As the summer months disappear, I’m finally getting caught up on my reading, thanks to some time at the beach—although I did not see many others reading educational journals there!
As a member of ISTE, the International Society for Technology in Education, I have a subscription to the journal Learning and Leading with Technology. As always, the summer issues were full of information and insights on a variety of topics. Some of the articles are available to nonmembers, too, and might be of interest to science teachers.
In the June/July 2010 issue, take a look at Join the Flock (Using Twitter), Buyer’s Guide: Touch Tablets, and Point/Counterpoint: Are Interactive Whiteboards Worth the Investment?
In the August 2010 issue check out Scientific Inquiry, Technology, and Nature; Every Day Is National Lab Day; Buyer’s Guide: Robot Kits; and Point/Counterpoint: Is Technology Killing Creative Thinking?
You don’t have to be a member to subscribe to ISTE Connects as an RSS feed and to follow ISTE on social media such as Facebook and Twitter for up-to-date information, just as you follow NSTA (don’t you??).
Other professional organizations have resources, too. In my department, we were members of NSTA, but then each of us joined another organization and shared the journals and other resources.
This summer, I attended the Space Academy for Educators at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. I am a K–5 reading specialist, and I also am the Science Power Hour instructor in our afterschool program. Obviously, we will be learning lots and lots about space this year! What concepts should I expect my elementary students to master? I want them to be excited about space and its exploration.
, you may also be meeting new colleagues on your faculty. Here are two resources from NSTA to share:
I am trying to decide how to arrange my classroom with 22–27 chemistry students per class. Last year, my desks were arranged in the traditional manner: rows with an aisle. This year I’m thinking of setting the desks up in pods of four or in pairs. Do you have any advice on desk arrangements?
Meet the parents
—Kate, Savannah, Georgia
Whether it’s held before school starts or during the first few weeks, this annual event provides an opportunity for the important adults in a student’s life to meet each other. It also gives parents (or other caregivers) a chance to become more familiar with the school. Ask a colleague what format is used in your school, what the expectations are, and how the event is publicized. Most middle schools have their event during the first month or so of the school year.
Typically, the parent is given a modified copy of the student’s schedule to follow during a “back-to-school” night. The bell rings as parents move from classroom to classroom for brief periods. The schedule is very compact; often there is only time for brief introductions. There’s not much time for questions and conversations or for parents to look around your classroom/lab before the next bell rings.
An “open house” is less structured. Parents get a copy of the student’s schedule but are free to visit the classrooms in any order. This is a more leisurely pace, but you can be overwhelmed if you get a lot of parents at once or if one parent starts to monopolize your time.
With either format, some schools also invite students to attend as a “take your parents to school” event. This provides students with the opportunity to introduce their parents and teachers. Students can guide their parents to the classrooms and show them some of their work.
Regardless of which type of event your school hosts, here are some things you can do to get ready.
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