In a 2003 survey, elementary teachers said the hardest thing about teaching science was “I don’t have enough time in the day”?. In that survey supervisors were asked the same question. Their responses related to not enough materials or staff development opportunities. The secret is if we are going to make science a priority in our classrooms, we have to integrate science into the curriculum.

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So you want to be an amazing teacher? Start with the parents. Back to school night is a great time to do some science demonstrations.

Imagine yourself doing an experiment right in front of the parents’ eyes, like filling a Ziplock bag with water, spearing the bag with pencils and the water doesn’t come out. As you do this you weave a story around this demonstration about how you’re taking their children whom they’ve entrusted in your care and taught them exciting new things. “Your children are our liquid assets, and it is my job to provide school ‘SPEAR-it’…The secret is to make sure we don’t lose any of those liquid assets.”

Then remind the parents: “You are giving your children to me for six hours of the day. Help me for the rest of the day to reinforce those five fundamental things I taught your child today to ensure that, after a year, your child is the best human being he or she can be.”

Incorporating demonstrations and storytelling is a very effective and simple way to communicate a message to parents.

Listen to my podcast on after school demos

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