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I Heart My Science Career! An Interview with a NASA Scientist
This charming, entertaining, and honest interview with Gala Wind, PhD, takes us from her childhood in Russia to her job as a Lead Research Scientist at NASA. You’ll learn how she triumphed over the “torture” of an “evil” math teacher, the horror of the “Terminator”, and the challenges of Autism Spectrum Disorder, to become the “Original Hacker”, who does science by writing code.
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Free Accounts to Schools Affected by Hurricane Harvey
At Scientific Minds our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by Hurricane Harvey. Having experienced hurricanes Rita and Ike, we recognize how difficult the months ahead will be. To support flooded schools in the devastated areas, we are offering free teacher accounts for the months of September, October, and November.
Solar Eclipse 2017 Information Roundup
On Monday, August 21, 2017, North America will get to experience an eclipse of the sun. If you are within the path of totality, you will have the rare opportunity to see a total solar eclipse. The rest of us will enjoy the opportunity to observe a partial eclipse. This post rounds up the best online resources as we prepare for this awe-inspiring event.
I Heart My Science Career! An Interview with a Cancer Vaccine Researcher
When I was in the classroom, one of my favorite Biology topics to teach was molecular genetics. If I were choosing a career path today, biotechnology would he high on my list. Today’s interview with a scientist illustrates how the fascinating study of DNA can be applied to the fight against cancer. Meghan Gentilini is conducting valuable, cutting-edge research in the race for a cure for cancer.
I Heart My Science Career! An Interview with a Biomedical Researcher
Many young people love animals. Over the years a high percentage of my students expressed an interest in becoming a veterinarian, a marine biologist, or a wildlife specialist. Today’s interview with a scientist shows us that there are other opportunities for animal lovers. Kelsey Quinn, Ph.D., is conducting biomedical research that helps us understand early pregnancy loss in livestock as well as in humans.
How to Plan 5-Minute Science Talks for Student-Centered Learning
We’ve all been there, sitting in a classroom listening to a lecture, trying unsuccessfully to stay focused. We have experienced first-hand that long lectures are not an effective teaching strategy. At the same time, a teacher must share information, right? Direct instruction is an important part of the learning process. But how do we keep it short enough for students to remain engaged while including the important concepts we need to share? This post gives you 5 simple steps for keeping your talks short and student-centered.
Vulnerability, Innovation, and Creativity in the Classroom
Last week I had the pleasure of hearing Brenè Brown’s talk, “Daring Classrooms,” at SXSWEDU. She defines a daring classroom as “a place where both teachers and students commit to choosing courage over comfort, choosing what is right over what is fun, fast or easy and practicing values rather than professing them.”
An Amazing Video for Teaching the Interdependence of Organisms!
I just found the most interesting video that is perfect for teaching the interdependence of organisms!
How to Use Phenomena to Make Your Science Lessons Authentic and Engaging
There is much discussion in science education about the use of phenomena to drive instruction. Dictionary.com defines a phenomenon as "a fact, occurrence, or circumstance that is observed or observable". This post discusses phenomenon-driven lessons and gives you a super phenomenon video to use when teaching magnets.
20 Output Ideas That Will Make Your Science Notebooks Sensational!
I love the way science notebooks are multipurpose! They are a study tool, a portfolio of a student's work, a method of staying organized, an opportunity to be creative, and a place to record the scientific process. This post includes 20 creative output ideas for notebooking and a free editable, downloadable vocabulary fold-it.
Creative Writing Prompts for Science
Creative writing in science can provide an opportunity for students to explore a concept in a fun and imaginative way. Research tells us that writing supports long-term recall. When we allow students to be creative and encourage them to tell a story, they become more enthusiastic about the activity.
Teacher Heroes
"...it is clear that teacher effectiveness is the major factor influencing student academic gain." "Research Findings from the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVASS) Database: Implications for Educational Evaluation and Research." Journal of Personnel Evaluation in Education. 12.3 (1998): 247-256. 13 Oct. 2016
I Love Science Videos!
Welcome to Round 2 of SciMi’s YouTube Roundup. We’ve collected some of our favorite science videos that we think you NEED to see (like the actual best cat video on YouTube).
I Heart My Science Career! An Interview with a Zoo Educator
In an effort to inspire students to pursue STEM careers and interests, "I Heart My Science Career" highlights a person with a career in the sciences. Today's Scientific Minds interview is with Joanne Baptista, Houston Zoo Educator and Adult Programs Coordinator.
Snowballs in Science! Fun Formative Assessment
Since it's almost officially winter, it's the perfect time for snowballs in the classroom! When your students’ throwing paper snowballs allows you to collect useful formative assessment data, then I call that a WIN for everyone. This is how you can get started with this fun activity today.
Sticky Bars in the Science Classroom
As an educator, chances are you're always on the lookout for great formative assessment ideas. This blog post includes one of my favorites because it's quick, easy, anonymous, and gives a visual representation of student responses.
Checkpoints in the Science Classroom
I recently learned about a fantastic way to use disposable cups to monitor student progress during science investigations. I also learned that this idea has been in play for years and somehow I missed the memo. After a few minutes of being bummed that I didn't know about this teaching tip years ago, I decided to share it with you just in case I'm not the only one.
I Heart My Science Career! An Interview with a Food Scientist
In an effort to inspire students to pursue STEM careers and interests, "I Heart My Science Career" highlights a person with a career in the sciences. Today's Scientific Minds interview is with Debie W. Blair, Food Scientist.
Whatever Happened to Roy G Biv?
Roy was considered dead long before I heard the news in 2010. He had been my friend for remembering the colors of the spectrum since I was in middle school. After I became a teacher, I introduced him to my students each year. He was a favorite member of the science classroom.
Welcome to SciMi’s YouTube Roundup, where we’re sharing with you our favorite science videos we’re finding on YouTube. I mean, really… who doesn’t love a YouTube break during the work day?
Have I Done Something to Offend You?
Students filed into my classroom with the usual amount of lively conversation and activity. They picked up their science notebooks and sat down to begin their daily writing assignment. I was just beginning the Science Starter of the day when one of the students erupted, apparently triggered by a comment from another student. "Shut up!" he yelled at the student behind him. He turned, saw the look on my face, and shouted, "This school is stupid and I hate it here!"
English Language Learners, Science, and Single-Serving Friends
I had just finished an afternoon of teacher training and was at the airport facing two flights that would put me home at midnight. I saw her waiting at the gate, sipping a bottle of water and sorting through several manila folders bulging with neatly collated and stapled handouts. She picked up her phone, responded to some emails or texts, then went back to studying her handouts. Although we had never met, she looked familiar – not her appearance but her mission. I knew I was looking at someone with a passion for education and quickly inferred that she was also a provider of teacher professional development.
I Heart my Science Career! An Interview with a Veterinarian
In an effort to inspire students to pursue STEM careers and interests, "I Heart My Science Career" highlights a person with a career in the sciences. Today's Scientific Minds interview is with Dr. Kayla Cheek, Associate Veterinarian.
I Heart My Science Career! An Interview with a Forensic Scientist
In an effort to inspire students to pursue STEM careers and interests, "I Heart My Science Career" highlights a person with a career in the sciences. Today's Scientific Minds interview is with Emily Esquivel, Laboratory Director and Forensic Scientist.
4 Tips for Teaching Through a Crisis
It was October 2005 and the first day back at school following Hurricane Rita, the strongest measured hurricane ever to enter the Gulf of Mexico. Rows of desks in my high school Biology classroom were empty as many students had not returned since evacuating. Their homes were unlivable. The damage across southeast Texas was massive, and I knew it was going to take some effort to bring a sense of normalcy to the school day.
Making Observations and Inferences with Lady Gaga
An important critical thinking skill is the ability to make observations then use the observations, along with what you already know, to make inferences. Marzano says that making inferences is a "foundational skill" and a prerequisite for higher-order thinking and 21st century skills.
There Are No Perfect Teachers and There Are No Perfect Students, But There Are Perfect Moments of Learning in Every Day
The desire for perfection is deadly. It can kill your joy, kill your job satisfaction, and kill your productivity. How can you make peace with the fact that you aren't going to be the perfect teacher every moment of every day? Not only that, how do you accept the fact that your coworkers and students aren't going to be perfect either? Here are 4 ways to accept your imperfections and as a result be a better, happier teacher.
Lower the Energy of Activation with Concept Mapping
Have you ever taught ATP to a class of high school Biology students? If the answer is yes, then you have shared my pain! It can be incredibly difficult to teach the unobservable components of a complicated and unobservable process. Visual learning to the rescue!
Can Sketchnoting Be the Next Step in Visual Learning?
Keep reading and you'll find a printable concept map for teaching atomic structure in grades 6-8. If you're a middle school science teacher, I'm certain it will be one of your go-to activities for teaching this concept. While you know the value of integrating text and visual imagery in your classroom activities (you can read a previous post about this here), have you considered taking it a step further and introducing sketchnoting?
Keep Calm and Teach with Graphic Organizers!
You're teaching plant and animal adaptations to a diverse group of 28 elementary students. Your formative assessment results indicate that many of them aren't understanding the concept, so you reach into your magic teacher toolkit and pull out an activity that requires information processing and critical thinking. Concept mapping, graphic organizing, mind mapping – call it what you will – is a process supported by research that provides a powerful punch of educational value.
4 Reasons Why Scientific Minds® are SeXeY
Our team has attended science education conferences all over the US, and we’ve given away many different door prizes in our workshops. Year after year, nothing has been as popular as our t-shirts and stickers that say "Scientific Minds® are SeXeY". The definition of sexy has grown to include anything that is trendy, attractive, intriguing, or interesting. Here are the top 4 reasons why this slogan continues to be embraced by our teachers.
The Story Behind Scientific Minds
It was the last week of school, and the excitement and anticipation was contagious. The seniors had mixed feelings of exhilaration and nostalgia as they scrambled to be sure all last minute requirements were met. Graduation invitations had been mailed, caps and gowns had been distributed, and parents were busy making final plans for the all-night Project Safe Graduation event.
Meet the Scientific Minds Team
Classroom teachers know what I'm talking about when I mention the perfect team. You group your students for lab activities or cooperative learning projects. You walk around the classroom monitoring progress and encouraging students to stay on task. Then you walk past a team, pause and listen, and suddenly you hear the Rocky theme music and have the victorious feeling of just having completed the run up the iconic Philadelphia museum steps. Fist pump! The group is communicating respectfully, all are committed to the mission and share a common vision, they display a strong camaraderie, and each member contributes a unique talent for accomplishing the goal.
Teacher First
Hello and welcome to the Scientific Minds blog! I'm Kathy Reeves, teacher turned instructional materials author, software developer, and the President and Founder of Scientific Minds.
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Hi! I'm Kathy Reeves, President and Founder of Scientific Minds, LLC. I'm a teacher, edupreneur, and software developer. I'm on a mission to develop quality, web-based science education products that inspire, encourage, and promote next-generation skills for student success. Learn more
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