What do you call 102 teachers gathered together who are crazy about space science? Teacher Space Camp. I often write about my search for “amazing teachers” - teachers who truly inspire students to want to learn. Last week I paid a return visit to the U.S. Rocket & Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama where I met another group of amazing teachers who really make learning fun. My training was sponsored in part by the Boeing Corporation who also sponsored the entire group of teachers. Katrine Balch is the Director of Education Programs and her staff does an amazing job of hosting some of the best teachers on the planet. The goal of the week-long program is to provide teachers with hands-on training in the space sciences… plus so much more. When I arrived on Wednesday afternoon, a group of teachers was busy building model rockets while another group conducted experiments with plants in space. My workshop on Thursday focused on best practices and strategies for integrating more science with reading, writing and math… and ways to make science even more fun in the classroom.

Sure, I always enjoy conducting teacher trainings, but this workshop was especially fun for me because my 7 year old son, Jack, came along as my helper. As you can see from the picture, he wasn’t content with just handing out supplies. Jack shared a science demo that he’d been practicing called the Three Cup Monté… or the old water-in-the-cup-switcheroo. Okay, I’m a pretty proud Dad, but now I know that Jack can support me in my old age.

If you’re a teacher… what are you waiting for? Contact Katrine Balch at katrineb@spacecamp.com to learn more about corporate sponsored teacher training institutes at the U.S. Rocket & Space Center.

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Just stick your head above the crowd and someone will shoot at it. One Colorado elementary teacher is getting hit in the head with flying film canisters powered by water and Alka-Seltzer… and the kids are being praised. Colorado Association of Science Teachers selected Shannon Koppenfafer as the Science Teacher of the Year for the state’s elementary school teachers. She was nominated by John McConnell, the Grand Valley’s version of Mr. Science who runs the Western Colorado Math and Science Center.

Here’s a secret that I learned years ago… constantly seek out amazing teachers. Read about them… watch them in action… study their writings… find out what makes them tick. As teachers, we all benefit when one of our own receives this type of well-deserved recognition. Read the rest of this entry »

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