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Total Solar Eclipse on Monday, August 21, 2017!
If you haven’t heard about what is known as the Great American Eclipse by now, it is not too late. This August 21, 2017 natural phenomena promises to be well worth “attending” or stepping outdoors for at least a few minutes approaching the mome...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
How NGSS and CCSS for ELA/Literacy Address Argument
In the summer of 2015, I observed an elementary science teacher from an NGSS-adopted state who made a presentation to her cohort of close to 100 K–12 science teacher leaders and administrators from schools, districts, and the state. After presentin...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
Using Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) Strategy to Improve Student Learning
This past school year, I used claim, evidence, reasoning (CER) statements to show three-dimensional learning in my classroom. Several tools are available for doing this, but the one my students like is the CER Graphic Organizer and Transition Words L...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
You Teach What? I’m So Sorry! Building a Better Body and Building Better Argumentation
I am always amazed at the looks on people’s faces when I tell them I teach middle school. They seem to pity me for having a position I chose and love! They inform me that middle school “tween-agers” are argumentative, stubborn, and at times, ad...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
NGSS Curriculum Integration—Off on a Tangent!
The creation of a school garden inspired this fourth-grade unit. All students in the school were responsible for planning the garden, as well as for planting, weeding, and harvesting our crops of tomatoes, pumpkins, and carrots. The harvest was...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
My first year of teaching biology was challenging, but I made it! Do you have any suggestions for what I should do to improve for next year? —C, Virginia Congratulations for completing your first year! A good way to prepare for next year is to re...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
New NSTA Book Shines Light on Solar Eclipses
A solar eclipse is coming on Monday, August 21, 2017! What a rare and exciting treat for your students who will get to experience this magical phenomenon. Of course after this amazing event, they will have plenty of questions....
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Ed News: The Role Of Science In Boosting Outcomes For English Learners
This week in education news, students attending high-poverty schools have fewer opportunities than students attending low-poverty schools; K-12 school spending got caught up in budget standoffs this year; the number of girls taking AP computer-scien...
By Kate Falk
Blog Post
Math is integral to early childhood STEM learning
July has brought my happy place (where the worlds of early childhood educat...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Purchasing the Safest Lab Chemicals
Prior to the new school year, most science teachers select and order their lab chemicals. Before placing an order, however, teachers should consider the health risks associated with using hazardous chemicals in the classroom laboratory. Making the...
By Kenneth Roy
Blog Post
Ideas and inspiration from NSTA’s July 2017 K-12 journals
Get ready for the total eclipse visible in parts of the US:...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
House Marks up FY2018 Appropriations
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) marked up their FY2018 education budget on Thursday; despite a lower funding level overall from last year, lawmakers seek to cut the Dep...
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
STEM Summer Institute, a program in USD 383 Manhattan KS
For the past seven years, my district has held an enrichment opportunity for students in grades fifth through ninth grade called STEM Summer Institute. This unique program has been funded by a Department of Defense Education Activity Grant. Man...
By Korei Martin