The Safety Component in Lab Renovations and New Construction

Blog Post | June 2018

  As states continue to adopt the Next Generation Science Standards and STEM curricula programs, science teachers will be asked to engage students in a way that requires specific lab facilities. The demands of…

Ed News: Is STEM Getting ‘IT’ Right For Female Students?

Blog Post | June 2018

This week in education news, New Jersey governor announces new measures to help keep STEM college graduates in the state; more must be do in U.S. schools to increase the number of women represented in STEM careers;…

New Committee Members Get Ready to Contribute Their Voice and Join Dedicated NSTA Members in Service

Blog Post | June 2018

On June 1, 2018, new committee, advisory board, and panel members begin their term of office in service to NSTA over the next three years. As they do so, I would like to welcome each of them on behalf of the National…

Be My Guest!

Blog Post | June 2018

Treasurer Rios Guest Teaching Personal Finance I’ve read about inviting guests into the classrooms for a day. Would you recommend that for a new teacher or would it be best for students to see me as the expert initially…

Ed News: Lab Coats Help Students See Themselves As Future Scientists

Blog Post | June 2018

This week in education news, boosting student interest in STEM is important if we want to win the STEM race; there is an increase in STEM-related toys; U.S. Dept. of Education launches comprehensive internal review of…

Find Out What Your Students Really Think and Have Inside Their Heads

Blog Post | May 2018

Uncovering Student Ideas in Science: 25 Formative Assessment Probes, Volume 1, Second Edition by Page Keeley offers a variety of formative assessment probes that will help teachers gain insight into students’ thinking…

“Is it summer yet?”

Blog Post | May 2018

Shadows can be explored outdoors all year long. Your children may have declared, “It’s summer!” if they have noticed the rising air temperatures as measured with a thermometer or as sensed in a relative way (freezing-…

Vision and Leadership

Blog Post | May 2018

I have applied to multiple teaching programs for my time after college, but I’m worried that I look too young to be taken seriously as a teacher. How do you gain the respect of students who may not be much younger than…

Learning through online presentations: STEM in 11 parts

Blog Post | May 2018

How does online learning through watching a webinar work for you? I am most engaged when I am able to participate in a live session where presenters might respond directly to my typed questions. But that means I have to…

Ed News: Unlocking STEM Pathways for All Students

Blog Post | May 2018

This week in education news, teacher-student relationships are important in boosting student learning; high schools across the nation are adding competitive video-gaming to its list of extracurricular activities for…

Out with the old, in with the new?

Blog Post | May 2018

I am about to graduate and become a new teacher. Is it a good idea to use lesson plans that are handed to me and maybe need to be tweaked or is it better to write brand new lesson plans each year? —G., Florida…

The 'M' in STEM

Blog Post | May 2018

“Mathematics is a tool that is key to understanding science.” NGSS Lead States. 2013. Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. How many? How soon? How big?…

Power Tool Safety in Science Labs

Blog Post | May 2018

The use of power tools, such as table saws, drill presses, and miter saws, is becoming more common in science and STEM laboratories. All power tools have special mechanical and non-mechanical safety hazards that can…

I Can’t, in My Heart, Go Back to Our Old Curriculum

Blog Post | May 2018

That was my response this week at our middle school science staff meeting.  We’ve spent the last two school years exploring the new Michigan standards (which are identical to NGSS) and trying out units from…

What a Misplaced Mattress Teaches Kids About Scientific Push and Pull Forces

Blog Post | May 2018

Good morning! Time to head out the door and start the day. Wait. What’s that thing up there in the tree? It’s … a bed. And it’s hanging upside down. Huh? How did that happen? So Begins a Delightful Mystery Curious…