Tests, tests, and more tests. Do you sometimes feel like all we do is test. Between quizzes, unit assessments, quarterly tests, semester finals, and state testing it seems like students spend one third of their school time testing. They are told that they need to make sure that ... READ the POST
The Purpose of School
I have a confession, I am a science teacher that does not care if my students learn science. I began my teaching career over 16 years ago, before they had standards. I had set topics that I had to teach but more freedom on how to teach them. My students learned through inquiry and ... READ the POST
Six Exciting Winter Science Activities For Middle School
Winter is the perfect season to mix science with seasonal cheer! Dive into these fun winter science activities that will keep your students entertained while learning a thing or two. Gingerbread Genetics: Creating the Ultimate Gingerbread Man Get ready for a tasty genetics lesson! ... READ the POST
Guided Inquiry with Thinglink Examples
Twenty-first-century learning is about helping students become life-long learners. Students need to be able to gather information on their own. This is a skill that needs to be taught. One way I do this is by having students do a guided inquiry using the site thinglink.com. With ... READ the POST
Easily Integrate the Flipped Classroom Model in Science: Classroom Activities
The flipped classroom model is a great way to differentiate for your students, provide quick formative assessment feedback, and allow more time in your classroom for higher-level thinking activities. To help me in making my "flip" easier I came up with the acronym FIRE: Format, Interact, Reflect, ... READ the POST
Easily Integrate the Flipped Classroom Model in Science: Choosing the Format
Last year I decided to take the leap and flip my middle school science class using the flipped classroom model. I did not flip every lesson, only the beginning of every unit. At the end of every quarter, I always asked the students to reflect on their learning and my teaching. The ... READ the POST