How do you get families and students to participate in science in the summer? I’m looking for ideas to engage upper elementary students. –Amber, Minnesota Even though people say students need a break, isn’t it ironic that by midsummer, newspaper articles appear advising parents what to do when kids say they’re bored? Teachers also are [...]
My first year of teaching had its ups and downs, but I’m looking forward to next year. As the school year ends, do you have any suggestions for how I can prepare for next year? I’ll be teaching the same subjects in the same lab. —Monica, South Carolina. Congratulations for completing your first year, and [...]
My principal just asked me to be the science department chair for next year. I’d like to change the format of our professional development (PD) days and the once-a-month afterschool meetings to do some PD or other departmental projects. —Melanie, Indiana We teachers complain we have no opportunity to collaborate, yet if we’re not careful, [...]
Our new principal does not have a background in science. What can we do to help her understand what science teaching and learning “looks like” and the challenges of teaching laboratory science? —Charles, Ohio If their own experiences in science consisted of lectures with an occasional demonstration or video, principals may not understand the concept [...]
The teachers on our team all have different homework policies which confuses our students and their parents. Do you have any suggestions to help us become more consistent? –Jacob from Virginia My views on homework evolved throughout my years in the classroom, as I came to understand my students better and improve my instructional strategies. [...]
I’m starting a long-term substitute position teaching high school chemistry until the end of the year. I’ve subbed for this teacher before, so I’m somewhat familiar with the school. But do you have any suggestions for starting in the middle of the year? How can I get to know the students quickly? Should I continue [...]
I’m a new teacher with six classes: four biology and two ecology. The teacher’s manual for my textbooks in these subjects have many interesting lab activities, but I am having difficulty selecting and organizing them. I feel like I live at school! Do you have any suggestions? –Tony from Illinois There’s no way around it—the [...]
To allow more time for test preparation in reading and math, the principal at our elementary school is requiring that teachers cut back on (or even eliminate) science activities. She says it’s just as effective to integrate more nonfiction books on science topics during reading class. How can we convince her of the value of [...]
My middle school students frequently ask me “Is this right?” or “What should I do now?” How can I help them become more self-reliant? Jocelyn, Georgia I observed a seventh grade teacher at the beginning of a unit as he displayed the learning goals and asked the students to write them in their notebooks. He [...]
Our school is facing a budget crunch. Each department was asked for suggestions for cost-saving measures. Do you have any suggestions the science department can add to the list? — Brenda, New York It’s heartbreaking (or outrageous, depending on one’s point of view) to see teachers and administrators expected to provide more services with fewer [...]
