Posts by wkehl
Leadership
Highlights from NSTA’s 2017 National Conference
The National Science Teachers Association is a huge event and provides a plethora of free teacher resources. Here are just a few of the many available at this year's conference.
Personalized Learning
Smart Review | Science Comic Series is Fun Reading
In the past few years there’s been a small but steady stream of great new nonfiction comics and graphic novels produced. Here are two recent science-focused releases from a series that I would recommend as optional or supplemental classroom reading.
Leadership
STEM Ideas From GeekGirlCon ’14
Teacher Blogger Winifred Kehl reports back from Geek Girl Con '14, the annual celebration of women contributing to science and technology, with coding resources, scholarship information, and club opportunities.
Personalized Learning
Deeper Learning: How Eight Innovative Public Schools Are Transforming Education
Monica Martinez and Dennis McGrath promise a book of inspiring stories about Deeper Learning, and that's exactly what they deliver with Deeper Learning: How Eight Innovative Public Schools Are Transforming Education in the Twenty-First Century.
Personalized Learning
Thank a Teacher
A lot of people will fondly recall a specific teacher who made a difference in their life. Some people even track down their former teachers to say thank you, or keep in touch long after leaving school. It's now a little easier to say thank you, thanks to a website launched this week by six students from Olin College of Engineering.
Personalized Learning
Rethinking Math Teaching
I've recently been binging on math-related TED Talks and all the great ideas out there almost make me wish I taught math. While I have yet to create a museum exhibit about math, wouldn't it be great to teach it like something people want to learn instead of have to learn?
Personalized Learning
Boost Science Literacy with Music
If you ever watched Bill Nye the Science Guy, you probably remember the song parodies his episodes featured, which rewrote the lyrics of popular songs with scientific themes. Sure, getting the song stuck in your head will probably help you remember a few facts, but the benefits of music to learning science could go beyond just helping your memory.
Personalized Learning
Mini Maker Faire: Seattle
Last weekend, the third Seattle Mini Maker Faire took over the EMP museum in Seattle Center and filled it inside and out with neat things. Billed as a place where "people show what they are making, and share what they are learning," the all-ages faire featured some fantastic projects. A few of my favorites:
Personalized Learning
Teaching with Comics: Resources for Teachers
Over the past few weeks I’ve been exploring teaching with comics—for reading, history and social studies, art, and science. Now for a roundup of resources to help you bring comics to the classroom!
Personalized Learning
Teaching STEM with Comics
STEM-themed comics, which would seem to be a natural pairing, are a bit trickier to find than comics for reading or humanities. Many graphic novels make good discussion material for a history class (for example) without necessarily being about history. STEM is a little different—the range of specialized knowledge that falls under the umbrella of "STEM" usually demands that comics are tailored to a particular subject, audience, and/or curriculum. But there are quite a few STEM-related comics since—if you know where to look.