JoinAll Blog Posts
Blog Post
Do you have any ideas for faculty meetings for a new science department chairperson? I’m sure I can handle most of the responsibilities, but I’m terrified of leading meetings. —S., Indiana Facilitating a meeting is not unlike teaching a...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Relating weather watching to periodic nature events
Two-years-olds may be too young to remember the seasonal changes that happened in the last year but they are not too young to understand and talk about the natural changes that happen on a shorter time scale—the cycle of day and night....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Trump Budget Proposes Cuts in Education
President Trump’s budget is not expected out until Tuesday, May 23, but the Washington Post is reporting that the Administration is planning massive cuts to the U.S. Department of Education, and is proposing that another $1 billion be provide...
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
Build Your Middle Level STEM Repertoire This Summer at the 6th Annual STEM Forum & Expo
I want to personally invite as many middle level educators as possible to attend the 6th Annual STEM Forum & Expo, hosted by NSTA. This year’s roster of middle level sessions explores a wide array of STEM education professional development. NST...
By Korei Martin
Blog Post
Many of the chemicals on the Department of Homeland Security’s Anti-Terrorism Standards Chemicals of Interest List can be found in high school storerooms. These chemicals may be prone to theft and unauthorized lab experiments. Some terrorist websit...
By Kenneth Roy
Blog Post
Dive In! Immersion in Science Practices for High School Students
Are you ready to integrate science practices into your classroom?...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
I coach teachers at an elementary school. One teacher is trying to improve his science instruction (one of the school goals), but he’s struggling with classroom management and organization during class activities. I’ve shared some ideas, ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Ed News: The Search For A Middle Ground Between Teacher And Administrator
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By Kate Falk
Blog Post
The 6th Annual STEM Forum & Expo is the Place to Be for Upper Elementary Educators
Any and all upper elementary educators looking to build their repertoire of STEM knowledge would benefit from attending the 6th Annual STEM Forum & Expo. The Expo will be held in Kissimmee/Orlando, Florida from July 12-14. The event promises to...
By Korei Martin
Blog Post
I have some chemistry students who ask “Why do we have to learn this?” How can I address this other saying “you’ll need it in college.” —D., Delaware Why are we studying this? What good is this? ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Live! And recorded, music and nature
How is the experience of listening to, attending to, live music different from listening to a recording? I can be very moved by recorded music, moved to sing along or dance....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Congress (Finally) Approves FY2017 Budget
Although we are now more than half way through FY2017, as expected both the House and Senate passed, and President Trump signed into law, the bill for FY2017 appropriations before the May 5 deadline that would have closed the federal government. H...
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
Ed News: Helping Parents Understand The Next Generation Science Standards
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By Kate Falk
Blog Post
STEM Sims: Data Visualization Introduction...
By Edwin P. Christmann
Blog Post
Teaching About Science in the News
Tenth graders in Kathryn Kennedy’s science class at Prairie Seeds Academy in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, discuss current events related to a Bioethics unit. Photo credit: Kathryn Kennedy...
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
Focus on Physics: The Delightful Catenary Curve
Figure 1. A. Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris. B. St. Paul’s Cathedral, London....
By sstuckey
Blog Post
Early Childhood and Lower Elementary Teachers Need to Attend the 6th Annual STEM Forum & Expo
Come join us at the 6th Annual STEM Forum & Expo. It is the event where early childhood and lower elementary teachers need to be. It is a unique event where you will find a great deal of focused ideas on how to engage, nurture, and teach what our...
By Korei Martin
Blog Post
FY2017 Funding, Vouchers and More
First up—guidance you do not want to miss: Last week, the U.S. Department of Education issued a seven page memo detailing possible uses of federal funding through ESSA to support STEM education. The must-see document has helpful examples of ho...
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
Recently, there was a question about what to do when students were off-task. I conduct many professional development programs, and I could use some ideas to keep adult participants on-task! —T., Virginia...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Commentary: Going Beyond the Textbook
It has been said that science began “whenever and wherever [people] tried to solve the innumerable problems of life” (Sarton 1952). The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS Lead States 2013) call for the pursuit of scientific literacy for all...
By sstuckey
Blog Post
Ideas and inspiration from NSTA’s April 2017 K-12 journals
Two articles of interest to all K-12 teachers:...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Planning Three-Dimensional Instruction
Knowing that content material is most engaging when students can relate to it, I always begin my year with a student survey. The questions are designed to help me design lessons to be as student-focused as possible. Knowing my students’ interests a...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
Digging Deeper: Designing Solutions
This month’s Digging Deeper column for the Next Gen Navigator focuses on the practice of constructing explanations and designing solutions, and specifically the design process that addresses the engineering component of the Next Generation Science ...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
How I Came to Understand the Three Dimensions
When I first started teaching science, I taught the facts. I taught the nine planets (before Pluto got demoted; sorry, Pluto!), the steps of mitosis, and the workings of plate tectonics, for example. I was proud that I had students who could learn th...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
I recently took a teaching position, after several years in a different job. I thought I could create a calm, focused atmosphere in my middle school science classes, but some of my students have really annoying and off-task behaviors. How do I deal w...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Sylvia Shugrue award winner 2017
2017 Shugrue Award winner Gary Koppelman believes that the development of community relationships and making positive decisions impacting the world begins in the classroom where students learn truths as owners of their community and the environm...
By admin
Blog Post
The Green Room: How Border Walls Affect Wildlife
Steve Hillebrand, US Fish and Wildlife Service...
By sstuckey
Blog Post
Week of the Young Child from NAEYC, April 24-28
How will your early childhood program celebrate the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) annual “Week of the Young Child?” Explorations that relate to all five daily themes offer many opportunities...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
STEM-In-Action at its Best: Students Turn Ideas into Reality
Team Crabyotics, 2015 White House Science Fair When it comes to student-focused STEM projects at Taos Middle/High School, ideas seem limitless....
By Korei Martin
Blog Post
It’s more than just power, it’s teaching potential: Vernier Go Direct Sensors and Micro USB Charging
Power powers. It’s that simple. With all our digital tools, there is at least one common thread across it all and that is we need a flow of electrons to keep the teaching and learning in high gear. But of course batteries die. There are four common...
By Martin Horejsi
Blog Post
Why should you attend the 6th Annual STEM Forum & Expo?
Why should you attend the 6th Annual STEM Forum & Expo this July? As Chairperson of this event, I think all STEM educators should join us in Kissimmee, Florida from July 12 – 14, 2017, for this premier, international professional development ...
By Korei Martin
Blog Post
Ed News: NM Governor Vetoes Bill To Set New Science Standards In State Law
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By Kate Falk
Blog Post
Ideas for science "camp"
I’ve been asked to teach a voluntary summer enrichment science class for 20 upper elementary students. I can determine the content and structure for the class. I have a modest budget, access to the science resources in the school, and the princip...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Robert E. Yager Excellence in Teaching Awards — 2017 winners
This award recognizes excellence and innovation in the field of science education. This award acknowledges teachers who share Robert Yager’s passion for education and continued professional development. This award also honors Robert Yager’s effor...
By admin