JoinAll Blog Posts
Blog Post
Students in most of my classes actively participate. But in one freshman class, students are engaged in labs, but they just stare at me during class discussions. I ask open-ended questions a lot and make an effort to get students involved. How can I ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
When early childhood educators conference & talk about science education
The National Science Teachers Association’s annual conference brings educators from many places in the world together to build their science teaching skills, science content, reaffirm connections with colleagues and make new connections....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Enhanced E-books Student Editions, Part 3: Learn How to Order and Access Them
In our earlier posts, we shared the many topics available and how teachers are using the student editions. In this post, we’ll share how to order the student editions and how students, teachers, and administrators can access and use the e-books....
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
#NSTA17: The Importance of the Collaborative Community
This is an interesting and challenging time to be a science, engineering and/or STEM educator. Time, funding, support….all play into a complicated dance of priorities and resources. This is EXACTLY why the collaboration that happens at events like ...
By Korei Martin
Blog Post
At Brookwood School in Manchester, Massachusetts, Rich Lehrer, the school’s innovation coordinator, discusses the phalanges of prosthetic hands. Photo by David Oxton...
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
The Early Childhood STEM Institute
Guest blogger Cindy Hoisington is a Senior Curriculum/Instructional Design Associate with Education Development Center. Hoisington believes that authentic, cognitively challenging science experiences can be transformative for young children....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
This week in education news, climate change skeptic group seeks to influence 200,000 teachers; some California schools are trading the blacktop for greentop; New Mexico schools continue to teach outdated science while new standards sit on the shelf;...
By Kate Falk
Blog Post
STEM Sims: The Multicolored Dice
STEM Sims: The Multicolored Dice Introduction...
By Edwin P. Christmann
Blog Post
Only at NSTA's LA National Conference
I think one of the hardest things about attending the NSTA National Conference is know just where to be—attending one of the numerous presentations, taking part in a field trip, checking out the exhibit hall, joining a networking event....
By Lynn Petrinjak
Blog Post
California Dreaming… #NSTA17 Is Finally Here!
I arrived in the City of Angels Wednesday afternoon to find a whole lot of equally enthusiastic #NSTA17 conference attendees. This is a HUGE deal, and we have a huge number of choices. I’m focusing on the engineering end of the spectrum—as a...
By Guest Blogger
Blog Post
Enhanced E-books Student Editions, Part 2: What Teachers Have to Say About Them
NSTA recently launched e-Books+ Student Editions. In Part 1, we provided information on what the student editions include and the full range of topics available. In this post, we’ll share what teachers have to say about the new student editions and...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
I’m preparing to be a chemistry teacher. In addition to chemistry and teacher prep classes, what else should I study to become an effective teacher? More math or physics? —T., Colorado...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
New NAP Publication Helps Teachers Assess 3-Dimensional Learning in the Classroom
Seeing Students Learn Science...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
The @STEMninjaneer Guide to #NSTA17 Los Angeles
This week I’m headed to the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in LA, where I’ll be blogging and tweeting about all things engineering and STEM! As an engineering educator, I am keenly interested in helping to prepare our ...
By Guest Blogger
Blog Post
Stand for Students, Stand for Science
Since the founding of our country, indeed since the beginning of western democracy, being well-informed includes being well-informed about science. “Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government,” said T...
By David Evans, NSTA Executive Director
Blog Post
Experiencing nature–educators make it happen for children and other teachers
Nature play and exploration varies in early childhood (broadly: infant to grade 3) programs and are subject to the local and state licensing regulations, a program’s choice of curriculum, the local environment and weather, and the support of th...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Ed News: How Many U.S. Students Are Taught By Qualified Teachers?
This week in education news, education programs could still be vulnerable in President Trump’s budget; most U.S. public school students are taught by qualified teachers; and utility-value intervention with parents increases students’ STEM prepar...
By Kate Falk
Blog Post
I have several students in my biology classes who are very disruptive. I know I should contact their parents, but as a new teacher I’ve never done this. How I should handle this? —C., California...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
NSTA recently launched e-Books+ Student Editions. In addition to the impressive array of topics, the student editions come with the tools that allow teachers to manage their students’ learning in useful ways....
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Career of the Month: Fire Protection Engineer
Fire protection engineers help protect people from fire and explosion hazards by ensuring that buildings have adequate exits, that flammable substances are controlled, and that everyone operating near such hazards takes necessary precautions. Nancy ...
By sstuckey
Blog Post
Next Gen Navigator Makes Its Debut
NSTA is all about supporting teachers in understanding and implementing three-dimensional instruction in their classrooms. The first edition of the Next Gen Navigator, a new monthly e-newsletter from the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) o...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
On the journey to NGSS, follow the path that works for you
Every teacher of science in a school in which NGSS is being implemented is engaged in a transition to standards that are very different from what they are familiar with. This can spark many emotions, including excitement, fear, inspiration, fear, and...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
Permission to stumble on the road to successful implementation of NGSS
So what’s the connection between growth mindset and NGSS? It begins with our own mindsets. We need to know that the implementation of NGSS will be hard work. We will struggle, have a small success, then find ourselves back in the struggle again. Fo...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
The Green Room: How Climate Change Affects Our Diet
Last year was the warmest year on record. Consequences of a warmer world include melting glaciers, rising sea levels, droughts, flooding, heat waves, and extreme weather. But how does climate change affect our food?...
By sstuckey
Blog Post
Trump Releases “Skinny Budget” for FY2018
Administration’s Proposal Funds School Choice, Eliminates ESSA Title II and Afterschool Programs President Trump released his “skinny budget” on Thursday, March 16 and as expected, the budget increases defense and security but cuts fundi...
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
The Association of American Publishers PreK–12 Learning Group has just announced 2017’s winners of the prestigious REVERE Awards, education publishing’s highest honors. The 2017 REVERE Awards honor print and electronic resources for PreK–12 t...
By Claire Reinburg
Blog Post
Ed News: Girls Draw Even With Boys In High School STEM Classes
This week in education news, girls now make up about half the enrollment in high school STEM classes; new proposed California bill would exempt teachers from paying state income taxes; U.S. Education Secretary releases new ESSA guidelines; results o...
By Kate Falk
Blog Post
Ideas and inspiration from NSTA’s March 2017 K-12 journals
Regardless of what grade level you teach, you the resources in this month’s journals can help make this summer’s eclipse a memorable occasion for your students. Not all students will be back to school on August 21, so this spring is a goo...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Focus on Physics: Teaching Physics as the Rules of Nature
We all know that to enjoy a game, you must know the rules of the game. Likewise, to appreciate—and even comprehend—your environment, you must understand the rules of nature. Physics is the study of these rules, which show how everything in natur...
By sstuckey
Blog Post
Science 2.0: Help Students Become Global Collaborators
One day Jared was teaching about the boiling points of common liquids. The year was 1999, and students had to take his word for it when he said those points would vary slightly in the mountains of Nepal versus coastal Miami. Imagine if those student...
By sstuckey
Blog Post
Videographing with The PocketLab: Experimental Imagination Unplugged
Imagine a little white box of about 30 cubic centimeters or a third of the size of a deck of cards. And only 23 grams. Now imagine that that little box can effortlessly and wirelessly measure and share data about motion, acceleration, angular velocit...
By Martin Horejsi
Blog Post
Setting personal and professional priorities
I teach fifth and sixth grade science, and I’m finding it hard to balance teaching, grad school, and family responsibilities. Are there any secrets for this? —E., Washington...
By Mary Bigelow
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Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing March 15 to Focus on STEM Education
Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing March 15 to Focus on STEM Education...
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
Ed News: New Research Supports Women In STEM
This week in education news, new research by the National Women’s Business Council supports women in STEM; David Berliner explains what is really happening in America’s public schools; Louisiana will phase new science standards into classroom by...
By Kate Falk
Blog Post
Building with blocks, building skills and memories
I still have the wooden unit blocks that were central to many of my childhood play scenarios. The wooden blocks did not stick or snap together so we had to consider balance and how to make a sturdy base to support our structures....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Learning to Read the Earth and Sky
Learning to Read the Earth and Sky: Explorations Supporting the NGSS by Russ Colson and Mary Colson is a new book from NSTA Press that helps teachers of grades 6-12 create lessons and activities aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGS...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Like science labs, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) labs require safety and security measures, with an emphasis on safety training, personal protective equipment (PPE), standard operating procedures, engineering controls, and supervi...
By Kenneth Roy
Blog Post
I’m a science teacher in a small district, and I’m curious about lessons that incorporate the three NGSS dimensions of and what they “look like.” Where can I find examples to share? —B., New Hampshire...
By Mary Bigelow