It all started with sadness for the TECHSCICHICK...
Unfortunately for me, and probably because I broke my streak of attending that 2018 conference, when I was accepted to present at CAST (my tenth presentation, by the way) I was told by the powers that be that due to a new program, which I will not mention here but it rhymes with bavid (no offense to bavid, I like bavid, but I love CAST), there was no longer funds to send me to the state Science convention, however, that they could possibly do a partial funding of the trip. So, sadly I tried to figure out a way to attend, knowing that the big issue would not be travel nor the registration, but actually hotel lodging which gets mighty expensive when you talk about the big five cities that host the event (Dallas, FT Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Austin) One day, as I sadly checked my daily email I found that my luck might change! I was surprised and hopeful to find a special offer from the Science Teachers Association of Texas, they were offering a limited number of scholarships to teachers who would like to attend CAST! I quickly sent in my application and after a month of patiently waiting and crossing my fingers and my toes I WON A STAT SCHOLARSHIP TO CAST2019 in DALLAS TEXAS!!!!
Are you kidding me? CAST is the nations biggest state Science conference, second only to the National Science Teachers Conference (NSTA)! You have heard the saying, "everything's big in Texas" right? Well we aren't kidding when we are talking about this conference! It is not unusual for this conference to host about 8,000 attendees to include teachers and Science leaders of all grade levels. This three day conference offers field trips, workshops, extended workshops and a vendor floor of over 200 Science related vendors and non-profit Science resources! It is the big pow-wow of Science, where all of the state affiliates actually hold their meetings and meet. Affiliates? Why yes, you see the Science Teachers Association of Texas is the umbrella organization to smaller affiliates like: the Texas Science Education Leadership Association (TSELA), the Texas Council of Elementary Science (TCES), the Texas Earth Science Teachers Association, the Texas Association of Biology Teachers and the list goes on and on. There is even an association for Informal Science Teachers (like Zoos, Museums, and other organizational people who do Science Education, but aren't at a public school) We all get together at this three ring circus in November and we eat, sleep and DO SCIENCE for three days straight (four days if you go to an affiliate meeting the day before, like I do) Its amazing!
Anyone can submit a proposal to present at CAST, so I encourage you, yes you, to present your awesome teaching ideas to fellow CAST attendees. The beauty of this conference is the ability to get ideas from people from all over the state on how to teach Science the Texas Way. Look, I'm not saying that Science occurs differently in Texas, but we all know that the Science TEKS are unique to our state and only a state local will understand our Science testing woes, so if you have a really cool lab that you want to share or a set of strategies that always works with kids, please share them because everyone is hungry for new ways to serve up Texas Science.
Okay so I have to tell you that I'm crazy about teaching Science and I like for my sessions to be hands-on, so unless I'm traveling along with a bunch of people who will allow me to use one of their suitcase allowances on Southwest Airlines, I usually drive to CAST and take my car so that I can bring along hands-on materials for my workshop. I am a CAST veteran presenter, so my sessions can have anywhere from 50-500 people depending on the venue and that is ok because I like a challenge. Actually if you are new at presenting STAT will probably start you off in a small room with limited seating unless you indicate that you can handle more people. I really want to encourage you to come! So back to my story, I drove with my daughter to Dallas (10 hours from Anthony Texas in El Paso) and finally we unload get settled into our room. From here everything is a blur!
First I attended the TSELA meeting which was held at the Perot Museum! I talk to and network with Science leaders from across the state. We experience a half day workshop on Social and Emotional Learning as well as hear state updates from the Texas Education Agency on the latest updates involving Science Education. Did you know that invitation is open to apply for TEKS Writing for the new set of Science Standards slated to be adopted in 2023?
Day 2, 3 and 4: CAST Dallas 2019
Thursday I attend the conference and experience workshops from fellow teachers, an enormous vendor floor and most importantly, I give back by presenting in the afternoon at an extended workshop from 1:30-3:30. In the evening we go back to the Perot Museum for a "Night at the Museum" Event courtesy of STEMScopes! Friday I attend an out of this world key note by George Couros and workshops, lots of workshops, hard to choose which ones to go to, but I'm trying to find different ways to blend technology with science and different ways to do data collections with kids so this helps me to narrow down my choices. Saturday? Well Saturday I spent talking to vendors, picking up goodies for my teachers, attending the rock raffle, Carolina raffle and Wards Science raffle (which I am pleased to say, I WON!!!) and attend one last session on how to make science puzzles in a workshop called "the Puzzler". I look at my health app on my phone and I think I walked the equivalent of across Texas at this conference. My feet are sore, my car is full, and I'm ready to head back home!
Whew!! That's a lot, and I didn't even do it justice! You have to go! You just have to...
A great way to get to go... Put in your proposal to present at CAST 2020! Represent your school, your district, your region, or maybe just represent you. You deserve it!
And last but certainly not least, THANK YOU STAT for sending me to CAST 2019 this year! It was amazing and I thank you!