An Appeal for Change:

Over the last few years I have observed that most science teachers across the state are trying to increase their workload every year. More teachers are trying to teach more to an increasing number of students. With the “high-stakes” testing and increased public scrutiny, many teachers are beginning to “cut corners” and sacrifice inquiry-based science to make sure that their students know all of the science vocabulary in the book and science content that can be copied into science notebooks. Due to increased pressure many teachers appear to be doing the right things and they are surely approaching the limits of human ability in how hard they are working. As the teaching landscape has been changing, the things that I have not seen are just as important as some of the ones that I have seen. (Before going any further, it is important to note that I have seen a lot of excellent science teaching where teachers are doing it the right way. It is not the excellent science teaching that I plan to address in this message. I hope that those excellent science teachers will each grab two other teachers and show them what they are doing. I think that they will agree with the gist of this message.)

Read more about Manley's appeal for change and the 5E-Plus Lesson.

An Invitation to Learn:

One of the major goals of NCSTA is to help science educators to offer better opportunities for their students. Another goal is to help science educators to become better at what they do. The Professional Development Institute (PDI) that will take place at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro on November 9-10th has been designed to help achieve both of these goals. Key science educators from across the state will be there to share their most successful strategies and activities. Don't miss this opportunity!

Featured at the PDI this year are three Share-a-thons. One each for elementary, middle and high school science teachers. At each Share-a-thon, experienced teachers from all areas of the state will share an activity that has been very successful for them. They will demonstrate a scientific principle or concept or they may ask you make something and then explain how it works. After you have a chance to ask them questions about their activity, you will receive a copy of the activity (along with important tips and suggestions for success).

This is a great chance to see and learn about as many as 20 exemplary science activities in just one hour. And you will get 20 new activities to bring back to your classroom! There are about 100 other sessions that you will want to consider as well, plus a giant exhibit area where you can get a lot of free stuff!

Many science teachers are having difficulty convincing their principal or school district to pay for their expenses at the PDI. The science teachers who have volunteered to share an activity at these sessions have found that it is easier to get financial support when they are a presenter. These three Share-a-thons will add as many as 60 presenters to the PDI. This is a real plus for attendees as well as presenters.