Science News You Can Use
SNYCU from Northwest Area Education Agency
December Edition
Safety Pilot Sign Up
We are looking for several educators to pilot the Science Safety platform to use with students, and school staff, and/or for self-training. This opportunity will start on January 5, 2023. If you are interested and want a little more information, feel free to watch this short video (3 minutes) highlighting the program. If the YouTube link will not work, it is also available in Google drive.
Science Safety completed an informal national survey showing that 85% of science teachers have not had formal science safety training in the last 4 years. As Iowa AEAs we would like to reduce the number of incidences of accidents with training. This program is supportive of each stakeholder in the school building.
We are looking forward to working with you and hearing how this platform and training benefits and improves safety in the area of science, CTE programs, STEM and STEAM programs, maintenance, and laboratory professionals.
Please email Adam Moss (amoss@nwaea.org) if you are interested. As a state, we have 60 seats open. This commitment entails a one-hour zoom training session with Science Safety, sixty days of use in your role, joining an optional mid-pilot check-point for problem-solving, and a follow-up zoom reflection with the supporting AEA consultants.
Sign-Up Deadline: Wednesday, December 14th.
Required One-hour Zoom Training: January 5th select from either time: 4 PM OR 7 PM
Optional Mid-point Trouble Shooting: Monday January 30th at 4pm
Highly Encouraged Wrap-Up Zoom: March 6th at 4:00pm
Great Books for Science Teachers
Looking for some good reading about research-based instructional practice? Here are a few we recommend:
Elementary
Science Notebooks in the Student-Centered Classrooms by Jessica Fries-Gaither (NSTA Press, 2020)
This resource guides starting to use notebooks or improving what you already do. This book gives excellent advice on the best ways to use notebooks, explore lessons, instructional routines, and more. This book also includes graphic organizers to use and customize.
Secondary
Ambitious Science Teaching by Mark Windschitl, Jessica Thompson, and Melissa Braaten. (Harvard Education Press, 2020). This book outlines a robust framework for science teaching to ensure that instruction is rigorous and equitable for students from all backgrounds.