolina Education Improvement Act funds. The Science P.L.U.S. Institute is only one of many programs throughout the state supported by theses sales tax funds.