Our workshop team always enjoys a trip to Dallas… especially when the workshop is at the Gaylord Texan. By now you’d think that the hotel would understand that velvet table cloths and brightly colored liquids probably are not a good mix. Nearly 250 teachers attended the Dallas Hands-on Science Boot Camp ranging from early childhood through high school (but the vast majority of teachers fell into the pre-K through 5th grade range). Before the workshop starts, I make it a point to talk to as many participants as possible and ask them what they expect to take away from the workshop. The Dallas teachers shared a common response… “I want to find ways to get my kids excited about science and engaged in their own learning.”

Shanna Morris from Little Elm, Texas attended the workshop because she wanted to find a way to make teaching science more fun for herself. “After 22 years in the classroom, I want to find a way to re-ignite my own spark for teaching science. If I’m having fun and learning, I believe that it will rub off on the kids. Besides, three teachers from my school came to your workshop last year and I want to find out why the kids are always laughing in their classroom!”

We are honored to periodically host the Carnival of Education. Hats off to our good friend Jane Goodwin for all of her work on the latest Carnival. - editor

It’s time to put on our thinking caps and experience the 190th Carnival of Education, right here at Steve Spangler’s blog!

All learning is scientific, you know.  The world is a giant laboratory, and every day, we are all, regardless of our ages, making discoveries never before known to mankind.

Perhaps some of you will make some discoveries right here at the Carnival of Education!

Remember now, we don’t all necessarily have to agree on everything to appreciate it, or realize that it has a value.

Let’s begin with some Games for the Brain.  That will make us alert and ready for some educational action.

Over at Three Standard Deviations to the Left, there is some discussion about low expectations.  Mr. IB lets us know, in no uncertain terms, that HIS expectations are high.

So You Want To Teach gives us a list of “10 Things I Wish I Knew As A First Year Teacher.”

The Chancellor’s New Clothes tells us of a teacher who covered for a student, and wonders how far a teacher should go, and how much a teacher should risk, for a student in need?

I think we should all go over to California Teacher Guy’s blog and compliment him on that t-shirt.  We all need one of those.

Mamacita hated study hall when she was in school, and she hated them even more as a teacher.  Jane Goodwin talks about how the once-valuable study hall has become a dumping ground for our worst and laziest students.

The Collegiate Way teaches us all about the equinox.

Coach Brown, over at A Passion for Teaching and Opinions, gave his students the opportunity to use note cards on a quiz.  Find out what happened.

Ms. Cornelius wants to know if we’re really serious about wanting to improve our public schools.

Mrs. Chili wants someone to explain to her why they’re watering the artificial turf at a local U.

Over at Nucleus Learning, the question of paying students for doing schoolwork has arisen.

Did you know that today is National Punctuation Day?  Neither did I until Apostrophe Catastrophes told me so.  I read this blog every single day, and you should, too.  It’s a riot!

They’re giggling about Moron Monday at Bellringers.

Doug, at Borderland, wonders what education would be like if it got the same bailouts from the government that Wall Street gets.

Britannica Blog is talking about what to do about childhood obesity.

Hobo Teacher explains why not having a printer in your classroom is very, very frustrating.

Learning style or learning preference?  Lead from the Start has an opinion; do you?

Words I Can Dance To wonders if we should pattern our educational system after our health care system.

Matthew Ladner wonders if we are buying into the messianic myth with school leaders.

Over at Detention Slip, they’re talking about arresting parents when their kids skip school.

Grrl Scientist gives us a link to a tour of the human body that is absolutely fascinating.

Ms. Teacher talks about racism.

Elementary History Teacher made me realize that I really knew nothing about John Wilkes Booth except for his night at the opera.

Are classroom political discussions and lessons one-sided?  Andrea Hermitt talks about Politics in the Classroom.  And speaking of politics in the classroom, Scripted Spontaneity puts in his electoral two cents’ worth, too.  DO NOT miss the video on Successful Teaching.

Pissed Off Teacher is wondering if we’re teaching our students to think of themselves as failures.

Joanne Jacobs always has something to think about on her blog.  Let’s all click on over there and see what she has to say about placing low-performing students in algebra classes.

Is there a growing anti-teacher sentiment?  Lorri Giovinco Harte is wondering that same thing.

Polski3 asked the vital question:  “Does your school suffer from NVA?”

What is the best way to teach a child about another country?  SoulTravelers thinks that the answer to that question is simple:  Take the child there.

Matthew Needleman can teach us all how to be video podcasters!

NYC Educator wonders why school cafeteria food is so darn expensive.

What are your thoughts on technology in the classroom?  Stories from School wants to know!

Teacher in a Strange Land asks this question: What do we give kids, in their mid-afternoon slump? And then, she answers it:  Social studies worksheets.

Genuine shares with us the advice a humble man once gave him.

Life Without School compares internet dating sites with homeschooling!

Over at Inside Pre-K, there is talk of collaborating teachers and learning English.

School Psychologist Blog Files discusses parent-school relationships.

Learn Me Good has a few suggestions as to how the Dallas school district might make up that large deficit.

Effective public service messages have given us many “sayings” that we remember today.  The Core Knowledge Blog wonders why there aren’t any public service messages about reading!

In Practice thinks that Brainpop is doing a pretty good job.

Teaching a foreign language can be difficult, but the rewards are fulfilling.  Just ask It’s A Hardknock Teacher’s Life.

Scenes from the Battleground tells us about a field trip he once took, in a post entitled Holiday in Hell, Pt. I.

Homeschool Memoirs gives us a detailed description of a homeschool daily routine.

Miss Malarky believes that “democracy of any sort is not for children in middle school.”

Let’s Play Math!

The Education Wonks, founder of the Carnival of Education, writes about “Stupid Is as Stupid Does.”

The Tempered Radical doesn’t agree with Obama that more technology and slick stuff makes better schools.

What It’s Like on the Inside insists that differentiation should be applied to teachers as well as students.

The Thinking Mother reviews a book about autism and Asperger’s, and doesn’t say what you might think she’d say.  In the long run, you know, we all have to do some adapting, because the world doesn’t adapt to any of us.

Got writer’s block?  The Reading Workshop gives us some hints on how to overcome it.

Need an autumn treat for your students?  Why not bring in some toasted pumpkin seeds?

Right here on our blog, Steve Spangler tells us about something one of the teachers who attended his latest Hands-On Science Boot Camp learned.  Giant soap bubbles, anyone?  Don’t forget to watch the video; it’s awesome!  And hey, while you’re already right here, why not sign up for the Experiment of the Week over there to your right?  Or, right here:  Experiment of the Week.

That’s it for the Carnival of Education, Week 190.  I hope I didn’t leave anyone out.  If I did, please let me know and I’ll put you right smack in here with all of these other exploring, curious, innovative, sharing, experimenting professionals, and if that’s not a description of a scientist, I’ll eat my hat!

One more thing:  You people who keep submitting websites that encourage plagiarism or which are nothing but sales pitches should keep your plugs and campaigns away from the Carnival of Education.  We’re deadly serious about what we do, and we resent salesmen and those who would help entice a student to cheat.  Sure, occasionally a carnival host falls for your scheme, but usually we see right through you.

To those genuine educators and parents who submitted their own or someone else’s excellent blog post this week, I thank you.  Our children thank you.  And our nation thanks you.

Our schools, whether they be down the block or around the kitchen table, are the hope of the future.  Our children deserve the best . Let’s give it to them.

We just wrapped up the final leg of our teacher boot camp tour with workshops in Pittsburgh and New York. While everyone on the team is exhausted, the one thing that keeps the energy high is meeting other teachers who are truly making a difference. I met teachers in both cities who paid to come to boot camp on their own - no funding from their schools or the district. I asked the same question you’re probably asking, “Why did you do it?” One self-funded teacher in the Pittsburgh workshop described answered with this…

I’m a professional who believes that training is important. I think that teachers who isolate themselves to their classroom never grow. I really enjoy teaching science and I came to the workshop to find new ways to get my kids fired up. Once my Principal sees the results, she’ll support more and more. I know it.

It’s tough to believe that we work in a profession where our leaders don’t believe in or support professional staff development, but I can’t help but be inspired by her dedication to teaching and to her students.

I also met these two amazing teachers… Penny Hampshire and Kim Carpenter, teachers at Clawson B.E.S.T. Pre-K. I’ve learned over the years to pay particular attention to the teachers who sit in the front row at my workshops. They either don’t know any better (and they’re going to get soaked in flying soda) or they’re extremely enthusiastic. Penny and Kim were both! Here are two teachers that do more solid science with their Pre-K children than some kids get during their entire elementary school experience. I could go on and on, but just check out the Claswson website - Science Thursdays and enjoy watching master teachers at work.

As always, I invite teachers who attend my workshops to share their comments and take-aways on the blog. Any thoughts from Pittsburgh?

A hot topic with new teachers, especially primary teachers right now is how to set up a Science Center.

Kindergarten teacher extraordinaire Julie Gintzler from Maywood Elementary in Indiana has 18 years in teaching. 18 years ago they didn’t have centers, just a bucket of toys and a nap.

Julie does Science Centers in two different ways.

First, there are Subject Centers which focus on projects we have done already, the things the kids would like to revisit, and the living creatures we would like to experiment on.

Julie also does Theme Centers, like a Snow Center that has instant snow in a tub, a center for books about snow, and a center where kids are making polar bear paws. Centers are a great way to expose children to various forms of thought to see these items in different settings.

There is a difference between guided inquiry and self-directed inquiry. When we teach, kids we give them guided inquiry “” the steps to achieve a particular goal.

Self-guiding is when a child can play and learn by making and doing. There are always times that guided instruction is necessary, but there is some wonderful learning that can take place when the teacher steps outside of that role and just becomes a facilitator providing the materials, answering the questions and posing other questions to the child to discover something outside of what they were thinking. Center time is a perfect time for them to be able to explore that.

Start putting some of the materials out ahead of time to tempt children with a taste of what is to come. Give them time to freely explore the materials and get the play out of their system so that they can focus on the learning ahead. We call it “Play with a Purpose”. And “Play with a Purpose” holds true at any age.

Listen to my podcast on Science Centers

(File size is 1.5 MB) (Show length 6 minutes 15 seconds)

You’re in for a treat today, because I’m posting my very first podcast interview.

Listen in on my discussion with Julie Gintzler, kindergarten teacher extraordinaire and instructor at the Hands-on Science Boot Camp as she shares one of her secrets to teaching science.

Julie doesn’t do diagrams on the board or long dissertations. Her secret is her lab coat. After 18 years of teaching, Julie has finally found something that sparks the kids’ imagination right off. The first time she introduces a science experiment, she wears her tie dyed lab coat. From it she pulls out a gem of the day. It might be a test tube. It might be a magnifying glass. It’s a great way to introduce the tools in a fun and exciting way. The kids know the minute her lab coat goes on, science is just around the corner.

Most lab coats are white. One of my teachers in high school had one with burns all over it. Julie tried a plain white one and the kids were frightened. They thought “doctor”? or “nurse”?. So Julie’s is tie dyed from head to toe in primary colors.

Not only is it a cue that it is time to talk about science, but the children get excited about science. Get them excited when they are young and while their minds are open.

Listen to my podcast interview of science teacher superstar Julie Gintzler

(File size is 1.2 MB) (Show length 5 minutes)

What’s your secret? Is there something you use like Julie’s lab coat to let your students know that they’re in for something special? Click on the comment button to share your ideas.