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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
Blog Post
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
Blog Post
Preparing Science Teachers for High-Need Schools
Ella Bonah (left), a teacher at Tyner Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee, completed an apprenticeship through Project Inspire, a program that prepares teachers for positions in high-need schools. (photo by David Humber)...
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
Ed News: Idaho Legislature Approves New Science Standards that Omit Climate Change
This week in education news, the Idaho Senate Education Committee approved new science standards that omit climate change; more states introduce bills that interfere with science education; 100Kin10 renews its call to support STEM teachers; and a ne...
By Kate Falk
Blog Post
ESSA—What’s in YOUR State Plan?
States stakeholders are working now to develop plans to implement the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). These state plans will include new guidelines for accountability and much more. Plans are due to the U.S. Department of Education in eith...
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
10 NSTA Conference Sessions that Will Turn Your World Upside Down
Ready for something completely different? Ready to love science teaching even more?...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
"Iron Science" students
I used to assign projects for students to complete at home. But I’m now at a middle school where many students do not have access to materials and resources outside of class. I need alternatives for in-class projects! –A., Colorado In-class...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Some of my students have little experience in lab investigations. My colleague suggested I “scaffold” my instruction to help them develop lab skills, but I’m not sure what that would look like. —C., Virginia...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Ed News: Teachers Eye Potential of Virtual Reality
This week in education news, teachers eye potential of virtual reality; schools zoom in on STEM equity; Louisiana considers new science standards; South Dakota’s antiscience bill is stopped; and Idaho teachers, parents, and scientists urged lawmak...
By Kate Falk
Blog Post
Maple trees and squirrels: a relationship
The Silver maple tree is flowering, early for the season in my region, but right on schedule for the way the season is unfolding this year. Although the flowers are tiny, the details can be seen with a magnifier....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
What's So Special About Disciplinary Core Ideas? (Part 3)
DCIs Develop Across Time...
By Joe Krajcik
Blog Post
Ideas and inspiration from NSTA’s February 2017 K-12 journals
All three journals this month include the inaugural Best STEM Books for Students K–12 with descriptions and reviews. The rubric and criteria used in selecting these books is also provided. Share it with your librarian, too. Crowdfunding for Element...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Using Science and Engineering Practices in the Classroom
Helping Students Make Sense of the World Using Next Generation Science and Engineering Practices provides an in-depth understanding of the practices strand of A Framework for K–12 Science Education (Framework) and the Next Generation Science Standa...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
The Most Profound News of Valentine’s Day 2017
This Valentine’s Day, while most media attention was focused on the dismissal of the National Security Advisor, The New York Times ran a story that received much less media attention, but has far greater potential impact on our nation’s future....
By David Evans, NSTA Executive Director