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NSTA’s K–12 Science Education Journals: December 2014 Issues Online
The titles of this month’s journal articles from the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) are so fun, you may just feel like you’re getting an early holiday present when you read them: “Elephant Trunks and Dolphin Tails,R...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
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The way it's supposed to be…
I have been trying to incorporate more inquiry-based investigations into my biology curriculum. But the students are upset. They want to stick with the cookbook labs where they follow the procedure and complete a data table that I give them. —T., ...
By Mary Bigelow
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On OPB radio’s Think Out Loud interview segment, “Examining The Shortage Of Craft Workers In Oregon,” Dave Miller interviews trade industry experts...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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Our recent NSTA conference on science education in Long Beach, CA, was held in collaboration with the California Science Teachers Association (CSTA)....
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
Elementary science connections
Help! At my school, science is a special that my first graders go to once a week. I’m looking for integrated and engaging ideas for science that I could use during regular instruction. As most teachers know, time is precious, but I think it’s vit...
By Mary Bigelow
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What will happen if I…. Preparing an effective learning environment with help from Peep
I see it all the time, children wondering what will happen if I….push on this ball, let go of this ball, put this ball in water, or throw this ball? What will happen if I…touch the paper gently with the paintbrush, shake the paint brush, put the ...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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I Have Little Access to Professional Learning Programs Where I Live. Where Can I Turn to for Help?
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By Carole Hayward
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Recommend a resource for early childhood science and engineering education
Guidance for effective science and engineering teaching can be found in the NSTA position statement on Early Childhood Science Education. Materials for science and engineering science explorations, such as teacher resource books, can sup...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
#NSTA14 Long Beach: Highlights from the Hall
The Long Beach NSTA 2014 Area Conference on Science Education starts this week! We’ll be making ourselves at home at the Long Beach Convention Center in sunny California, December 4-6, 2014....
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
NSTA Members – Three Reasons We Are Thankful For YOU!
As we prepare the turkey and brave the elements (some of us) for those last minute ingredients we forgot, this time of the year we give thanks for family and friends. NSTA is no different – we are very thankful for our members and here are just a f...
By Teshia Birts, CAE
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The Lab Out Loud Podcast for Thanksgiving: Top 12 Science Celebrity Episodes Edition
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By Carole Hayward
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No Money in the School Budget to Attend the NSTA National Conference? Learn What You Can Do
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By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Teaching is my second career. I used to work for an environmental agency, but I’m having second thoughts about this switch. I took over for my cooperating teacher at the beginning of this marking period....
By Mary Bigelow
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Supporting children's interests
As we take a nature walk on the paths through a large garden area tended by church members, the children always want to “go to the pond.” This body of water is an 8’ by 10’ pool with pump-circulated water flowing from a raised area. We watch ...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
NSTA Has Made 25 Members Very Happy (and We Have Even More in Store)
A big shout out and congratulations to 25 NSTA members who recently renewed their membership for two years and won FREE registration to the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Chicago, March 12-15, 2015. The winners will also receive a $...
By Teshia Birts, CAE
Blog Post
NSTA journals: A goldmine for teachers
One of the perks of being an NSTA member is having access to all of the journals online. Regardless of the grade level you teach, the journals have ideas for authentic activities and investigations that can be used, adapted, or extended for different...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
NSTA’s K–College Science Education Journals: November 2014 Issues Online
Cause and effect, solutions to problems, analyzing and interpreting data, and quantitative reasoning… these are the subjects science teachers are writing about in this month’s K-College journals from NSTA. The November issues are online, ...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
Learn to engage students in scientific argumentation
A gallery walk gives students an opportunity to discuss claims and evidence...
By Claire Reinburg
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Addressing concerns about activity and healthy eating
What could be more fun that creating art while being physically active? An upcoming book by MaryAnn Kohl and Barbara Zaboroski shows how to do just that in ways that encourage children to make choices and control art medium in active ways....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Prepping for a pre-service teacher
I agreed to work with a student teacher next semester, and I’m looking forward to the experience. I teach three classes of biology and an AP class at the high school and two sections of middle school science. Should the student teacher take all...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
New from NSTA: Quick Reference Guides to the Next Generation Science Standards
In focus groups, science teachers tell NSTA staff members that time is their biggest challenge. We hear that again and again, and we listen! Many science educators are excited about the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and have begun to imple...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
As humans, we are driven to explore and explain our surroundings; we wonder about the things we see and try to figure out how and why they appear the way they do and what some of the underlying mechanisms might be that drive what we see in the world....
By Guest Blogger
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Patterns: a crosscutting concept
Children notice patterns in nature in small moments as they play in natural areas and find a new kind of leaf, or suddenly realize one morning that they are leaving for school before the sun comes up. Did that happen recently with any of your childre...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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Hesitate to Participate? Part 2
In a previous blog, a teacher posed a question about getting her students to participate in discussions. She shared her experiences in trying the strategies suggested by our colleagues and her reflections on the results:...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
K-12 Primer on the Midterm Elections and Everybody’s Talking about Testing
There is plenty of discussion this week on what’s ahead for education and science as Americans head to the polls on November 4, and the testing/accountability issue is really moving to the front burner as major players in education—including Pres...
By Jodi Peterson
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The Echo Meter Touch is a hardware module (with ultrasonic microphone) and software app that work together to let you monitor, record, and analyze bat echolocation. The module plugs into the power port of an Apple iPhone or iPad. Considering that bat...
By Ken Roberts
Blog Post
#NSTA14 Orlando: Highlights From the Hall
We’re just one short week away from the Orlando NSTA 2014 Area Conference on Science Education. We’ll be making ourselves at home at the Orange County Convention Center in sunny Orlando, Florida, November 6–8, 2014....
By Guest Blogger
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Why Did Mrs. Carter Ask a Science Teacher to Create a Butterfly Garden?
It’s not every day that a science-teacher-turned-author gets the call that a former first lady of the United States could use his help. When that happened to me, I was uncertain if I would have anything to offer someone of Mrs. Carter’s stature....
By Guest Blogger
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I know this is a rare problem: quiet kids. But what suggestions do you have for a ninth-grade class that is made up predominately of students who seem to be unwilling (or unable) to share thoughts or ask questions during class discussion. They’...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
We often discuss differentiated or individualized instruction being important for students and then provide “one-size-fits-all” professional development for educators – the entire range from K-12. At one point in a previous article, I wrote “...
By Christine Royce
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A clear vision supported by specific plans is critical to the success of any organization....
By Bill Badders
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I’ve Been Hired as a Science Teacher, but I’m Not Certified to Teach Science. Help!
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By Carole Hayward
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The Best Way to Answer Kids' Questions, and Other Things I Learned at #NSTA14 Richmond
When you bring a bunch of science teachers together, the most amazing, surprising connections are made....
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
Richmond, Virginia and science in early childhood 2014 NSTA area conference
Here are some glimpses from the NSTA 2014 Richmond, Virginia area conference where teachers shared their work and learned from others. The location is excellent—beautiful train station, hotels just across the street from the convention center, easy...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Crosscutting Concepts in NSTA Journals
The more I learn about NGSS, the more I’m intrigued by the crosscutting concepts. These concepts are the big ideas that transcend and connect the core ideas and processes within and in between traditional subject areas....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Observe. Everything. Young children, Science Friday and walks in nature
Why is a spider hanging out on a flower? Two-year-old children observed this spider but haven’t yet asked a question about it. Give them time. #ObserveEverything...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
This era of AYP (annual yearly progress) and the pressure to meet AMAOs for English Language Learners (ELLs) has fueled our current focus on academic language goals, often framed as vocabulary or discrete elements of grammar....
By Guest Blogger