M i d d l e L e v e l E d i t i o n
F e b r u a r y 2 0 0 7
LIMITED CLASSROOM RESOURCESIn this month's issue of Science Scope, field editor Inez Liftig discusses how important it is for teachers to maintain the highest standards for safety despite less-than-ideal budgets, classrooms, or supplies. To read the Editor's Roundtable, visit http://www.nsta.org/gateway&j=ss&n=53338. This issue of Science Class provides many examples of how other teachers have worked with the resources they have to provide meaningful science lessons for their students. Limited Classroom Resources on the Web In this month's middle-level journal, Science Scope, NSTA members can read "The Station Approach: How to Teach With Limited Resources" at http://www.nsta.org/gateway&j=ss&n=53323. For the complete Science Scope February 2007 Illustrated Table of Contents, visit http://www.nsta.org/gateway&j=ss&n=53346. SciLinks® is a web-based service from NSTA that provides online content chosen to augment printed articles and books. It does so through keywords; the keyword for this issue is Developing Classroom Activities: http://www.scilinks.org/retrieve_outside.asp?sl=92635655102210771011 NSTA Journal Articles on Limited Classroom Resources The NSTA journal archives have many ideas from your colleagues on clever ways to stretch your classroom budget. Click here to learn more: http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2007-02/middle.htm Books, Books, Books To read about Limited Classroom Resources in NSTA Press® and NSTA Recommends® books, visit http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2007-2/books_middle.htm. To read about the newest titles available from NSTA Press, visithttp://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2007-02/newbooksmiddle.htm.To receive the latest NSTA catalog for your specific grade level, visit http://ecommerce.nsta.org/catalog_signup. Professional Development Teaching Science in the 21st Century: Part 6 in a Series from NSTA ReportsThe sixth installment in NSTA Reports’ series is titled “Virtual Professional Development: The Good, the Bad, and the Future.” Written by Karen J. Charles and Jane E. Griffin, the piece begins, “Improving science programs for students means improving professional development for their teachers. As curriculum materials and instructional programs evolve, educators need to know how to use new textbooks and materials based on inquiry and on cognitive research. They also need to know how to establish collaborative learning environments in which teachers can learn and grow while studying these new materials (Nelson 2006). What does this mean for professional development? What are the new tools and strategies that can meet the demands of a new workforce, one raised on 24/7 access to technology, to information, and to peers? Most of us are familiar with the term ‘online professional development,’ but we would say that our experiences with it have been less than satisfactory.” This series offers opinion pieces written by many of the leaders in science education today. To read the sixth installment in the series, visit http://www.nsta.org/main/news/stories/nsta_story.php?news_story_ID=53347. To find out more about the book by the same name that inspired the series, visit http://store.nsta.org/showItem.asp?product=PB195X. NSTA Symposia The following NSTA Symposia will take place at the National Conference on Science Education in St. Louis, Missouri, March 29 – April 1, 2007: Impact
of Polar Climate Change on Living Systems, presented
by NSF, NASA, and NOAA Visit http://institute.nsta.org/default.asp
for registration information.
Global Science Teaching Reading Expert: Don't Forget Fluency In an interview with eSchool News, noted reading expert Jon Bower, CEO of Soliloquy Learning, says 100% reading proficiency for all students is the key to global competitiveness—and "the only way to do that is through technology." To read more, visit http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=6813. NSTA Opportunities Call for Papers Science Scope (grades 6–9) has issued a Call for Papers on selected topics. Click here to read more: Next Month's Theme: Natural Hazards and Disasters If your colleagues would like to subscribe to Science Class, please direct them to http://www.nsta.org/newsletters. THE FINE PRINTThis
e-newsletter is brought to you by the National Science Teachers
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