Nov. 15, 2007 07:36 AM  -  AZCentral.com

Submitted by Rebecca Heller, a communications consultant to the Arizona Foundation for Resource Education.

Dawn Koberstein, a math curriculum specialist at Frye Elementary School in Chandler, is one of the most energetic and upbeat educators you are ever likely to meet.

On Saturdays during the academic year you might find her leading teachers wearing waders into the Salt River to test the water quality, or whipping a net back and forth in an alfalfa field to collect insect pollinators as the leader of an expeditionary learning event.

Koberstein says she is on a mission to develop in students and teachers an "I can do math" attitude, and cross-curricular learning is the key.

"It's all about making connections," she said. "Kids are naturally excited about science. Math is a tool that helps scientists. Once they see science's connection with math, they get excited about math."

Scientists use math to answer questions by collecting, organizing and analyzing data and information. Using Arizona's natural resources as the context, Koberstein helps teachers see how they can leverage the connection through inquiry: "What would happen if . . . ?" and "I wonder what . . . ?"

During the week at Frye she oversees math and science education. She has worked in the Chandler Unified District for most of her 14 years as a teacher.

In addition to her duties as math facilitator, Koberstein teaches reading 90 minutes per day. She uses the opportunity to bring the natural world into the classroom through the material she chooses. A book about spiders or bats often will whet students' appetites to learn more about them. As a result children may become more curious and observant when they are outdoors.

Koberstein learned about water and electricity through an SRP partnership with her former school, which in turn led to her involvement with the Arizona Foundation for Resource Education. The nonprofit organization provides Arizona K-12 educators with free professional development training using natural resources as the context for teaching cross-curricular themes that align with Arizona's academic standards.

In her three years as an foundation faculty member, Koberstein has taught Arizona educators from throughout the state about power, water, home building, agriculture, kitchen-sink science, and research-based instructional best practices.

"As part of the AFRE faculty, I'm surrounded by people who are extremely knowledgeable and cutting edge," she said. "It allows me to continue to grow professionally."

Learning About Environment Gets Teachers Dirty: Workshop Participants Hope Students Benefit

Friday, June 12, 2009 12:51 PM

(Source: The Tribune)By Hayley Ringle, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.

Jun. 12--The two buckets of dirt and trash represented a small landfill, and a group of teachers Wednesday searched through the remains with a screen, little shovels and their hands to find the items buried there in February.

Half of a Styrofoam meat tray and a plastic bottle were easily found, while a turquoise Post-it note, cardboard shoe box lid and a swatch of a cotton terry dish towel were found in decomposing pieces. Two carrot tops, buried within the dirt and watered every several days to mimic rainwater, had completely decomposed.

...

Dawn Koberstein, a consultant with the foundation and the math facilitator at Chandler's Frye Elementary School, said the goal is to leave teachers with a better understanding of global climate change and its impact on the environment.

"It starts by teaching children because they are our future," Koberstein said. "The kids go home and tell their parents. That's where change happens. It's better to start young."

The first stop Wednesday was the Tri-Cities Landfill Generating Facility off state Route 87, also known as the Beeline Highway, in Scottsdale. The 4,000-kilowatt power plant is fueled by methane gas generated at the closed landfill. ...