Teachers tackle summer AMSTI training
By Melanie Patterson
The North Jefferson News
A small group of teachers were as delighted as children Thursday as they used a classroom door to make a guitar.
It was just one string, but the instructor used it to teach a “physics of sound” module during the annual Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) training.
About 450 elementary and middle-school teachers attended the training North Jefferson Middle School June 8-19. High-school teachers attended AMSTI training at Oak Mountain High School.
The training was facilitated by the UAB AMSTI in-service site, directed by Karen Wood.
AMSTI is a program of the Alabama Department of Education. Its goal is to improve classroom teaching in the areas of math and science.
AMSTI changes teaching methods by focusing on hands-on learning and critical thinking.
Several schools in north Jefferson County teach using the AMSTI method, including Corner, Snow Rogers Elementary and Gardendale Elementary schools.
Also participating are all schools in the Mortimer Jordan feeder pattern: Warrior Elementary, Bryan Elementary, North Jefferson Middle and Mortimer Jordan High schools.
Most north Jefferson County schools have just completed their second phase of AMSTI training. At least 80 percent of a school’s teachers must agree to attend training for two summers in order for the school to become a fully-certified AMSTI school.
Bryan Elementary was the first school in the area to get on board with AMSTI, and has completed its third year of the program.
Bryan principal Debra Campbell is fully aware that all area schools are looking to her school as a gauge for how effective AMSTI really is.
However, Campbell said student test scores will not be available until August.
Snow Rogers Elementary principal Karen White said teachers at her school are excited to get into their classrooms to use their AMSTI training and materials.
“I’ve talked with Ellen Andrews (Gardendale Elementary principal), and teachers are coming to both of us excited to implement the training they have received,” said White. “Teachers are already making plans for how they will change their instruction.”
According to Campbell, teachers and students love the hands-on aspect of AMSTI. However, she said some parents are not as thrilled about it because it is different from they they were taught math and science.
“Some parents are concerned,” said Campbell. “But we’re in a different society now. We have to keep up with the world we’re in. We’re making the students think out of the box.”
Bryan Elementary has hosted “academic nights” for parents to help them understand the program.
According to Wood, there has been improvement across the state in math and science scores in schools that use AMSTI.
She said that 50 percent of schools across the state belong to the AMSTI program. The goal is 100-percent participation.
Last year, only 25 schools were accepted into the program, of 41 applications.
This year there were no new schools added because of proration in the state education budget.
AMSTI consists of three components: The two-week intensive summer institutes for two years; on-site support with AMSTI specialists; and professional development. AMSTI also provides all needed hands-on materials.