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Wrapping Up the Old Year, Preparing for the New Year
We’ve heard that after the school year ends, many teachers spend time catching up on NSTA Reports articles they didn’t have a chance to read thoroughly earlier. To help you make the most of this precious downtime and prepare for the year ...
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
In the July 2012 Science & Children I wrote about establishing a “Teach and Tell” circle time at the beginning of the school year....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
At an NSTA conference this year, I got really charged up about using more inquiry with my students. But when I look at our curriculum, it’s full of traditional “cookbook” labs that we are required to do. How can I make time for inqu...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Getting more science teachers to model “doing” science
–Occasional commentary by Robert E. Yager (NSTA President, 1982-1983)...
By Robert Yager
Blog Post
Bright ideas for instruction and assessment
Several resources appeared on my iPad this morning that made me put my coffee mug down and read (rather than tag for later on). A few were mentioned on MSP2 (Middle School Portal 2–Math and Science Pathways). Even if you teach upper elementary ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Migration—It's all about navigation and timing
I wouldn’t call it a misconception, but my middle school science students had an incomplete understanding of migration. They all knew that “birds fly south in the winter,” but they didn’t realize that for many birds, our location ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
I’ve been one of the SciLinks “webwatchers” for quite a few years....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Next week: Professional development in the Washington, D.C. area (webcasted for all others)
The National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution will present professional development for early childhood educators on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 with a “Smithsonian Early Childhood Science Education Research Forum.” I’m so glad ...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Peggy Carlisle, new Director of the Preschool and Elementary Division
The National Science Teachers Association is an organization of many, contributing their talents towards understanding and promoting best practices in science education. NSTA is committed to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
I’d like to change my approach to learning vocabulary. Even when I ask students to write definitions in their own words, they don’t seem to understand the terms. Any suggestions? —Ryan, Fort Smith, Arkansas...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Not enough progress…but at least the right direction?
This month’s topic focuses on the NAEP results and the fact that while the results from the eighth graders knowledge of basic science test increased from 30% to 32% being rated “at or above proficient” the science education community does not f...
By Christine Royce
Blog Post
Sometimes I see articles and websites that cause me to reflect and ask my own questions, such as the Girls in STEM poster created by EngineeringDegree.net titled “Girls...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Chemistry Now, how atoms bond: ionic bonds
Atoms, molecules, protons, electrons, bonding. Nothing new there, so why don’t your students remember which is which and how it works? A question with many possible answers, but now, perhaps a solution! Use this learning package to introduce, revie...
By admin
Blog Post
One of my principals shared a comment at a faculty meeting: School is where old people do most of the work while the young people sit back and watch. His point was to start a discussion of how (and why) to engage students actively and help them assum...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Chemistry Now, wrapping up: chemistry of cellophane
Bizarre advertisement featuring stork holding baby wrapped in cellophane....
By admin