We too have made a big effort to offer Expository Writing and Science
Notebook classes. The SRT doing this has a masters in English and was an
editor of science writing (life science) in a past life. She is coming up
with some remarkable strategies to help children focus and think deeply about
their science writing even the most reluctant writers, ESL and Special Ed
children. Her work is making a big impact in our district and is beginning
to ripple out around the state and ripple out from the Exploratorium in San
Francisco. She is quite brilliant in her work, a cut above most, and we are
fortunate to have her.

This expository writing is helping to get more teachers to take science more
seriously as well as central office folks. We are in contact with Dr.
Klentschy and have had him speak here on three different occasions.

Thanks for the comment about my question. I think we are trying to pull
everything out of the hat to make sure we sustain. For our n0-cost 6th year,
our district has generously provided some extra funds so that we can have a
full service year. There are just many challenges about who does what in
central office and who influences and says who should be doing what -- kind
of power and control issues that become challenging. We have an extaordinary
community that puts incredible and gentle and sometimes not so gentle
pressure on our district. And we have a world famous scientist who helped us
get this grant in the first place. Once someone said he is one of the best
fund raisers in the world. He also has a wife who helps us immensely. Both
he and his wife are very powerful and have very strong leadership skills.
They will not let this go away. So, in spite of the many challenges and
sleepless nights, I think we will be able to make it, at least in part.

This is such an interesting way to have a conference. I wish I had more
time. I think this weekend I will.

Thank you for your creativity here!
Elaine