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Help Us Name NSTA’s New NGSS Newsletter
Science teachers, you’ve spoken up about your Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) implementation needs, and NSTA has listened. Thanks to the input of many of you, NSTA is moving forward on a new resource to help you get your arms around the ex...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
Trump’s Pick for Education Secretary and Changes on Capitol Hill
As widely reported, President-elect Trump has nominated Betsy DeVos to be the next U.S. Secretary of Education. DeVos, 58, chaired the American Federation for Children, an advocacy group that has aggressively pushed to expand charter schools and scho...
By Kate Falk
Blog Post
Take 20 Percent Off the Top 20 NSTA Press Titles for 20 Days
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By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
The seasonal decline in the amount of direct sunlight in North America is bringing an end to my garden growing season. The leaves of deciduous trees in my region are mostly off the trees now. Children have been helping rake them into big piles to ju...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
I have a degree in biology and teach high school. Although I love teaching at this level, I miss doing real scientific work myself. Any suggestions on how I can still stay engaged and current in science? —T., Illinois...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Four New Books for Young Scientists
Studies show that science is students’ favorite subject when they enter school for the first time. Why? Kids are curious and creative. They love asking questions based on their observations. They love discovering everything. When kids are young, th...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
I have a chance to contribute to the design of the science classrooms in a middle school. What should be on a “must-have” list? —S., Connecticut...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Ideas and inspiration from NSTA’s November K-12 journals
Educators at all levels will find ideas on helping students with Meeting the Challenges of Communicating Science in his month’s Science and Children. Many of the strategies can be adapted for other levels....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Positive environments: Early childhood education conferences
Two early childhood conferences I attended this month, a national conference and a local regional conference, were awash with sessions on science, STEM, and STEAM education. Although science education is my main focus, I enjoy attending conferences b...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Health Wise: Too Many Teens Have High Cholesterol
About one in five U.S. kids and teens ages 6 to 19 has abnormal cholesterol levels, according to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS 2015). And among the 16-to-19 age group, the number rises to more than one in four....
By sstuckey
Blog Post
What’s Ahead for Science and STEM Education in the Trump Administration?
With the election now in the rear view mirror, what’s ahead for education and science education in the new Administration? Short answer, it’s too early to tell. During the campaign, education was largely ignored, so the education priorities for t...
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
I’m a first-year biology teacher. How do I decide how many labs I could or should do each week. My colleagues have different ideas about this. —L., South Carolina...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
The Green Room: Losing Sight of Our Stars
Making Your Teaching More Environmentally Friendly Los Angeles at night...
By sstuckey
Blog Post
Dear President-Elect Trump: Make STEM a National Imperative
The presidential election last week surprised everyone, delighted some, and confounded quite a few. Wherever you landed on this spectrum post-election day, as teachers, there is one thing that we can all agree on: that we must work even harder now to...
By David Evans, NSTA Executive Director
Blog Post
Focus on Physics: The Moon Is Falling!
Sometimes it seems like everything is in free fall—the stock market, the value of your home, even your outlook for progress in the world. And now you learn this disturbing fact: The Moon is falling! And falling directly toward Earth! But you needn...
By sstuckey
Blog Post
New NSTA Infographic Explores How Today's Students Learn Science
As a member of the NSTA communications team, I often field questions from a wide variety of audiences—teachers, parents, school and district leaders, business leaders and reporters—about the exciting new developments in science teaching and learn...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
Equity in Science Education Begins in Prek
Welcome to my colleague Lauren Allen who co-authored this blog post. ...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
#NSTA16 Portland: Come and Get Your Swag!
At NSTA’s Portland conference today at the membership booth, we’re giving away tickets to our LA conference next spring, tweet shirts (while supplies last), and gift cards. And that’s what you can win before you even step into the e...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
Science 2.0: When Students Become Digital Citizens
Modern science learning requires the use of digital tools and a shift in teaching philosophy and pedagogy. The backbone to this shift rests in a skill that we’ve not yet addressed: digital citizenship....
By sstuckey
Blog Post
9 Housekeeping Tips for Science Educators
A clean lab is a safer lab. These nine housekeeping tips can help science teachers reduce the risk of lab accidents. 1. Location, location, location. Keep all lab equipment and materials in assigned places, such as cabinets and drawers, with label...
By Kenneth Roy
Blog Post
I need strategies to encourage students to ask their own questions. They answer mine and discuss topics, but when I ask them if they have any questions, I get a lot of blank looks. —A., Washington...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Science Lessons for the Next President—and Your Students
A recent feature in Science Magazine (21 Oct 2016) offers “Science lessons for the next president.” As I read the article I realized that these lessons exemplify the reason that all citizens need to be scientifically literate....
By David Evans, NSTA Executive Director
Blog Post
Bright Ideas for Middle Schoolers through the Bright Schools Competition!
Begin Developing your BRIGHT Schools Team The goal of the Bright Schools program is to create a learning experience that will help students, parents and teachers better understand the link among light, sleep and student health and performance....
By Guest Blogger
Blog Post
Science and the Star Wars Universe
When Rogue One: A Star Wars Story debuts next month, science teachers who use the Star Wars films in their classrooms will have another tool not just for teaching science, but also for integrating it with other subjects. The films “are a grea...
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
At the beginning of class, it takes my students a long time to settle down. We are wasting time as I try to get their attention. Any suggestions? –T., Maryland To take advantage of...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
When I was student teaching, I had some really good science lessons for second-graders that lasted about an hour. But now I have only a half-hour for science each day. I need suggestions for shorter lessons. – C., Colorado...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Tackling Scientific Problems and Pitching Engineering Solutions at #NSTA16 Columbus
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By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
Only at NSTA Minneapolis: #ToysForNerds
“Uh oh, someone hold me back #toysfornerds #ONLYatNSTA.” @SaraKDM sums up the joy of the thousands of science teachers who came together at NSTA’s area conference on science education in Minneapolis to do the things they rarely get ...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
Bring More Everyday Engineering into your classroom
A new book by NSTA Press helps middle school teachers incorporate engineering into their science classrooms. ...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
FLIR ONE Thermal Imaging Camera
Introduction The imaginations of middle school and high school students will be fully engaged in the science classroom with the FLIR ONE Thermal Imaging Camera. This camera’s thermal capabilities allow students to explore things invisible to the h...
By Edwin P. Christmann
Blog Post
I’m frustrated by my sixth graders. When they’re supposed to be working cooperatively, they are unfocused—it seems more like a social event. By middle school, shouldn’t students know how to work cooperatively? Or are they too imma...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Join the National Day of Action for Full Funding of ESSA Student Success
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By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
Computer Science Should Supplement, not Supplant Science Education
Computer science (CS) aficionados have a lot to celebrate recently....
By Guest Blogger
Blog Post
An Acknowledgment Form Is Safer Than a Contract
The school year is well under way. But before students enter science labs, they must turn in a safety acknowledgment form. After completing introductory safety training, as noted in NSTA’s Duty of Care (NSTA 2014), review and have students and t...
By Kenneth Roy