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Do you know STEM when you see it?
Jonathan Gerlach, an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator, discusses the difficulty of defining science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in this month’s NSTA Reports commentary. I’d like to know what educators ...
By Lynn Petrinjak
Blog Post
Our new principal does not have a background in science. What can we do to help her understand what science teaching and learning “looks like” and the challenges of teaching laboratory science? —Charles, Ohio...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Preservice teachers rock (and so do their advisors!)
Big kudos to the preservice and new teachers who participated in the first-ever Student/Student Chapter Showcase during the NSTA National Conference on Science Education. Over three days — March 29-31 — seven student teams provided nine...
By Teshia Birts, CAE
Blog Post
Sharing what I learned at the 2012 NSTA national conference
With spring break coming right after the conference my reporting has been delayed. There were many interesting sessions presenting and discussing many interesting ideas at the 2012 NSTA national conference in Indianapolis. Here are a few of the idea...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
More conference joy—available online too!
Thank you Council for Elementary Science and APAST, SEPA, the NSTA Committee on Preschool-Elementary Science Teaching, and Science and Children for the “Elementary Extravaganza”!...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Dedicated teachers willing to go the distance
I talk to teachers from all over the country during the national conference and am no longer surprised to find some who have traveled from distance corners of the nation. There also usually an international group. But once in a while, I’ll mee...
By Lynn Petrinjak
Blog Post
Attendees of the 2012 NSTA National Conference on Science Education used the free wi-fi to keep in touch with colleagues at the event and back home....
By Lynn Petrinjak
Blog Post
Long day, but they're still at it
A hands-on experience with a walking stick...
By Lynn Petrinjak
Blog Post
Indianapolis chemistry teacher Georgia Watson was enthusiastic about her experience today at the NSTA national conference. Not only did she present on her project-based forensic science program, but she also visited the exhibit hall, where she collec...
By Lynn Petrinjak
Blog Post
Educators want to know more about the NGSS Framework
Hundreds of teachers were eager to hear more about the Framework for the Next Generation Science Standards from NSTA Executive Director Francis Eberle and Stephen Pruitt of Achie...
By Lynn Petrinjak
Blog Post
Elementary educators' early morning
Elementary educators turned out in force for this special event just for them!...
By Lynn Petrinjak
Blog Post
Chris Triola "Put things in the hands of kids and watch what happens."...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
I talked to a couple science educators earlier today about why they came to the NSTA National Conference in Indianapolis. Indiana resident John Sellers was looking for ideas to add to his curriculum. Peter Garik, who presented a session on science ...
By Lynn Petrinjak
Blog Post
I’ve met conference attendees from all over—including Washington, Tennessee, North Carolina, as well as many from Indiana. But not all the attendees I’ve met have been of the human variety. In the exhibit hall, a possum, a pair of p...
By Lynn Petrinjak
Blog Post
Every NSTA conference has some things in common—particularly the crowd of people gathered outside the exhibit hall prior to the official opening....
By Lynn Petrinjak
Blog Post
At the 2012 national conference
Yesterday at the NSTA national conference was my treat for myself—the CESI Engineering Is Elementary Day. My father was a metallurgist, and later a ceramist....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
A fourth grade student was given a lengthy assignment that required much Internet “research.” I put the word research in quotes since the word was used, but not necessarily in the spirit of its traditional meaning let alone its direct implicat...
By Martin Horejsi
Blog Post
I am teaching the states of matter to first graders. I was looking for some demonstrations or hands-on activities to help the students understand the concept of a gas, since they can’t really see it. —Megan, Maryland...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Elementary Extravaganza Excitement
Don’t you just hate it when multiple conference sessions you want to attend are occurring simultaneously, or several blocks away from one another? If you are an elementary teacher, the “Elementary Extravaganza” will give you a break...
By ManagingEditorSC
Blog Post
Do you remember the book Play With Me, (Viking Press, 1955), written and illustrated by Marie Hall Ets about a child observing wildlife?...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Nature experiences and empathy—see the March issues of journals for early childhood educators
Both the NSTA journal Science and Children, and the NAEYC journal Youn...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
ChronoZoom: A real OMG moment in time!
What would happen if you could dive in and out of any particular moment of time within a brilliantly conceived visual interface that marries Prezi with the universe? Well, I’m not sure, but I bet it would look something like ChronoZoom....
By Martin Horejsi
Blog Post
The teachers on our team all have different homework policies which confuses our students and their parents. Do you have any suggestions to help us become more consistent? –Jacob from Virginia...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Addressing misconceptions in science
A significant challenge that science teachers face is how to help students successfully navigate the bridge from their existing ideas about science concepts to scientifically accepted views. A teacher who uncovers students’ preconceptions about key...
By Claire Reinburg
Blog Post
Are we in the midst of a STEM movement?
NSTA Executive Director Francis Eberle...
By Francis Eberle
Blog Post
This week we are featuring a post from guest blogger, Chuck Hempstead, MPA, CAE. Chuck is the Executive Director of the Science Teachers Association of Texas (an NSTA Chapter). Chuck also serves as President of Hempstead and Associates, a full-serv...
By Teshia Birts, CAE
Blog Post
LabQuest 2: The new iPad is not the only new "tablet" on the block
While much of the tablet-interested world was waiting for the latest iteration of the iPad to be announced today, there was another launch of a great looking “tablet” device yesterday. Vernier.com announced the next version of their LabQu...
By Martin Horejsi
Blog Post
TED.com provides “Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world,” as videos (streaming, downloadable, podcasts, etc.) captured during the conferences. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design. Here are some of my favorite...
By Martin Horejsi
Blog Post
I’m starting a long-term substitute position teaching high school chemistry until the end of the year. I’ve subbed for this teacher before, so I’m somewhat familiar with the school. But do you have any suggestions for starting in th...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
I’m a new teacher with six classes: four biology and two ecology. The teacher’s manual for my textbooks in these subjects have many interesting lab activities, but I am having difficulty selecting and organizing them. I feel like I live a...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
February's most-popular resources in the NSTA Science Store
Most Popular NSTA Press Books...
By Claire Reinburg