Stop Squeezing My Science

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When I asked elementary teachers what would be the best way to teach science, the teachers responded with a no-nonsense approach. “Give us easy science activities that help our students build critical thinking skills… to use the scientific method… and are so engaging that kids want to learn more on their own.”The days of trying to squeeze science in at the last minute are over. We need to stop squeezing and start integrating science with other areas of the curriculum.

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Here are a few articles that illustrate the need for better teaching of real science in today’s classrooms…
Bad News for Elementary Teachers

Stop Squeezing My Science

You Might Be Teaching the Wrong Thing

A Wake-up Call to Parents

Science in the Rockies: Potatoes Flying Everywhere

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We promised that the three days in Denver would be a learning experience, but we never guessed that it would be so much fun. Science in the Rockies set a new record this year with 160 teacher participants representing over 27 states and 5 countries. One reporter called the three day institute a “Mr. Wizard-style” boot camp for teachers. The training targeted earlychildhood through middle school teachers who need creative science integration strategies… who are tired of trying to “squeeze” science into their already packed teaching schedule… and who want to make science even more fun and meaningful in their classroom.

Watch the News Story - NBC affiliate 9KUSA-TV featured the teacher training on Friday morning.

Our goal was to give teachers the necessary training and tools to do more science in their classrooms in the coming year. The problem is one of time: teachers want to do more science with their students, but many elementary teachers just cannot find the time needed to give students the opportunity to really do science. Some elementary teachers are even forced to put science on the back burner until early Spring when state testing in other curriculum areas is finished. Science …

The hardest thing about teaching science - not enough hours in the day

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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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Home schooling - make science come alive

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One of the benefits of home schooling is you can take time to wonder, discover and explore. Science instruction can be a really difficult area, however, because you may have limited resources such as chemicals and equipment.

So why not go to the local school and talk to the administrators about the possibility of working with some teachers as they create these science experiences. Tell them you would like to talk about combining some of these experiences and participate in things other kids can do.

For parents who don’t feel comfortable teaching science, go into the community. Science museums are open to home schooling groups. Scientists in the field in your local area are more than happy to help out. All you have to do is ask. As someone who gets a lot of these requests, the best groups are organized clusters and where students have some background — because we can create experiences that are as meaningful as possible.

Be organized and understand you have information and resources available out there to ensure science is an important part of your child’s daily learning experience.

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Hands-on Science Boot Camp 2005 - Mission Accomplished

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Ninety-nine elementary teachers were called into action July 27-28, 2005, at the Hands-on Science Boot Camp to explore new and creative science integration strategies for making science education come alive in their classrooms. Named Operation Just Do Science, the intensive two-day, hands-on science training targeted early childhood through third grade teachers who wanted to make science more fun and meaningful in this classrooms.