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Introducing guest blogger, Patty Born Selly
Who better to meet, in this winter season, than someone from Minnesota who shares her ideas on how to enjoy the outdoors with children in her blog, Small Wonders? (I especially enjoyed the post about wrestling with discussing possible truths about a ...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Interested in what using the NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) could look like in a classroom?...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Next Generation Science Standards–understanding based on "prior experiences"
A preK student acquires prior experience with sunlight needed to demonstrate understanding of NGSS Performance Expectations....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
As the editor notes, “You can’t just wing it” with middle-level science (or any level for that matter)....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Project based learning and the Next Generation Science Standards
Guest blog by Andrew Miller...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Scientific and engineering practices
If you’re concerned or apprehensive about the NGSS, this month’s Commentary Preparing for the New Standards should be on your to-read list....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
During the past few years, this blog has addressed several questions about formative assessments. These just-in-time assessments embedded in instruction help a teacher understand what students are learning, identify misconceptions, and adjust instruc...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
In the late fall as the weather alternated between 40°F and 70°F overnight, bumblebees sometimes got caught by cold temperatures and spent the night on the zinnia flowers in my garden....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
I attended an event where we cleaned out the science warehouse for our school system. I got a lot of great stuff for my elementary science classes, including a box of rock and mineral samples that have little stickers with letters or numbers. I’...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Earth structures, processes, and history
It’s not hard to get students interested in earth science. They can see the value of learning about the weather and climate, soil, water, tides, volcanoes, earthquakes. The featured articles this month highlight the processes that are all a...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Exploring natural and human-made materials
“I found these two rocks in the sandbox and I think they’re from a volcano.” Children like to share their special found objects and talk about where they came from and what they might be....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
When I was a child, one of my favorite toys was a set of wooden blocks, in a variety of shapes and sizes. We would play for hours, sometimes building models of structures and other times experimenting with designs and patterns. We also had Lincoln Lo...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Should I take a student teacher?
I was asked if I would take a student teacher. This would be my first one. What should I consider in making the decision? —Mark, Queens, New York...
By Mary Bigelow