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Blog Post
As a K-12 science department chair, I’m looking for professional development (PD) opportunities for our teachers. It’s hard to find speakers and programs for a small group. We have a very small budget, so traveling for conferences is not ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Attend a conference, virtually
I remember the first time I attended a professional association conference when I was a child care provider beginning my career and was thrilled to be among so many educators who were passionate about improving themselves professionally. If you can�...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Each month in NSTA’s Science and Children journal, Bill Robertson* writes an informational article on a science concept. These “background boosters” present content information in an easy-to-read format with many illustrations and a...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Senate Passes Bill to Fund FY2017 ED Programs
Senate Passes Bill to Fund FY2017 ED Programs...
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
Welcome to the NSTA Safety Blog
As NSTA’s chief science safety compliance adviser, I look forward to sharing the latest safety compliance information, while helping teachers solve safety-related problems and issues in the classroom, lab, and maker space. I’m also looking forwar...
By Kenneth Roy
Blog Post
There’s a lot of talk about using data to drive teaching and learning, but what data and how should these numbers be used?...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
I recently read an article about having students “reflect” on their work. I’m not sure what the value would be. What would this look like in a science class? –G., Ohio...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Beginning-of-the-year explorations: get them ready for fall
If you have not yet packed up for the summer break, consider picking out two or three lessons to begin the next school year. Choose the resources that will guide you, scan or read them, and pack them up along with the materials students will need so ...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
10 Sessions a High School Educator Needs to Attend at the STEM Forum & Expo
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By Korei Martin
Blog Post
10 Sessions at the STEM Forum & Expo for Every Middle School Teacher
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By Korei Martin
Blog Post
Foster STEM in Young Children with these 10 Sessions at the STEM Forum & Expo
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By Korei Martin
Blog Post
10 Sessions at the STEM Forum & Expo that show the Importance of Partnerships
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By Korei Martin
Blog Post
10 Upper Elementary Sessions at the 2016 STEM Forum and Expo
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
Establishing close communication with families is an objective for early childhood educators and the programs they work in (NAEYC, ECERS-R, Head Start). You might be connecting with family members when greeting children at the door...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Are You and Your Students Ready for the Astronomical Event of the Decade?
On August 21, 2017, the United States will be treated to the first total eclipse of the Sun visible in the country in almost 40 years. ...
By Guest Blogger
Blog Post
Sound inquiry–open exploration and direct teaching?
As early childhood educators, no matter what program we teach in or administer, we want to help children build knowledge of the world through experiences, teacher-supported investigations, and direct teaching. A conversation I had recently with a tea...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Calls for Papers for NSTA Journals
Do you have a great science teaching idea you want to share with peers? If so, consider writing for NSTA’s journals. Calls for papers for NSTA’s science education journals are online. The NSTA journals cover all grade levels, so no matte...
By Korei Martin
Blog Post
Should I present at a conference?
My colleagues and I recently attended an NSTA conference. On the way home as we discussed what we learned, they suggested I share some of the successful activities I do in the classroom, but I’m not sure that others would be interested. Plus, I’d...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
NSTA President Carolyn Hayes Says Thank You to Our Volunteers
On behalf of the staff of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and our leadership team, I would like to thank the following members of our Board, Council, Standing Committees, Advisory Boards, and Panels whose terms of appointment end on ...
By Guest Blogger
Blog Post
ESSA Webinar and Rally on Capitol Hill
Update on Every Student Succeeds Act...
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
Would you like to inspire students to be better writers while you incorporate new strategies into your teaching to assess their scientific understanding? Katie Coppens’ new NSTA Press book, Creative Writing in Science, provides engaging literary ex...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Questions and discussions about safety are often seen in the NSTA e-mail listserves and discussion forums. Each month, columns on safety in the science classroom/lab are featured in NSTA’s Science Scope (Scope on Safety) and The Science Teacher (Sa...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
The last days of the school year
I’m looking for suggestions for what to do during the last week of school, after final exams are over. I teach high school chemistry. —T., Maryland...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Using museums, the community and playfulness to bring STEM concepts to life
Please welcome guest blogger, Brooke Shoemaker, who brings her museum education expertise to The Early Years blog. Brooke was a pre-k classroom educator at the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (SEEC) in Washington, D.C. for four years, before jo...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
#OrganelleWars: A Model for Using Social Media in the Science Classroom
Given the current political fervor over the candidacies of the people attempting to become our next president, now seemed like a good time to revisit one of the most successful projects I have had the good fortune of incorporating into my freshman b...
By Guest Blogger
Blog Post
Looking for free resources and finding many worthy webinars and articles
It is always a thrill to meet the authors who have written the articles in Science and Children that I’ve found so helpful, and useful enough to share....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
I’m looking for suggestions on how to have class discussions that are meaningful and help students with our learning goals, especially discussing current events or the results of our investigations. Sometimes it goes off-topic or students don’t l...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
The best education resources of 2016 just announced
This week, the Association of American Publishers PreK–12 Learning Group announced the year’s top learning resources, its 50th year of providing this service to the education community....
By Claire Reinburg
Blog Post
Teacher Appreciation Week, ESSA, and More
There has been a good deal of activity at the Department of Education with the ESSA and on Capitol Hill recently....
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
Ideas and information from NSTA's April/May K-12 journals
This month, all three K-12 journals include the article Addressing Student Diversity and Equity. Another must-read article for all science teachers!...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
We are excited about attending an NSTA conference next year (it would be our first conference). The school has professional development funds to cover some of the expenses, but we have to write a proposal describing what we hope to learn from it. Any...
By Mary Bigelow