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Latest from NSTA's online outposts
Recent Activity on NSTA’s various online outposts On our listservs, there are great conversations about moldy cats (yes, that’s right, moldy cats) on our Biology list, engineering and Newton’s laws on our General Science list, class s...
By Howard Wahlberg
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Exemplary science program monograph series
The seventh ESP monograph, now in final stages of editing, should be available for the three NSTA fall area conferences. This series from NSTA Press has focused on meeting the reforms central to the National Scienc...
By Debra Shapiro
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I’ve been teaching middle school science for 15 years, and I love my job. But I’m wondering what other opportunities there might be for sharing and expanding my experiences and knowledge. I don’t think I want to be an administrator, but...
By Mary Bigelow
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Welcome to the Chapter and Associated Groups (CAG) Blog! Let me start by introducing myself. I’m Anne O’Donnell, CAE. I have been in association management for almost 20 years serving a wide variety of associations and professions. I am p...
By Howard Wahlberg
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Leaders from diverse constituencies in science education bring their insights and advice together in an important new book from NSTA Press....
By Claire Reinburg
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Peering into students' "private universe"
Photo uploaded to Flickr.com’s Creative Commons by marcusrg...
By Debra Shapiro
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Science, technology, engineering and math are linked together in what is called “STEM” curriculum. If we break down this (possibly unfamiliar) term into it’s parts, we see that much of it is already happening in early childhood programs. Scien...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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There was an interesting article recently in eSchool News. Survey: Educators aren’t discussing STEM careers with students reports on a survey of students who basically said that their teachers make the content interesting, but they don’t alw...
By Mary Bigelow
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The melting snow piles outside NSTA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, provide daily reminders of the D.C....
By Claire Reinburg
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I will be attending the NSTA national conference for the first time. And while I am really excited, I am also nervous. Can you give a newbie some advice on how to approach the conference? I want to make the most of this experience. —Krishna, Ch...
By Mary Bigelow
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Latest from NSTA's online outposts
What’s New, 2/22/2010 On our listservs, there are great conversations about meiosis and fruit flies on our Biology list, reaction rates on our Chemistry list, teaching seasons and stars on our Earth Science list, density on our General Science ...
By Howard Wahlberg
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I currently teach third grade, and I’m a candidate for National Board Certification (NBC) for Generalist/Middle Childhood (7–12 year olds). I would like advice for studying for the Knowledge of Science assessment. I’d also appreciat...
By Mary Bigelow
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Different strokes for different … students
Creative Commons Different Sides posted to flickr by JP<3! English-language learners…gifted and talented…female/male…minority…urban…rural…special needs—so many diverse groups of...
By Debra Shapiro
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Consider the facility that students have with electronic communications and games. They somehow had to “learn” how to use these tools and figure out the rules and strategies of the games. But I heard some teachers talking about how “...
By Mary Bigelow
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Are you an urban or rural educator seeking pearls of wisdom for engaging your students? Plan to attend the NSTA National Conference in Philadelphia....
By Debra Shapiro
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Teachers use several strategies at the end of the school year. One strategy is to try to cram in as many topics as possible in an effort to “cover” everything. Other teachers use culminating or capstone projects to integrate concepts an...
By Mary Bigelow
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The Great Backyard Bird Count: Community science in your backyard or schoolyard
Bird counts involve children in citizen science projects where a greater community contributes to the data used by scientists to understand bird behavior and more. The Great Backyard Bird Count is happening now and counting can take place through Mon...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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I’m hoping that secondary teachers will take a look at the articles that describe authentic investigations conducted by young scientists in their communities: Creative Soil Conservation and ...
By Mary Bigelow
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Footprints in the snow—books to extend learning
Bird footprints in fresh snow...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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The Frugal Science Teacher, PreK–5
When the going gets tough, the tough get creative. Challenging times mean lean budgets in many schools, but science teachers have a knack for stretching resources to keep students engaged in lively educational activities even in a pinch....
By Claire Reinburg
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Exploring form and function with hats: books about firefighters
In the February 2010 Early Years column (Science and Children) I wrote about exploring form and function using hats, and testing them for how water flows off of them. Children might think, “Of course a firefighter’s hat works well to keep drippin...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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I’m looking for suggestions for formative assessments. Do you have some unique ideas to assess students quickly and adjust instruction accordingly? —Karen, Arizona...
By Mary Bigelow
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Latest from NSTA's online outposts
What’s New, 2/1/2010 Here’s a quick look (with lots of links!) at what’s going on at NSTA’s online outposts: In the NSTA online professional learning communities, we have new groups created on a variety of topics…...
By Howard Wahlberg
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Seeking inventive college students
A new series for a major cable network is searching for college students who are always inventing things and building things. If you know any smart, creative, and talented students who have a flair for science and engineering, please share this anno...
By Debra Shapiro
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Science activities: quantity vs. quality
My ninth grade students enjoy labs, but my colleagues say I do too many and the students aren’t learning anything. How many labs should I do each week? —Carolyn, Billings, Montana...
By Mary Bigelow
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Two-year-olds explore transparent, translucent, and opaque materials
Science activities with two-year-olds may not last very long but sometimes the children surprise me. One group of four children spent about 15 minutes exploring a set of cardboard tubes with ends covered with either clear plastic wrap, wax paper, or ...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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NSTA Press author Richard Konicek-Moran has always been challenged and inspired by what he calls Everyday Science Mysteries, those events you stumble on that make you ponder “why on...
By Claire Reinburg
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To help students understand this month’s earthquake in Haiti, the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology has compiled a set of resources called Recent Earthquake ...
By Mary Bigelow
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More science in the early years—a reoccurring theme from high school teachers and researchers
So it’s not just me, or you…An elementary school science specialist wrote to National Science Teacher Association colleagues asking middle and high school teachers which science skills and knowledge are typically seen lacking in students as they ...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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Science-related nonfiction books
I teach science at the elementary level. I’d like to improve our nonfiction science collection for students to read outside of class or for teachers to use during read-alouds. I want to be sure what we purchase is appropriate; do you have any s...
By Mary Bigelow
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Latest from NSTA's online outposts
Lots going on across the spectrum of NSTA’s online outposts. Here’s a quick list of what buzz is happening where: On our “core site” (www.nsta.org): everyone’s gearing up for our National Conference on Science Education ...
By Howard Wahlberg
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Introducing the NSTA Press Books blog
So much happens behind the scenes and behind the books at NSTA Press when we develop new resources for science teachers. I have the enviable job of talking with authors who have ideas for terrific new books, and I have the privilege of hearing from...
By Claire Reinburg
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The article What’s behind the biological classification system in use today? goes beyond memorization and the mnemonic devices ...
By Mary Bigelow
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Educated Opinions: What's Next in Education Reform?
Response to “What’s Next in Education Reform?” From the December 2009 issue of NSTA Reports:...
By Lynn Petrinjak
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My colleague and I are hoping to attend NSTA’s national conference this year, our first. The school has funds to cover some of the costs, but one of the school board members says conferences are just excuses to lounge around and play golf! What...
By Mary Bigelow
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Making the connections between science, reading, writing, and media literacy has been a professional interest of mine for many years. So I get really excited when The Science Teacher has literacy as a theme....
By Mary Bigelow
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Gardening catalogs arriving daily? Help is on the way!
Is the arrival of gardening catalogs inspiring you to dream about planting with your students, and plan a garden of any size?...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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Observations and data from nature
The word “data” for some people conjures up pages of numbers or a dreadful experience in statistics class....
By Mary Bigelow