teacher

Grants and Cheap Materials for Teachers

October 25, 2010

I’ve been compiling this list for a little while.  Please feel free to add to it. First, you can always make stuff with string and duct tape, using sites like the Exploratorium Science Snacks. But, if you need money: Grants Donors Choose. This program connects potential donors to classrooms.  As a teacher, you indicate your [...]

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What we’re NOT doing to train future physics teachers

October 14, 2010

Yesterday, we had a fascinating, but sobering, presentation from a group of physics educators charged with giving the nation a snapshot of how well we’re doing in training the next generation of physics educators.  It’s a pretty grim picture.  “Students who are becoming physics teachers are doing it on their own,” said David Meltzer, “and [...]

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What did your science teachers do right? (or wrong)

May 18, 2010

I went into physics in large part because of my (now long-retired) physics teacher Mr. Perry.  Gruff and tough, he made physics seem this fun thing that you could do if you worked hard at it.   He was funny, and had good explanations, and we loved him.  But in retrospect, I also think he [...]

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Summer programs for science teachers and students

February 14, 2010

In the midst of winter’s snowfalls, it’s time to consider what you (and your students) might be doing this summer.  Here is a list of all the different summer program  opportunities for science teachers and students I’ve run across recently. Firstly, NSTA publishes a list of professional development opportunities here. Their list includes: The STORM [...]

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Aspiring Teachers – Speak up!

February 10, 2010

Project Tomorrow (which does really good work) is creating a new survey of teachers, to get the lay of the land in teacher prep.  This one is the first one, I believe, in which they’re including aspiring teachers.  Here is the blurb — if you’re seeking your credentials, consider contributing your voice to the survey!  [...]

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Cheat sheets and blogs for science teachers

November 4, 2009

A couple links that look very helpful. 100 excellent blogs for science teachers (which includes yours truly!) Includes a bunch of teacher blogs (which seems like a great way to get some online mentorship if you’re all alone), and subject-area blogs (like physics or biology).  A very useful list. 100 cheat sheets for K12 teachers [...]

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Enriching the intellectual life of teachers

August 27, 2009

This post is based on ideas from a presentation by Rachel Scherr of the University of Maryland and Seattle Pacific University. Teachers, Rachel says, are disenfranchised.  Just as students who have no voice in what and how they learn in the classroom, professional development is often inflicted upon teachers who have no voice in the [...]

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Teaching abroad

December 19, 2008

For this week’s episode of Science Teaching Tips, I’ve got a story from a veteran teacher about her first year of teaching — which was quite unusual.  She was placed in a rural school in Guatemala.  You think you’ve got it tough?!  Hear about her challenges in Episode 63 – Teaching Abroad.

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