 | Name: E-mail: newsletter@newslettercollector.com Member Status: | October 31, 2016 | | The 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) science scores are out and the news is encouraging. The report shows scores for students in grades four and eight increased and the achievement gap among white, black and Hispanic students narrowed. Students who participate in hands-on activities or investigations, who participate in out of school science activities and have access to science tools and equipment also scored higher. Learn more about the Nation's Report Card™ for science and find out how your state did here; see NSTA's statement on NAEP and read/hear news clips here, here and here. |  |
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| | | In case you missed it, last week thousands of teachers, principals, and others sent emails, called, and tweeted to their members of Congress, asking them to fully fund a new block grant under Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA) so that districts will have more money to spend for activities—including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The science and STEM communities sent 900 letters to Congress! It's not late to send a quick letter to your elected officials; learn more and get involved. |  |
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| | | In this one-hour webinar scheduled for Wednesday, November 2, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) learn about how three innovative efforts—Connected Learning, Activated Learner, and Longitudinal—are studying how learning, including STEM learning, develops across time and space, and how afterschool programs contribute to that process. Click here to register. |  |
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| | Save on registration fees until November 4 for NSTA's third area conference on science education, taking place in Columbus, Ohio, December 1–3. Browse the sessions, download this letter to bring to your principal or admin to support your request for conference attendance, and register here. Read more about the strands: |  |
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| | When students take part in hands-on science, their results may not always conform to their teachers' expectations. What happens in your lab when student data doesn't align with the principle being taught? Take the anonymous NSTA Reports poll. |  |
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| | In many elementary schools, science and social studies have been deemphasized, in favor of reading and math. Read advice from veteran teacher Mary Bigelow on how to handle shorter lessons. |  |
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| | | In PBS Kids Design Squad Global After-School Clubs, students ages 10–13 explore engineering through hands-on activities and work with a partner club from another country; club dates begin in January and run through August 2017. High school student teams competing in the General Aviation Manufacturers Association's Build a Plane 2017 Aviation Design Challenge study STEM by learning aerodynamic and aviation principles; the winning team receives an all-expenses-paid trip for them and their teacher to experience general aviation manufacturing firsthand next summer (register by January 20). And every high school teacher entering the Real World Design Challenge receives professional engineering software, along with training, curriculum materials, and access to mentors. Student teams use these resources to solve an engineering challenge faced by industry and compete for $50,000 scholarships; the teacher who best integrates the challenge in his/her curriculum gets a $1,000 stipend (register by January 27). Visit the NSTA Calendar for more opportunities to involve students in engineering design. |  |
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| | Are you looking for concrete ways to connect the content you're teaching to careers and current scientific exploration? Join representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Smithsonian Science Education Center for a webinar about professional development opportunities, as well as tools and resources you can use in your classrooms, on Tuesday, November 1, at 8 p.m. Eastern. Learn more here. |  |
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| | Thank you to everyone who has participated in the NSTA Press Book Bundle Giveaway. Congratulations to our week two winners Toby Carpenter and Sabrina Taylor. Book lovers you still have one week left to win 10 free NSTA Press books; you can enter daily through November 4 and share the sweepstakes via social media to increase your chances of winning. Winners for week three will be announced November 7. |  |
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| Copyright 2016 National Science Teachers Association NSTA Express is a weekly e-newsletter that delivers information on teacher resources and professional learning, competitions, and grant and award opportunities; and news and information on science education, STEM, and Next Generation Science Standards; legislative updates and alerts; and updates on NSTA products, services, events, and membership. THE FINE PRINT This e-newsletter is brought to you by the National Science Teachers Association 1840 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, VA 22201-3000 Phone: 703-243-7100 If you do not want to receive NSTA Express by e-mail, please click here. |
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