More and more people are earning advanced degrees and then abandoning a pursuit of a tenure track professorship. When I completed my PhD, I gave myself a time limit: I could pursue a "Tenure Track" job for my final year plus one, then I was going to jump ship and pursue an alt-ac (alternative academic) … Continue reading Teaching High School Science after a PhD
Author: BetterScienceTeaching
Science Fair: stating your question
Student: "I'm thinking about doing ___________ for my project next year. Is that acceptable?" Firstly, there are some really easy followup questions to this. I always ask a couple of these before saying "yes" or "no" to a student's ideas. That seems like an interesting idea! Can you tell me more about it? Why does … Continue reading Science Fair: stating your question
Science Fair: Leading students in a literature search
Last fall I had the tremendous opportunity to participate in a conference for teachers who mentor students who do independent research. The weekend was sponsored by the Society for Science and the Public, and took place in Washington DC. (I strongly encourage you to apply for it if you see the opportunity. Everything about it … Continue reading Science Fair: Leading students in a literature search
Modelpalooza 2017
The American Modeling Teachers Association (AMTA) is an organization that supports teachers and provides professional development in a style of student-based, inquiry education known as "Modeling". This method is so-called because it naturally elicits student development of different representations, or models, to describe the world around them. (Models include tables and graphs of data, equations, … Continue reading Modelpalooza 2017
Brighton Lanyard/Badge Clip Review
As many teachers, I have to wear a lanyard daily. As a science teacher, sometimes its not good lab safety to wear a lanyard and I take it off, but for the most part, I have a lanyard on every day. This year I thought I'd splurge on myself and get a really nice, attractive … Continue reading Brighton Lanyard/Badge Clip Review
Science Fair: Writing your Results
What should the results section include? The results is perhaps the most important part of the paper. In fact, when I was taught how to read a scientific paper, my professor encouraged me to start with the results and discussion. The results section should show the answer to the purpose and main question of the … Continue reading Science Fair: Writing your Results
Science Fair: Presenting Data
The development of student use of graphs and tables is a skill that takes practice, and many students do not have the opportunity to carefully consider their appropriate use. January is the time in my class when students working on independent research projects are finalizing their data and preparing it for their papers and displays. … Continue reading Science Fair: Presenting Data
Mentoring Many Independent Research Projects – aka, “Doing Science Fair”
Its the time of year where my weekends start to be taken up with Science Fair. But as a teacher - its really nearly a year-round endeavor. Science Fair for me starts in May. May is when I find out what students signed up for my course for the following year, the students who I … Continue reading Mentoring Many Independent Research Projects – aka, “Doing Science Fair”
Lab Notebooks: the grown up interactive notebook
In the last decade, interactive notebooks have exploded in popularity. I tried them with my students, and I loved them. The majority of my students did not.Why?I was doing all the work. The students were still just talking notes or doing worksheet style activities. Just in this thing called an "interactive notebook". The students pointed … Continue reading Lab Notebooks: the grown up interactive notebook
The start of the school year. But not really.
This is the first year I don't have a "big" thing to do. The last few years have been overshadowed by earning a degree, completing Ohio's RESA (I passed!) and just getting used to being a working mom. That's why I've been a little absent from my blog. Tomorrow is the start of my school … Continue reading The start of the school year. But not really.
Better Science Teaching 