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Scorpions, free materials, and more

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Scorpions, free materials, and more

One thing about attending a NSTA conference, you get to try local cuisine, as well as an occasional unusual treat. I just spoke to this teacher from Pittsburgh who told me he sampled a scorpion in the exhibit hall. The chef didn’t recommend any...

By Lynn Petrinjak

It's not just teachers…part 2

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It's not just teachers…part 2

In addition to science educators, you also run into some interesting characters… Some attendees have more than two legs...

By Mary Bigelow

NSTA—it's not just teachers!

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NSTA—it's not just teachers!

The name may be National Science Teachers Association, but our members—and conference presenters—are involved at all levels of education. Improving STEM Teaching and Education: A Superintendent’s Symposium featured four Bay-area sup...

By Lynn Petrinjak

Where else, indeed?

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Where else, indeed?

A sloth is just one of the unexpected sights in the NSTA exhibit hall!...

By Lynn Petrinjak

Where else?

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Where else?

I had an email from a former colleague who said that the conference must be a science teacher’s paradise. She’s right. Where else can you...

By Mary Bigelow

More of what attendees are saying

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More of what attendees are saying

I have talked to conference attendees and presenters who have come to San Francisco from all over the country. California, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and everywhere in between. Some are here for their first conference, others are attending ...

By Lynn Petrinjak

Getting an early start

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Getting an early start

It’s not quite 7 a.m. here in San Francisco, but it looks like a number of people are getting an early start. When I arrived at the conference center a few minutes ago, I saw several people headed in, apparently on their way to some early sessi...

By Lynn Petrinjak

Conference first-timers

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Conference first-timers

I went to a session this morning for conference first-timers, as a veteran conference-attender.  NSTA staff and office holders welcomed the “newbies” and guided them through a discussion of the many options for sessions and events. Each ...

By Mary Bigelow

Discussing standards

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Discussing standards

A panel discussion on the Next Generation of Science Education Standards with NSTA executive director Francis Eberle; Helen Quinn, chair of the board on Science Education, The National Academies in Menlo Park, California; and Stephen Pruitt, vice pre...

By Lynn Petrinjak

Talking about science education

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Talking about science education

It’s been a busy morning at the national conference. Although the exhibit hall didn’t open until 10 a.m., many sessions started much earlier. I had to chance to talk to some attendees between sessions and it sounds like everyone is looking fo...

By Lynn Petrinjak

And the award goes to…

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And the award goes to…

I just had the honor of being a guest at the NSELA breakfast—a star-studded event if I ever saw one in the science education community!...

By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director

At the conference

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At the conference

I’m finding it hard to believe that it was 25 years ago that I attended my first NSTA conference—here in San Francisco. I remember going home with lots of new ideas to improve my teaching, a ton of materials (no charge for checked bags th...

By Mary Bigelow

Should science be taught in a Spanish immersion class?

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Should science be taught in a Spanish immersion class?

You never know who you might meet in the airport. Another NSTA staffer and I were waiting for our flight at Dulles and discussing our plans to put our soon-to-be kindergartners in a Spanish immersion program. A woman in a nearby seat piped up that sh...

By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director

Child-initiated inquiry

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Child-initiated inquiry

Here’s a question for you, to help me understand the way science activities and science inquiry are developed in early childhood classrooms....

By Peggy Ashbrook

One day to go

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One day to go

Only one day to go until the national conference opens in San Francisco. On my way out I overheard some folks talking, apparently on their way to San Francisco for the conference. They were discussing what topics the conference needs more of, with ...

By Lynn Petrinjak

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