Welcome to Brainstorms!, the monthly e-newsletter of the MSU Science Math Resource Center. We share cool opportunities for Montana STEM educators of all grade levels, subjects and settings, including upcoming professional development workshops through MSU and our partners; grant applications and STEM resources; STEM events and contests for students; and more.
Please forward to a colleague and encourage them to subscribe – including your school administrators and school counselors, too! For questions or ideas, contact the MSU Science Math Resource Center.
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Math competitions come to MSU in November | |
American Mathematics Competitions 10/12 set for Nov. 6 and 12 at MSU; AMC8 in January 2025
The AMC, organized by the Mathematics Association of America (MAA), are a series of three tests aimed at middle and high school students in grades 7-12. These tests focus on developing students' problem-solving skills and content knowledge. The Science Math Resource Center hosts these competitions at MSU at no charge to participants. AMC 10/12 are high-school level competitions, and AMC8 offers challenging questions up through 8th grade.
AMC 10/12 A: Nov. 6, 2024 - 4pm
AMC 10/12 B: Nov. 12, 2024 - 10:30am
AMC 8: Jan. 23, 2025 - 4:30pm
Registration is now open for the AMC 10/12 events. Teachers who are interested in bringing a group of students should contact Jill Joyce at smrc@montana.edu
To get updates on AMC and other upcoming math events, sign up for the Montana Math Circle Newsletter
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Science Olympiad kick-off for coaches is Nov. 6 at 4pm - find out why this is a great program to bring to your school!
The Montana Science Olympiad State Tournament will be held at MSU-Bozeman on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, and registration is now open through Jan. 31.
In this team-based competition, middle and high school students from across Montana compete in 30 STEM events including Anatomy & Physiology, Fossils, Optics, Wind Power, Tower building, Codebusters, and more. The event at MSU also includes a free STEM night at the Museum of the Rockies, as well as opportunities to explore MSU’s labs and classrooms while meeting students and faculty in various STEM fields.
New coaches can visit Getting Started in Science Olympiad. An online presentation will be held Nov. 6 and will be particularly helpful for new coaches.
For more information, visit the Montana Science Olympiad website or email mtscioly@montana.edu
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Join Montana's STEM Ecosystem and save the date for Montana STEM Summit 2025
The Science Math Resource Center and many other organizations are supporting the new Montana STEM Ecosystem to gain a network of support for STEM in Montana. You can join for free, too!
And save the date!
The biennial Montana STEM Summit will be hosted April 3, 2025 in Helena
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See you at the MFPE meeting Oct. 17-18
Come say hello to the SMRC staff and partners as we present at MFPE in Bozeman
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Five ways the MSU Science Math Resource Center can support YOU - Thursday, Oct. 17, 10am
How (and Why) to Bring Science Olympiad to Your School
Thursday, Oct. 17, 2pm
Please also support the Aspiring Educators of MSU:
Inspiring Through Example: The 5 Rules by club officer Rebecca Cross - Thursday, Oct. 17, 4pm
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Proficiency-Based Education: Shifting Toward a Student-Centered Model
Friday, Oct. 18, All-day workshop
The Need for Photonics and Quantum Introduction at the Secondary Level
Friday, Oct 18, 8am
SMART FIRES: K-12 Educational Content on Fire Science, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence
Friday, Oct. 18, Noon
New Perspectives on the Teaching Profession from the MSU Aspiring Educators officers team
Friday, Oct. 18, 1pm
Exploring Our World with Mathematical Models
Friday, Oct. 18, 3pm
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Montana Science Teachers at MFPE | |
MSTA New Teacher Breakfast – Thursday, Oct. 17, 8am: All new teachers are welcome! Meet fellow teachers from across the state and solidify connections that will support you in your career as you enjoy coffee and breakfast with MSTA officers and members. [FREE]
MSTA luncheon and business meeting – Thursday, Oct. 17, Noon: Join MSTA members for a networking luncheon and business meeting. Learn about issues and opportunities in science education and build community around current topics in Montana science classrooms. [$5 suggested donation]
MSTA Keynote Speaker: Brock LaMeres - Friday, Oct. 18, 11am: Preparing for Launch: Strategies to Engage the Next Generation of Scientists & Engineers
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Share-a-Thons for Chemistry, Earth Science, Elementary Science, Life Science, Middle School Science and Physics (scheduled throughout the day on Thursday): Share with, learn from, and collaborate with fellow instructors! Bring two of your favorite lesson plans or resources to share, learn new tips and ideas from colleagues, and go home with a dozen new ideas you can implement on Monday morning.
Plus many other excellent presentations and demonstrations by MSTA members. and new this year:
Cool T-shirts and stickers for sle!
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Save the date: The STEM Summer Institute is July 28-30, 2025 at MSU-Bozeman
Join us for Montana's premiere STEM conference for educators!
- Inspiring keynotes
- Networking and social events
- Exhibitor booths
- Lots of hands-on workshops by teachers, for teachers
- MSU Housing available at reduced rate
Presenter applications will open this spring.
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Free UM-accredited 1-credit course for Montana juniors, seniors, and college students: Montana Climate Resilience Stories (ENST 191).
- Meet experts in the field and explore your unique interests
- Develop storytelling skills and publish your story on mtclimaatestories.org
- Transferable credit to most institutions
Start Date: October 15, 2024
Duration: 15 hours [Meeting Times: 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/19, 12/10; 3:30-6:30pm]
Format: Online via Zoom
Cost: FREE
Find out more: Climate Course Info – Spaces are limited to 20 students across Montana!
Contact the course instructor: Dr. Paul Lachapelle, Professor of Political Science at MSU, Bozeman paul.lachapelle@montana.edu or 406.994.3620.
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MSU helps support the rural teacher shortage with a free program for high school students: Bridge to College
The goal of our program is to help address the rural teacher shortage by identifying individuals from rural communities who may be interested in becoming teachers, provide them with resources and training to help them navigate the transition to college as well as creating a community of peers.
Students who take part in the program have access to college navigation resources or topics such as writing an effective scholarship application", how to budget personal finances during college and how to create a sense of belonging at college.
There are two components to our program:
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The Future Rural Educators' Club - an online community with synchronous meetings that emphasizes teacher and leadership skill development and
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The Future Rural Educators' Summer Camp where rising juniors and seniors attend an on-campus camp for one week in the summer to gain teaching experience, connect with post-secondary services and take part in leadership activities.
Our program is open to any high school student in the state who wants to be a teacher, and commitment to MSU is not a requirement. Contact Marci Reuer at marcie.reuer@montana.edu
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Invention Montana: Shark Tank Meets Science Fair
Invent Montana brings innovation curriculum to K-12 inventors and entrepreneurs throughout the state of Montana. Students are asked to identify a unique problem in their world, build a solution to that problem, chronicle their journey to a successful solution, and present their invention to their peers and judges. Top Montana students advance to a multi-state virtual competition, whose winners then advance to RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals 2025, an in-person event where students from all over the country gather to showcase their inventions.
Montana signups are Jan 1-16, 2025. Parents and teachers get access to free curriculum. Optional free virtual training available to support parents and teachers.
Visit inventmontana.org or email hello@inventmontana.org
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Educator Resources and Partner Projects | |
Other Science Math Resource Center newsletters you may like:
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Montana Citizen Science Network (quarterly) - subscribe
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Montana Girls STEM News (quarterly) - subscribe
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Montana Mathematics Circle (monthly) - subscribe
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Quantum Education and Workforce Development - subscribe
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Science Olympiad Coaches' Corner (monthly) - subscribe
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Support a STEM educator and former high school chemistry teacher researching inquiry-based laboratory instructions in H.S. chemistry
Dr. Robert Bice, a former board member of the Georgia Science Teachers Association, is listening to educators and making recommendations for improvements/changes to chemistry education on a national and state level.
http://bit.ly/HSChemSurvey
Requirements:
- Have taught high school chemistry in the past three years
- Be 18 years or older
TWENTY $10 AMAZON GIFT CARDS will be given away as part of a drawing once the survey is closed (date TBD).
Dr. Robert Bice, Assistant Professor of Teacher Education (STEM), Berry College
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Welcome to new SMRC intern, Clara Jones!
Clara is a sophomore at Montana State University majoring in Secondary Education: General Science Broadfield. She is an officer in the Science Olympiad Club and works in the MSU History and Philosophy Department in addition to SMRC. Clara was raised in Kalispell and grew up with a love for Montana and the natural world. After she graduates, she hopes to become a high school science teacher and one day a professor of science at MSU.
As the Center's STEM Education Intern, Clara supports current and pre-service teachers, disseminates information about the Center and its partnerships, and helps spread STEM across Montana.
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For fun.....For over 50 years, the Landsat series of satellites have been observing Earth, capturing stunning images and essential data to help us study our planet’s changing surface.
Now, with a new online interactive tool, you can type in your name or a phrase, then view and export the graphic of your text spelled out in Earth features found in Landsat images!
Give it a try today! You can see our SMRC artwork above!
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Do you know a Montana STEM teacher interested in cool opportunities? Please share this newsletter so they can follow along for next year. Or, they can subscribe at bit.ly/smrc-news | | | | |