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The Power of Questioning: Guiding Student Investigations
“Children are full of questions every day: “Why? How does that work? Why? How do you know?” The science classroom is the perfect place to take advantage of this natural curiosity. Questioning cultivates student engagement and drives in...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Materials, safety, life science–Resources in "Science and Children"
Children I work with on a weekly basis have been exploring different types of materials as they work with them....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Negotiations Continue on ESEA Rewrite
Bipartisan negotiations continue between the two education leaders in the Senate....
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
One of my goals is for students to communicate what they’re learning in science through presentations. For many of my students, traditional oral reports are overwhelming. I’m looking for authentic, less stressful alternatives. —T....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Meet the People Behind the 2015 NSTA STEM Forum and Expo
The 2015 NSTA STEM Forum and Expo is happening next month in Minneapolis, May 20–23. This unique, STEM-focused event is where informal and formal educators gather to share tools and resources that contribute to successful implementation of STEM edu...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
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A View of #NSTA15 from Down Under
As soon as I saw the space that was allocated for the NSTA conference I knew I was in for something special....
By Guest Blogger
Blog Post
Themes, big ideas, unifying concepts—as the editor of Science Scope writes, the idea of crosscutting concepts in science is not a new one. (See the guest editorial Interdisciplinary Science: A Fresh Approach From the Past in Science Scope) But what...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Building NGSS Capacity at #NSTA15
The 2015 NSTA National Conference on Science Education (held in Chicago, March 12-15) was a great opportunity for educators to build their capacity for understanding and implementing the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)....
By Guest Blogger
Blog Post
Following children's interests; following a caterpillar over winter
It’s always interesting to hear how other early childhood educators make the most of children’s curiosity to teach science concepts. Guest blogger Maggie Posey is a mom to a curious two year old and preschool teacher to eight eager learners....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
In this video, columnists Ben Smith and Jared Mader share information from their Science 2.0 column, “Collaborative Data Collection,” that appeared in a recent issue of The Science Teacher. Read the article here: http://bit.ly/1B0g6Zr [yo...
By sstuckey
Blog Post
It's All About the Hashtag for @2footgiraffe
Hi, Social Media at NSTA? Oops, I mean #NSTA. Double oops, I mean #NSTA15. It’s all about the hashtag. Want to see what happened at #NSTA15? Well, go to Twitter, Instagram, or Vine and search the hashtag. Yes, there are pictures and funny video...
By Guest Blogger
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#NSTA15 | Your Science Teaching Superpower
Chicago. I have arrived. One of us will not be the same after this. #NSTA15 — @porchdragon, March 11, 2015...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
Preschool experiences in a winter forest
Once a month each three-year-old and four-year-old class at the Arlington Unitarian Cooperative Preschool (AUCP) spends the morning on a fieldtrip at a local natural area. The lead nature teacher arrives and spreads out a large tarp and a few sleepin...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Another round table/poster session at the NSTA conference–this time focused on middle school science. It was quite a hike to the end of the conference center, but the sharing session (and the view of Lake Michigan) was worth it!...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
I just finished visiting the Elementary Extravaganza at the NSTA 2015 conference. What an amazing display of what our youngest student/scientists are doing!...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
NSTA 2015—Science Teachers' Sense of Humor
One word I have never heard used to describe an NSTA conference is “boring.” There were swarms of science teachers everywhere! I am always amazed by the sheer number of educators at every career level, from first year teachers to veteran...
By Lynn Petrinjak
Blog Post
Any Way You Say It, Science Is the Key
Last fall, for the first time in our nation’s history, the majority of public school students were minorities....
By Juliana Texley
Blog Post
NSTA’s K–College Science Education Journals: March 2015 Issues Online
Do STEM courses broaden access to science? Do you know how to use energy as a unifying theme that connects sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics? The March K–College journals from the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) have t...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
Going to the "EE" at the national conference on Friday March 13, 2015?
If I could only attend one session at the NSTA national conference in Chicago this week, it would be the Elementary Extravaganza! I had so much fun presenting last year but missed walking around to glean ideas and freebies from the other presenters....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Flipping Tools for the Science Classroom
In this video, columnist and educator Jared Mader shares information from the Science 2.0 column, “Flipping Tools for the Science Classroom,” that appears in the March 2015 issue of The Science Teacher. Read the article here: http://bit....
By sstuckey
Blog Post
Materials for elementary science?
I’m starting a new position as a first grade teacher in a few weeks. When I toured the classroom I’ll be in, I saw very few science-related materials. I want to emphasize science with my students, so what should I start to gather up? �...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Avoiding burnout and staying positive
I’ve taught Earth Science for 10 years and I like my students and what I’m doing. But sometimes I feel overwhelmed and frustrated. Is this normal? How can I avoid burnout and stay positive? —R., Washington...
By Mary Bigelow
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ESEA Reauthorization Stalls in the House, Senate Bill Expected Soon?
House consideration of H.R....
By Jodi Peterson
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Creating Children’s Science Books: A Lesson in Teamwork, Part Two
In part one of this series (Creating Children’s Science Books: A Lesson in Teamwork), I wrote about the ways photographer ...
By Guest Blogger
Blog Post
Tinkering in preschool-grade 2
My father called himself a tinker because as an engineer who was a metallurgist and a ceramicist he often applied new uses to the metals he worked with. A bar of aluminum became a tool for cooling coffee just the right amount and slices of copper pip...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
International Day Coming to #NSTA15 in Chicago: March 11, 2015
It is often said that “the wings of a butterfly can cause a storm on the other side of the world.” (That’s actually a simplistic description of Edward Lorenz&#...
By Juliana Texley
Blog Post
Every teacher is a literacy teacher. Each discipline, including science, has a language and strategies for communicating both verbal and nonverbal information. As the TST journal editor notes: “…it turns out that reading and writing comprise ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Meet Me In the Middle Day: Coming to #NSTA15 Chicago, March 13, 2015
Calling all middle school teachers!...
By Guest Blogger
Blog Post
My middle school students have lots of questions in class, which is not a problem. But I’m torn between trying to provide the answers (sometimes I feel like a live version of Wikipedia with lots of empty entries) and telling them to figure it o...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Challenging Perceptions in the STEM Classroom
As a female STEM graduate myself (geology), I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how to encourage more women and minorities to get involved with STEM classes and potential careers....
By Becky Stewart
Blog Post
First-Timer Tips for #NSTA15 Chicago
Are you attending the 2015 NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Chicago March 12–15?...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Take 10% off all #NSTA Kids Books thru 2/23/15
NSTA Kids books are all on sale through February 23, 2015! Take 10% off the items below when you use promo code GIVEBK when you purchase these in the NSTA Science Store....
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
My school has been approached by a university to form a partnership to apply for grants for elementary science and math. What factors should we consider regarding this offer? —L., California...
By Mary Bigelow
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Learn About Argumentation With NSTA Press Author Victor Sampson
Join NSTA Press author Victor Sampson in Orlando for workshops about scientific argumentation. ...
By Wendy Rubin, Managing Editor, NSTA Press
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Celebrate International Book Giving Day with NSTA, the Home of Science Literacy
February 14 is not only Valentine’s Day but also International Book Giving Day. Literacy is an important focus for NSTA, and a subject that is personally important to our staff and membership, so we’re celebrating! What’s the day about?...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director