Hear how a K-8 district just north of Chicago with 18 schools is transforming science teaching and learning through cultivating Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), leveraging teacher leaders, and centering student voice.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teacher leaders & students are crucial to scaling reform efforts. Participants will walk away with a detailed model for cultivating science PLCs and example strategies for elevating student voice.

SPEAKERS:
Kristie Rachell, Meghan Thomas, Megan McDermott, Alissa Berg, Elida Patino

Discover how simple adjustments in activity order can supercharge your students' knowledge construction and seamlessly integrate the NGSS into your teaching.

TAKEAWAYS:
Whether you're a novice or a seasoned pro, Instructional Sequence Matters will empower you with both the rationale and tangible, real-world examples to revamp your hands-on teaching methods.

SPEAKERS:
Patrick Brown

How do we prepare teachers to build a community of student learners and leaders? Science education is ideal for building student leaders as they investigate phenomena through questions and observations.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will explore and model best practices to promote inclusive student leadership in science.

SPEAKERS:
Sephali Thakkar, Beverly DeVore-Wedding

Science coordinators from two public school districts in South Carolina will share how they are implementing a high-quality, open-education NGSS curriculum to support equitable three-dimensional science instruction for all students.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will share our implementation strategies, including how we recruited teachers as early adopters. Learn how we support teachers and students, partner with administrators and the community, manage materials, address challenges, and celebrate successes.

SPEAKERS:
Richard Phillips, Holly Sullivan

In this engaging session, we embark on a transformative journey, equipping educators with the tools and knowledge to instill a growth mindset in themselves and their students, enriching the educational experience, and nurturing future generations of resilient, adaptable, and lifelong learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will self-assess and evaluate students' mindsets, while discussing resources to foster resilience, embracing challenges, and nurturing a lifelong love for learning in any classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Luciana Girgulsky

Hosting a STEM Science Fair promotes engagement with the scientific method and CER. It allows students to investigate areas of science that interest them. Learn the logistics of hosting a STEM science fair at your school and the benefits it can bring to your building.

TAKEAWAYS:
Hosting a Science Fair allows students to be active scientists as they study, experiment, and share their knowledge of an in-depth topic of their interest.

SPEAKERS:
Stacie Hopple

School leaders play an important role in the adoption of high quality instructional materials and can serve as catalysts for smart adoption processes. Participants will learn how to develop and use local priorities and instructional vision to drive the instructional materials adoption process.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to develop local priorities and establish an instructional vision, engage with EdReports reviews of instructional materials to make informed decisions based on local context, and leave with materials to support replicating this process with their local educators.

SPEAKERS:
John-Carlos Marino, Shannon Wachowski

This session presents a unique approach to teacher-led professional learning communities, leveraging data-driven inquiry cycles to identify, test, and refine solutions to common problems of practice around science instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will explore the creation and facilitation of teacher-led professional learning communities, which leverage Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) learning cycles to address problems of practice within their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Seabloom

A team of Science Consultants and Early Literacy Coaches in Michigan has utilized recommendations in the power of the Brilliance and Strengths Report, combined with data on elementary-level science education, to devise an approach to support literacy practices within science instructional time.

TAKEAWAYS:
The attendees will learn what the SLIC Model consists of, as well as how to find out more to gain supports to implement themselves. There are Facilitator Guides, Train-the-Trainer Professional Learning opportunities, and sessions built out to take with them. This is an OER resource.

SPEAKERS:
Wendi Vogel

Explore the NSTA Website with us! NSTA provides high-quality digital resources and opportunities—all within a professional community—that supports professional learning and classroom instruction. NSTA staff will be available to answer questions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will become knowledgeable about the plethora of digital resources available on NSTA’s website, about the live events and professional learning community that can help them enhance their knowledge and improve their teaching practices.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips, Flavio Mendez

Like many states, Connecticut has adopted OpenSciEd for the middle level model science curriculum. The approach to teaching and learning through OpenSciEd presents a challenge for school and district leaders– that is, what does it look like? The instructional model & feedback will be the focus.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leaders and supervisors will learn what to expect in an OpenSciEd classroom and take away tools and resources to support their understanding, and support teacher implementation through formative feedback to enhance teacher growth and collective efficacy.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Wlodarczyk

Many schools need high-quality units to meet their state standards or localize phenomena. BSCS Science Learning has extensive experience with designing, adapting, and localizing. In this session, apply a BSCS design tool, and learn about a suite of tools to use for large-scale design or adaptation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience with a tool to unpack target standards by clarifying key ideas, listing prerequisites and challenges, and considering what students should “figure out” and not just “learn about.” Consider and share how to apply tools and processes for designing and adapting HQIM in your local context.

SPEAKERS:
Jean Flanagan, Elaine Klein

In today’s fast-paced world, chronic stress is common, but your mind and body can pay a high price. Learn to recognize overwhelming stress—and what you can do about it. Most importantly, learn how to use the power of your senses to relieve stress on the spot and stay calm, productive, and focused.

TAKEAWAYS:
Tips on how to manage stress.

SPEAKERS:
Vivienne Allgood

Seeking support in what to look for and how to provide feedback to best support teachers? We will share an observation tool, model a pre & post observation conversation, examine a range of coaching interventions, and consider action steps based on patterns that are observed in science classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leaders and coaches play an important role in supporting teachers as they shift to more student centered instruction. Participants will be provided with an observation tool and coaching interventions that promote trust and increase reflective practice to meet the needs of students and teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Renee Affolter, Grace Lugo

In this session, Colorado District Science Leaders are invited to attend our March meeting. During this time, we will network and share ideas regarding the implementation of three dimensional learning in your school, site, and/or district.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, Colorado District Science Leaders are invited to attend our March meeting. During this time, we will network and share ideas regarding the implementation of three dimensional learning in your school, site, and/or district.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Agoos

Research suggests that most teachers will leave the profession within 5-years. This presentation will share tips to help science teachers stay enjoying teaching! This session could prove helpful to any new or preservice teacher, teacher mentor, or anyone who wants a new perspective.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with tangible practices to implement in their lives as a teacher! I will offer tips that worked for me, discussing topics like the school social environment, the lingo of education, using district resources, combating burn out (preemptively and practically), and more!

SPEAKERS:
Marissa Christie

In this session, we will share how to use NGSS performance expectations to design classroom assessments. Sample assessments will be provided that require students to incorporate models and use evidence to support their responses.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will examine sample assessments for three-dimensional questioning and be given a chance to enhance a question on a topic relevant to their teaching.

SPEAKERS:
Anna Kopacz, Nicole McRee

The Science Teacher Symposium is a model focused on science content knowledge that simultaneously provides the space and support teachers need to focus on their own wellbeing. Hear the impacts and lessons learned after 6 years of crosscutting connections and 2 years of embedded resilience training.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will understand the pros and cons of the in-person vs. virtual versions of the multi-day symposium model and will learn about the incredible impacts the resilience training has had on the educators involved, including increased teacher retention.

SPEAKERS:
Meg Gebert, Alison Smith, DaNel Hogan

During this session, school leaders will explore a NGSS Implementation Toolkit that leverages classroom observations to support strategic alignment of resources for elementary science education. Participants will hear from educational leaders that utilize this tool to advocate for elementary science.

TAKEAWAYS:
This toolkit allows educational leaders across the system to gain a deeper understanding of student sensemaking and discourse in an NGSS-aligned elementary classroom. Teacher Leaders who open up their classrooms can leverage this process to advocate for structures and support for elementary science.

SPEAKERS:
Dawn O'Connor, Nancy Wright

Participants will learn about the characteristics of hiqh-quality instructional materials (HQIM) and how to identify them. They will use EdReports resources to compare and contrast materials based on markers of quality and discuss how to use this process when selecting HQIM for their local context.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through engaging in a sample materials selection process, participants will gain an understanding of the characteristics of high-quality instructional materials (including sensemaking and the presence of phenomena and problems) and how to use EdReports' free resources.

SPEAKERS:
John-Carlos Marino, Shannon Wachowski

Jason will explain why CLEAPSS and King’s College, London decided to undertake this action-research project and what it’s taught he, and his colleagues, about supporting elementary and middle school science leaders to champion and facilitate effective hands-on science in their schools.

TAKEAWAYS:
This presentation provides educational professionals and coaches with insights into the effective practices and ways of working that we have developed to support elementary and middle school science leaders to lead science across their schools.

SPEAKERS:
Jason Harding

In New Brunswick, NJ, district leaders and educators engaged in collaborative spaces to design placed-based and phenomena-driven learning experiences centered on climate science and environmental justice. The community became our curriculum as we advocated for the local/global environment.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will explore a placed-based, phenomena-driven instructional model to address local/global environmental issues, and engage in interdisciplinary learning centered on climate change standards, creating a collaborative space for us to dig deeper into climate science and environmental justice.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Nunez

This is a real-life scenario in a hospital setting. The goal is to decrease patient falls inside the 5 West Geriatrics Unit. The Participants team members and leaders in this particular unit will work together to implement a hypothesis to decrease patient falls.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using real-life scenarios can give context that will open up opportunities for leadership, solving problems, and working together as a team.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Biedler

Get ready for three-dimensional teaching with ways to sequence instruction that promote long-lasting understanding for your students by using a simple yet powerful sensemaking approach: Explore-Before-Explain.

TAKEAWAYS:
An overview of essential planning considerations covers becoming an “explore-before-explain” teacher and designing lessons that use the assets all students bring to learning science.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Blesse, Patrick Brown

In this session, Colorado educators will have the opportunity to participate in a structured forum to share their experiences in implementing three dimensional learning and instruction as outlined in the Colorado Academic Standards for Science.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, Colorado educators will have the opportunity to participate in a structured forum to share their experiences in implementing three dimensional learning and instruction as outlined in the Colorado Academic Standards for Science.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Agoos

Engaging in culturally responsive teaching requires that teachers shift their perspective by building relationships within the communities they serve. We present cases of science teachers who partner with communities to design curricula that affirm the assets of students while aligning with the NGSS.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about ways to meaningfully connect with communities outside of school to critique systems of oppression in science education and shift deficit perspectives. Participants will be empowered to advocate for their communities and engage in transformational teaching practices.

SPEAKERS:
Jeff Spencer

Share ideas and discuss ways to navigate the political and socio economic climates of diversity, equity and inclusion in science education. Highlight examples of schools and districts that have implemented DEI initiatives with current successes, pitfalls, and next steps for science instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
The importance of addressing DEI in science education. This emphasizes the need for open discussions and idea sharing on how to navigate the political and socioeconomic landscapes related to DEI in science education.

SPEAKERS:
Sephali Thakkar, Sharon Delesbore, Leena McLean, Acacia McKenna

Participants will learn how school districts were able to increase elementary science access by establishing a District Science team grounded in distributed leadership and using the principles and tools of Improvement Science. Panelists' insights and a toolkit of resources will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how several districts developed a distributed leadership team focused on increasing access to elementary science education. They will hear from panelists and explore the tools and processes these teams used as part of their science leadership teams.

SPEAKERS:
Nancy Wright, Dawn O'Connor

We will discuss the work of the Second National Conference for Justice in Geoscience and explore how diversifying and working towards justice in geoscience fits in our classrooms. Presented by a middle school science teacher on the writing team working on plans to continue this conference work.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will learn about the current work of the Second National Conference: Justice in Geoscience. Then, in community, we will critically examine and reflect on topics such as environmental justice, how to learn from students about justice in geoscience, and how this fits in our educational contexts.

SPEAKERS:
Allyson Randall

Are you looking for an evidence-based framework for observing science classrooms and giving feedback to teachers? Learn how the NSF-funded DoS observation system can help coaches and educators develop a common language to speak about productive science learning in MS classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Science leaders will learn to use DoS, which integrates the Framework for K-12 and equity, to build the capacity of colleagues in their districts to use a structured method and shared language to observe classrooms and give feedback to teachers about areas of strength and opportunities for growth.

SPEAKERS:
Virginia Andrews, Victoria Oliveira

During this talk Jason will explain what Science Ninjas is, why CLEAPSS and King’s College, London (University of London) decided to undertake this research and what it’s taught he, and his colleagues, about supporting elementary and middle school teachers to plan effective active learning lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
This presentation provides educational professionals and coaches with insights into the effective practices and ways of working that we have developed to support elementary and middle school science leaders to promote hands-on learning across their schools.

SPEAKERS:
Jason Harding

With support from a sponsored organization and the DoD, DoD STEM Ambassadors are prepared to promote equitable education in their communities. Resources and strategies will be shared to encourage other teachers to utilize DoD STEM resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how DoD STEM Ambassadors increase STEM education and opportunities for disadvantaged students in their communities. Presenters will review DoD STEM resources and show how attendees can also serve their classrooms to close the achievement gap, with support from DoD STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Botello, Josephine Mesina, Thanh Le, Nicole Rosen

The National Middle Level Science Teachers Association supports middle level science teachers through many free activities open to members and nonmembers as well as members only benefits and opportunities for awards including Science Classroom Teacher Awards and the Hurd Award.

TAKEAWAYS:
Gain a better understanding of the benefits of NMLSTA membership.

SPEAKERS:
Alison Seymour

Utah’s Informal Science Education Enhancement (iSEE) has been serving students and teachers across the state for 18 years. We’ll discuss funding, reporting, and collaborating with both other informal education providers and public schools to connect teachers and students with subject matter experts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how Utah has been bringing informal science education experts into formal classrooms across the state for 18 years with financial support from the state legislature and how this successful model can be adapted to other states across the nation.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Halvorsen, Laura Cotter

The NSTA provides in-person, online, and blended professional learning experiences for cohorts of K–12 educators. All programs engage educators with digital resources, virtual programs, the larger community, and expert staff. Depending on your choice of services, NSTA membership is also included.

TAKEAWAYS:
District and school leaders will learn about the variety of professional learning opportunities that NSTA offers, delivered in-person, online, and blended that give their teachers the power to enhance their learning as well as the ability to learn with peers. Membership included for most services.

SPEAKERS:
Flavio Mendez, Tricia Shelton

Interdisciplinary learning empowers students to combine frameworks and concepts across the curriculum to examine a theme or solve a problem from different perspectives. This enables them to see the interconnectedness of the content they are learning and apply it in a meaningful way.

TAKEAWAYS:
By implementing well-structured interdisciplinary units, teachers can effectively guide students in building deep skills within and across content areas. This session will provide administrators and teachers with an effective blueprint to begin a program in their own schools.

SPEAKERS:
Alicia Chipman, Michelle Rotfeld

NextGen TIME is a free suite of tools and processes that supports districts in preparing to evaluate instructional materials for quality and design for the NGSS. This collaborative process helps you plan for next steps, including customization to improve student outcomes and effective implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how NextGen TIME supports the evaluation of current instructional materials to strengthen their design for NGSS, and how NextGen TIME tools and processes can serve as critical components of curriculum-based professional learning. You’ll walk away with free access to NextGen TIME resources.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Gomez Zwiep, Jenine Cotton-Proby

A session dedicated to addressing the unique challenges faced by new teachers, especially alternative path teachers. We will explore strategies to retain talented educators in the field by demystifying education language and providing key tools and resources for a successful first year.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leaders will gain actionable insights into establishing robust support systems for new science teachers, resulting in improved teacher retention and implementation of science and engineering practices.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Rhoades

Discover fresh teaching horizons: surprise yourself, collaborate actively, plan consciously, and enhance communication. Enjoy a transformational opportunity to stifle enthusiasm for differentiation and revitalize teaching with diverse strategies that will inspire and motivate students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will obtain a range of meaningful and easy-to-apply differentiation strategies for their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Luciana Girgulsky

Science Leadership Cadre: A Professional Learning network of K-12 Science Educators committed to supporting high quality, equitable science learning for all students in our region.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to bring teachers, teacher leaders, coaches, and administrators together to learn, share resources and ideas, and provide support to each other in the work to successfully implement high-quality science teaching for K-12 students.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Peason, Ananda Weigand-Sheerer, Michael Occhino, Kimberly Fluet

We are awash in assessment data, but it can be overwhelming to make sense of it. Join us to learn tips and strategies for how to wrangle these data, ask questions from it, and derive meaning from it for effective change for our students and teaching. Gain frameworks and tools to apply to your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore 3 easy practices used in a variety of schools and classrooms to gain actionable steps to approach assessment data differently at any level in which they are working, so you can work smarter not harder.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Hunter-Thomson

Sponsoring Company: InnerOrbit

When transforming 3D teaching and learning within a school or district, what is the role of 3D assessment reform? How can a focus on phenomena-driven NGSS assessments lead to instructional change? Hear how Boulder Valley School District in CO leveraged InnerOrbit’s assessment platform and profession

SPEAKERS:
Erin Greenwood, Erin Cooke, Brendan Finch

The Atlas is a collection of 62 maps of the practices, core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and performance expectations in NGSS and other Framework-based standards. The maps show how goals in science are meant to build upon each other and relate to each other over a student’s K-12 education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to read the maps and use other tools in the Atlas to understand and interpret standards and plan instructional sequences as part of their work in curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard

Cultural relevance promotes inclusive environments that expand perspectives of science education to question: Who can participate in science and what constitutes scientific activity? This session explores frameworks for cultural relevance and ways they can be applied in science classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
This proposed workshop will consider the questions: (1) What is cultural relevance? (2) How has cultural relevance been applied? and (3) How can we make actionable steps in our own classrooms to affirm the diverse cultures and perspectives of our students?

SPEAKERS:
Jeff Spencer

Presenters organize around four main ideas for departmental, building, and/or district-level professional learning. Topics include equitable classroom practices, lab safety, book studies, and incorporating SEPs, CCCs, and sensemaking in science instruction (including NSTA PLUs and courses).

TAKEAWAYS:
How to organize good in-district and in-building professional learning opportunities while leading as department chair, science administrator, or teacher (leading from the middle); and how to "shoehorn" these opportunities into any available time for all grade 6-12 science subjects.

SPEAKERS:
David Jacob, Harry Rosvally

ASTA shares a professional learning model that promotes curriculum development and supports classroom implementation, both critical components in transforming science education. Using carefully designed steps, teachers craft cohesive units with performance tasks that incorporate the 3 dimensions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain an understanding of the challenges and successes of this multi-year, intensive professional learning program for constructing three-dimensional K-12 units and share ideas on how this process might be adapted to one’s own local context to support the educators they serve.

SPEAKERS:
April Holton, Adrian Alvarez, Sara Torres

A session dedicated to addressing the unique challenges faced by new teachers, especially alternative path teachers. We will explore strategies to retain talented educators in the field by demystifying education language and providing key tools and resources for a successful first year.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain actionable insights into establishing robust support systems for new science teachers, resulting in improved teacher retention and a more resilient and passionate science education community.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Rhoades

Looking for ideas for Professional Learning structures that provide leadership opportunities and improve classroom instruction for your district? This session will delve into the Professional Learning and Leading structures implemented in our district, considering barriers and ideas for application.

TAKEAWAYS:
Ideas of structures for Professional Development that provide classroom teachers with the opportunity to stay in the classroom and still lead instruction in their school and district.

SPEAKERS:
Anthony Goad

Research Experiences for STEM Educators & Teachers (RESET) is dedicated to improving STEM education across the nation. This presentation is for middle/high school educators who want to experience real-world research & learn about how to translate their experience effectively into the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
The audience will leave with information about AEOP programs and how to become involved with the AEOP RESET program.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Moore, Leslie Suters, Jennifer Meadows

Ready to engage students in climate learning while attending to equity, 3D teaching, and integration across content areas? Join Washington State’s ClimeTime network to dive into K-12 NGSS-aligned lessons and resources about climate science learning available for free from our state open-access hub.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will share example lessons for teachers, professional learning resources, and other ways that climate science learning has been supported across Washington State. Attendees will then have the opportunity to explore and incorporate these resources into their own practice.

SPEAKERS:
Lori Henrickson, Brad Street, Jacob Parikh, Korey Peterson

This new version of the Quick-Reference Guide (aka The Purple Book) is a must-have reference tool for working with NGSS and other Framework-based, 3D standards. This session will review the features of the book and show how to use the tools and resources in it to unpack the crosscutting concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to unpack the three dimensions using the tools and resources in the Quick-Reference Guide and will gain insights into the meaning of the crosscutting concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard

Dive into data about a range of math and science careers and how these compare to teaching as a profession. While you’re here, share your story!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teaching is an attractive highly competitive career if you love young people! We want to hear from you too!

SPEAKERS:
Jia Wern Hue

The Colleges of Education & Engineering at URI and UCONN developed a model to enhance student engagement in STEM classrooms and introduce a variety of college & career opportunities across engineering disciplines. Consider implementing a similar model and access project resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about a model for connecting engineering research to classroom learning without adding more to teachers’ plates. Access resources to share with teachers, including video and instructional materials that align to the NGSS and engage students in scenario-based tasks using data from current research.

SPEAKERS:
Caroline Stabile, Christopher Cochran, John Koziatek, Kelly Houle, Valerie Maier-Speredelozzi

Members of this panel discussion will respond to questions about their experiences as leaders by and for sciences. Perspectives may include: goals, plans, mentors, equity relationships, and the courage to lead.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the importance of advocacy, modeling, collaborating, and providing professional learning.

SPEAKERS:
Rodger Bybee, Dora Kastel, Maya Garcia, Jim Short

Schools and districts seeking to implement 3D instructional practices that support all students need assessments that elicit evidence of students’ thinking. We will introduce practices for using science notebooks as resources to guide instruction that supports students and their growing ideas.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers and leaders will experience, see examples, and learn practices for leveraging science notebooks as informal assessments of students’ 3D thinking and for using them to drive sensemaking practices that support all students.

SPEAKERS:
Jill Grace, Jill Wertheim

Curriculum implementation requires significant planning so that systems support the needed shifts in practice to strengthen science teaching and learning. Join us to figure out how leading change–an important element of curriculum-based professional learning–can make a difference.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leaders can create a culture that is conducive to the significant changes in knowledge, beliefs, and practices required to support the implementation of high-quality instructional materials designed for next generation science.

SPEAKERS:
Janna Mahfoud, Jenine Cotton-Proby, Jody Bintz

Almost 50% of new teachers leave the profession after 5 years in spite of having developed effective teaching skills. Come collaborate around strategies for retaining novice teachers that you can begin to implement immediately in your school or district.

TAKEAWAYS:
Strategies to support and retain novice teachers and build the capacity of mentors.

SPEAKERS:
Juliana Coleman

The NSTA Sensemaking Tool can be used in coaching cycles that support implementing high-quality instructional materials. Gain experience using the tool to identify sensemaking “look and listen fors” in classroom observations and how to use those observations to facilitate productive discussions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use the NSTA Sensemaking Tool to support productive coaching cycles.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Soriano, Emily Mathews, NSTA Online Advisors, Holly Hereau, Patrice Scinta

Building Self-Regulation Learning into the classroom creates high levels of learning for all students. Learn how to walk student through identifying what they need to learn, set a goal to address learning, choose activities, evaluate their learning, and redesign to learn deeply.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn to use Self-Regulation Learning (SRL) to create a personalized classroom that challenges all students at deep levels. Learn to guide students' learning and encourage them to learn content and skills of learning at deep levels.

SPEAKERS:
Katherine Willet

Using 3D science performance tasks to assess student learning requires tools that measure students' engagement with making sense of phenomena. This session provides a set of assessments for each of the science standards and coaches participants on how to develop analogous assessment items.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave the session with a set of assessment items for each of the NGSS standards for the 3-5 grade band and a less-complete set for other grade bands. Participants will learn how to use templates to structure the development of assessment items and experience developing a task.

SPEAKERS:
Juan-Carlos Aguilar, Brett Moulding

Have you or your students ever groaned at the thought of yet another ice-breaker activity? Fear not! In this session, discover fun ways to utilize your students' (and your own) creativity to lead meaningful practice in communication using improvisation skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Be ready to go back to your classroom with tools and techniques to build a more communicative, inclusive environment. Practice guiding students (maybe other teachers and admin too!) through activities that will enhance communication skills.

SPEAKERS:
Shelly Grandell

As science educators and PhD students, the facilitators will present a research project they are working on to uncover values embedded in state standards documents.

TAKEAWAYS:
Audience members will learn about this research project, participate in a discussion of values embedded in NGSS-based standards, and learn how to use a web app to conduct similar research.

SPEAKERS:
Juanita Martin, Jesse Mechanick

Join NSTA, the STEM Education Coalition, the Hands-On Science Partnership and the National Academies to learn about emerging public policy issues and how NSTA members can engage in the policymaking conversation at the national, state, and local level.

TAKEAWAYS:
As the old saying goes: If you are not at the table, you might end up on the menu. We will talk about practical ways to get science educators around today’s policymaking table. Also get a preview of upcoming NAS studies that can impact the field.

SPEAKERS:
Amy Stephens, Erika Shugart, Alex Molinich, James Brown

Denver science instructional leaders use research evidence to design a curriculum audit tool to support meeting their district's equity goals.

TAKEAWAYS:
Research on equitable instructional practices can be used to design tools to support moving toward system-wide goals for equity in science classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Johnston, Keyerria Howard

This action research investigates the impact of job-embedded professional learning (focused on using science and literacy strategies in the science classroom) on the performance and achievement of students, and the effectiveness of the science teacher.

TAKEAWAYS:
The key takeaways will include a suite of strategies and interventions that can be implemented district-wide or at the classroom level. These strategies focus on the intersection of science and literacy, and how they interplay in the science classroom and curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Marissa Murdock

Networks matter. Creating professional networks is challenged by time, space, and resources. Learn how facilitated networking with STEM experts, education researchers, and other teachers improved our earth and environmental science teaching and made student learning more relevant and engaging.

TAKEAWAYS:
Effective, quality teachers need a collaborative network. Building a comprehensive network includes professionals within and beyond the educational sphere. Attendees will learn about the importance of teacher networks and strategies for building their own network to enhance curriculum development.

SPEAKERS:
Alyssa Weisenstein, Angela Zier

Deep dive trainings in strategic communications; focused on the use of digital and social media tools to reach broader audiences and on persuasive writing tips and techniques. Trainings will be followed by a panel of state teams who completed the trainings and are using the skills locally.

TAKEAWAYS:
Skills to effectively advocate for K12 science via digital and social media tools and techniques for securing OpEd/LTE and blog placements.

SPEAKERS:
Josh Parrish, Julia Rothenberg, Eric Rosenberg, Adam Ezring

Curriculum implementation requires a robust professional learning program to support teachers in making the shifts called for in NRC’s Framework. This experience leverages BSCS’s new instructional model, Anchored Inquiry Learning (AIL), and an immersion model of professional learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leaders can support teachers with making the instructional shifts called for in the NRC’s Framework through immersive, curriculum-based professional learning programs.

SPEAKERS:
Jenine Cotton-Proby

Engage with teachers and informal educators to learn about informal and formal partnerships in the largest school district in the country. Session will include a hands-on brainstorming session to inspire participants to think outside of the box when creating community partnerships.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will glean insights from educators about their experience working with informal science institutions and the benefits to their teaching practice. Participants will brainstorm engagement with different informal science institutions and the steps needed to form partnership connections.

SPEAKERS:
Shannen Rivadeneira, Megan Janke, Jessie Scofield

The purpose of the JROTC STEM Leadership Academy (first began in 2015 in Mobile, AL) is to engage a unique population of high school students, 9th and 10th grade JROTC cadets, in STEM content, skills and fields of study needed by business and industry today.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to incorporate STEM lessons into after school and summer programs while building an interest in area industries and workforce development.

SPEAKERS:
Chastity Touchstone, Ashley Daigle

The underpinning of meaningful professional learning lies in coherent and sustained professional development experiences teachers can apply in the classroom. This session focuses on how to apply the Science Professional Learning Standards in modeling discourse to improve instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
A clear understanding of how to apply the Science Professional Learning Standards to select and design professional learning experiences. A set of strategies and lesson plans for modeling classroom discourse and applying these strategies in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Candace Penrod, Brett Moulding

Sponsoring Company: InnerOrbit

How can we check how students are progressing towards sensemaking? In this session, explore recommendations for scaffolding sensemaking with 3-Dimensional and 2-Dimensional questioning. Educators will experience a small group analysis, take-home resources, and Q&A!

SPEAKERS:
Brendan Finch

NSTA’s suite of instructional coaching tools support teachers, coaches and leaders in making the best use of instructional coaching cycles to support students’ sensemaking in the classroom. Become familiar with all of our OER coaching tools and try a few out a few in this session!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to use NSTA’s suite of instructional coaching tools to support instructional coaching cycles in your school/district.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Soriano

Are you a preservice teachers’ instructor? Learn how NSTA's digital resources, web seminars, and online community can help students become the BEST teachers they can be. We will discuss what’s available at NSTA and how to easily access it from your own Class Landing Page. Membership is included.

TAKEAWAYS:
Instructors using NSTA as their Textbook (or as a supplement) have students who create a library of resources, grow their network of professional colleagues, and enhance their content and pedagogical knowledge of science. Membership is included.

SPEAKERS:
Flavio Mendez

Sponsoring Company: PEER Physics

PEER Physics invites students into the joy of doing science. We engage teachers, raise rigor, and reignite joy through a community dedicated to the love of learning. Celebrate our 10 year anniversary! In this session, we’ll hear inspiring stories from PEER Physics teachers from around the country.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Quinty

The DebriefScape project aims to improve science and math instruction for students with disabilities. To achieve this, our freely available resources are: a Coaching Model, a digital Observation tool, and a collection of hundreds of professional development opportunities for coaches and teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to access the freely available DebriefScape tools and resources, and see examples of their application thus far. The presenters will share lessons learned through their research and gather input to improve the tools and resources in the future.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Dieker, Rachel Hallett-Njuguna

Join us to explore how our science Teacher Leader Institutes empower educators to excel in subject matter knowledge, pedagogical skills, and leadership acumen. Discover the transformative impact of this initiative on educational capacity and professional growth.

TAKEAWAYS:
During the session, participants will discover how the Teacher Leader Institute was created using freely available resources and how it has been improved over time as new groups join and more professional development opportunities are introduced.

SPEAKERS:
Andy Weatherhead, Kammas Kersch

Inviting all Preservice Teachers, University-Level Teacher Education Faculty, and Faculty Advisors attending the conference to learn about NSTA’s Preservice Teacher Chapter Program with National and Local Preservice Teacher Chapter options.

TAKEAWAYS:
Preservice Teachers, University Teacher Educators, and Faculty Advisors will walk away informed about how to participate in NSTA’s Preservice Teacher Chapter Program.

SPEAKERS:
Flavio Mendez, Debi Hanuscin, Morgan Glann, Jim McDonald, Eli Vincent, Emma Patrus, Lauren Rupe

While it may seem like there’s nothing you can do about stress at work and home, there are steps you can take to relieve the pressure and regain control. Stress wreaks havoc on your emotional equilibrium, as well as your physical health. It narrows your ability to think clearly and function effectively.

TAKEAWAYS:
Tips on how to relieve pressure and regain control.

SPEAKERS:
Vivienne Allgood

Sponsoring Company: InnerOrbit

What does it mean to engage in 3-dimensional sensemaking in instruction AND assessment? Whether you’re getting started with the NGSS or seek to better understand sensemaking, join us as we dissect the nuances of one Performance Expectation’s 3 dimensions, through the lens of a lesson and assessment.

SPEAKERS:
David Jacob, Brendan Finch

Curriculum implementation provides an opportunity to uncover and confront persistent inequities in educational systems. Engage with us in an equity simulation to consider how policies and practices related to science curriculum implementation can either support or hinder equity goals.

TAKEAWAYS:
Barriers to equity are not in learners, but rather in environments. When seeking to reach “all”, historical and current policies and practices need to be examined. Educational policies and practices that are seemingly neutral can contribute to persistent inequities for marginalized student groups.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Gomez Zwiep, Janna Mahfoud

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

One of the biggest shifts involved with the continued implementation of NGSS standards is the movement to incorporate more phenomena-based and problem-based learning. To help prepare students for their next steps in school, students need to be doing science and seeing how it fits into their lives.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Padilla

Look across the Essentials of curriculum-based professional learning to figure out how leaders use them together to support teachers in making the shifts called for in NRC’s Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
By attending to the Essentials of curriculum-based professional learning, leaders take a systems approach to supporting teachers in the instructional shifts called for by NRC’s Framework. These shifts promote three-dimensional phenomena/problem-driven science teaching and learning.

SPEAKERS:
Nancy Hopkins-Evans, Susan Gomez Zwiep

Reflections of a book study of Leadership for Increasingly Diverse Schools. Presentation is about how the book study is focused on race, poverty, disabilities, LGBTQ, gender, multilingual learners, religion, family, and community advocacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be given an equity audit tool to use in their district to see where there may be areas of inequities to focus on. Users of the tool can create action steps to increase a more diverse school community. Attendees will be given resources and strategies to help support them.

SPEAKERS:
Tonyea Mead

The idea of teaching 3D science can be intimidating to an elementary classroom teacher. But a well-designed and thoughtful curriculum process can ensure that elementary teachers learn to love science as much as their students. Attendees will discover tools to improve science learning in schools.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn new tools for the selection and implementation of new curriculum. This includes designing professional learning and walkthrough documents that support teachers' continued learning and collaboration.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Jackson, Kris Raitzer

Upgrade your science teaching! NSTA's bite-sized PLUs fit any schedule and will deepen your understanding of three-dimensional teaching and boost student learning. Earn credit, conquer challenges, and unlock equitable classrooms - all on your terms!

TAKEAWAYS:
Lead your professional learning community’s learning using NSTA PLUs.

SPEAKERS:
Zoe Evans, Kristin Rademaker, Michelle Phillips

Sponsoring Company: InnerOrbit

In the transition to 3D common assessments, the most important factor to implementation is teacher advocacy and buy-in. Hear how K-12 science curriculum specialists at Harford County, MD leveraged InnerOrbit’s assessments and professional learning to design, refine, refine NGSS common assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Erin Cooke, Amy Ryan, Karen Meekins, Brendan Finch

How can engineering design invite student creativity and choice in a science classroom? Come learn about a teacher-developed tool for scaling student autonomy both up and down within engineering practices into your science class. Leave with new activity ideas and a new strategy for developing more.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this presentation, teachers will look at several examples of integrated-STEM instruction on a continuum of student-centricity and complexity. Teachers will use a Project Complexity Rubric to consider modifications to the examples and to their own engineering-oriented math and science instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Kylie Bertram, Emily Berman

Preparing and supporting teacher candidates with coherent and engaging learning experiences requires the collaborative efforts of different sectors of the education system. We will discuss the strategies and resources developed and implemented to ensure K-5 science teachers are classroom-ready.

TAKEAWAYS:
Gain concrete strategies and resources to consider a similar collaborative process within your regional and local context.

SPEAKERS:
Tana Luther, Susan Gomez Zwiep, Nancy Hopkins-Evans

In science classrooms, we often focus on the "subject of study" without addressing the other two "subjects" in the room: the teacher and student. Awakening the spirits of the educator and students in the classroom leads to a stronger sense of belonging and respect, & greater lesson effectiveness.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn two foundational models of human awareness and behavior, then create interpersonal intentions that will provide a higher level of effectiveness and enjoyment for themselves and students in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Mick Scott

EdReports will share case studies of state partnerships and discuss how to use local priorities to drive the instructional materials adoption process.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to engage with their state and district to develop local priorities and establish an instructional vision, utilizing EdReports reviews of instructional materials, to make informed adoption decisions based on local context.

SPEAKERS:
Shannon Wachowski

NSTA's Early Childhood - Elementary Science Committee welcomes educators seeking science and STEM teaching resources for our youngest learners. Discover teaching support, network with peers, and explore leadership opportunities with NSTA membership. All EC and elementary teachers are welcome!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about NSTA's leadership opportunities, committees, and resources available to early childhood and elementary educators.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Parks, Simone Nance, Annette Venegas, Katie Morrison, Jennifer Williams, Jenn Brown-Whale

Teachers in many rural districts around the country operate as singletons and very rarely have the opportunity to collaborate with teachers of the same subject area. The presenter will discuss the steps she took that led to significant growth as indicated by state test scores.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the strategies that are necessary to support teachers in rural school districts, which in turn, supports all learners.

SPEAKERS:
LATASHA LAMPKIN

This session will detail how to select a debate topic and how to structure a successful debate in an elementary classroom. Presenter will provide specific examples of exactly how to plan a debate and how to organize research, teams, and the debate itself.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to structure a formal debate in my classroom that will teach students valuable research and leadership skills.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Kurson

As educators, we have the power to inspire, shape, and influence young minds. To do that effectively we must continuously learn and grow. We will explore how to design your own professional development plan, become an expert in your field, and find joy through discovering your passions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will set goals and identify opportunities for growth. We will share workshops, courses, and fellowship opportunities to enhance teaching skills and personal growth.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Thompson, Samantha Willsey

Learn about the latest developments from NSTA, including changes in governance, volunteer opportunities, and new services and resources. There will also be an opportunity for you to provide feedback to NSTA leadership.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about ways that NSTA can help their professional journey and will provide feedback to the association.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Alicia Conerly, Elizabeth Mulkerrin, Julie Luft, Erika Shugart

Institutes of Higher Education are integral in developing pre-service teachers environmental literacy (ELit). The HEEL fellowship focuses on building faculty capacity of ELit application to teacher education. This presentation will share curriculum examples, self-reported reflections, and artifacts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Recommendations for environmental literacy practices, curriculum, and resources for fostering environmental literacy in Higher Education faculty and pre-service teacher education.

SPEAKERS:
Chelsea McClure

Are you a science coach or teacher leader? Come learn some "tricks of the trade" from science teachers turned coaches. Come put some tools in your tool box and learn some techniques to help your coaching skills and improve your relationships with teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will provide instructional coaches, department chairs, teacher leaders, and administrators with tools to help science teachers upgrade their practices for the NGSS.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Newburger, Samantha Levine

STEP UP is a national community that designs lessons to inspire women to pursue physics in college. Learn about our Careers in Physics lesson, including tools you can use to match students’ interests with physics-related careers and increase enrollment in the physics classes your school offers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about and practice using STEP UP’s Careers in Physics online career matching tool and options for using it in their classroom. Participants will also learn ways to increase interest and enrollment in high school physics programs.

SPEAKERS:
Kori Bowns-Kamphuis

Join us to learn how to Create a Positive STEM Identity for Students! Give students the power to be confident, curious, and capable in STEM using the lens of flight to generate passionate pursuits. Discover practical strategies to promote a growth mindset, creativity, and increase student agency.

TAKEAWAYS:
Unlock students' STEM IDENTITY with hands-on strategies that inspire confidence, curiosity, and STEM skills. Learn how aviation and aeronautics can promote a growth mindset and create real-life engineering scenarios and career connections. Get free resources and actionable steps at this session.

SPEAKERS:
Christina Davis

This session provides K-12 Colorado educators information about the Science Standards Review and Revision process beginning in the Spring of 2025 and concluding in June 2026. In addition to the background on the five stages of the process, educators will learn how they can apply to participate.

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of this session, participants will describe the five main stages of the Standards Review and Revision process and identify opportunities for educators to participate in the process.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Agoos

Architects of STEM Collaborations immerse cross sectors to develop a conduit for ALL students to be successful. An established STEM collaboration hub helps ALL students/teachers bridge the cultural and opportunity gaps within our National STEM Ecosystem.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to develop research education blueprints that incorporate culturally responsive externships outside the classroom. Help students gain access to a global "collaboration hub" and pathways for rewarding/productive STEM careers.

SPEAKERS:
Doug Baltz

The Everyday Actions Guide includes a self-reflection for teachers and suggestions for actions in and out of the classroom to foster a strong physics class community. Come learn about strategies to help all students, especially those historically left out of physics, see themselves as “physics people.”

TAKEAWAYS:
The STEP UP Curriculum includes two NGSS-aligned lessons proven to encourage women and other marginalized groups to consider pursuing physics. The Everyday Actions Guide is filled with suggestions for encouraging all students to pursue physics and improve their physics identity throughout the year.

SPEAKERS:
Bree Barnett Dreyfuss

The idea of teaching 3D science can be intimidating to an elementary classroom teacher. But there are ways to ensure elementary generalists love teaching science as much as their students love learning it. Join this roundtable session to discuss how to grow confident teachers of science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to select and implement new curriculum as well as robust professional development to support 3D science learning in their elementary schools.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Jackson, Kris Raitzer

In this session, you can drop in to meet Sam Agoos the Science Content Specialist for the Colorado Department of Education. This time will provide opportunities for networking as well as space for important conversations regarding the status of three dimensional learning in your school or district.

TAKEAWAYS:
Build relationships with Sam Agoos the science content specialist at the Colorado Department of Education.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Agoos

Pacific Alliance Against COVID-19 curricula provided teachers with historical contexts and student inquiry lessons to mitigate COVID-19. Major findings: teachers seek roles as public health educators and PD to address mental health, disinformation, and reduce impacts on vulnerable NH-PI populations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teacher leaders can provide timely, trusted information during times of uncertainty. Professional development providing current COVID-19 information, istudent-centered inquiry lessons, and access to networks of community partners supported teacher leadership and agency as public health educators.

SPEAKERS:
Pauline Chinn

Can classrooms and labs be more engaging with more frequent use of materials while not being more stressful? Identify factors that reduce the frequency of meaningful hands-on learning. Embed organizational strategies into lesson delivery. All students can access procedures and retain concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will consider how non-verbal instructional cues impact students' active engagement and participation in procedures. With specific strategies, teachers can increase academic vocabulary, student independence, and concept retention.

SPEAKERS:
C Walsh

Participants will gain tools for reducing marginalization in the physics classroom. This session begins with STEP UP’s Women in Physics curriculum and ends with resources and strategies for having difficult but necessary conversations about equity and inclusion.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain resources and strategies for having DEI–related conversations in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Praisy Poluan

Loyola University Chicago is partnering with Chicago Public Schools to use an engineering design approach to create an innovative system for science teacher career development.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn the key factors and lessons learned from 6 years of implementing a PL system designed to both advance teachers' science instructional practice while also explicitly enhancing their capacity to serve as district science teacher leaders.

SPEAKERS:
Kayla Cherry, Sarah Stults

By cultivating positive relationships among science educators and leaders, including the state department of education, district science leaders, college professors, and vendor partners, the SC Science Education Leadership Association has actively advocated for K-12 science in South Carolina.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn what makes SCSELA a successful state science leadership organization and how to implement community-building practices within their own science leadership communities in order to grow a network that advocates for successful science education.

SPEAKERS:
Holly Sullivan, Edwin Emmer

Come learn about ways that you can help advance the field of Science Education and improve your teaching through the many different leadership opportunities that exist which also allow you to stay in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how participation in teacher advisory committees supporting museums and science centers, or other organizations such as Science Olympiad, NSTA, and NSELA can allow them to improve their teaching and be Science Education leaders while remaining in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Joshua Smith, Leah Litz, Roy Arezzo, John Loehr, Shari Brady, Tim Lundt

Join us to learn about a university-led program that sought to bridge the gap between high school and college-level biology. We will share the concepts where our students struggle–at both the high school and first-year college level–and explore best practices to support their learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to build partnerships between universities and high schools to support the final tier of vertical articulation for our students. We will also share the content and study skill gaps that persist from high school through college, and specific strategies to address them.

SPEAKERS:
Kyle Houser, Cathlene Leary-Elderkin, Drue Stapleton

This session will provide K-12 Colorado science teachers support with aligning classroom instruction to the Colorado Academic Standards for Science by unpacking the components of the standards and providing free, evidence-based instructional resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of this session, participants will recognize the three dimensions of the Evidence Outcome Statements outlined in the Colorado Academic Standards for Science and leave with evidence-based instructional resources to support them in aligning their science instruction with the standards.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Agoos

Join the classroom culture conversation in this session as we discuss strategies for promoting inclusivity in the science classroom through adaptability, community building circles, responsiveness, and collaboration.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore welcoming routines, as well as content and non-content prompts used in community building circles that foster a positive and safe environment. Sample newsletters will be available to share ideas for collaboration among the learning community that support inclusive science education.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Yajaira Fuentes-Tauber

Education research reveals that advanced undergraduate and graduate students often feel a lack of agency when working under faculty advisors. More effective mentoring practices can demonstrate positive effects on student success. Best practices and expectation management principles are provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
Data gathered from current graduate students and experienced advisors is presented. The strengths and weaknesses of graduate education are highlighted and recommendations for improvement are provided. Participants will be better equipped to build more productive relationships with diverse students.

SPEAKERS:
Timothy Slater, Michelle Mason

Are you looking for specific Space Science Professional Learning or want to be an ambassador for space science? Come learn about current outreach programs to apply for Space Education Ambassador programs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will have access to a variety of Professional Learning programs in Space Science and ways to connect with other Space Education Educators. Participants will also learn about strategies for Leadership in Aerospace Education.

SPEAKERS:
Heidi Ragsdale

NAGT's Teacher Education Division developed 10 leadership criteria to encourage K-12 educators as teacher leaders. This competitive annual award honors teachers who satisfy at least 7 criteria. Each qualified nominee receives a certificate of recognition, but only 1 nominee earns the annual award.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to (self-)nominate a candidate for the NAGT TED Earth Sciences Teacher Leader Award. We will consider the leadership criteria, nominating committee concerns, and monetary value of the award.

SPEAKERS:
Suzanne Metlay

We’ve all experienced the power of immersion. Learning in these moments, fostering a deep connection to the community and world around us, can have a profound impact on students. Join us for this Teacher Voices Keynote Panel

TAKEAWAYS:
Moderated by Dr Stephen Pruitt, featuring Julia Navarro, Charles Hayes, and Khamphet Pease

SPEAKERS:
Stephen Pruitt, Julia Navarro, Khamphet Pease, Charles Hayes

Join Girls Who Code to learn how to build inclusive programs– equipping students with the confidence and skills they need to make a positive impact on their community and career. You’ll walk away with tangible tips and tools for how to incorporate coding, community-building activities, and more.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to implement coding activities that encourage positive social-emotional development and engage learners from historically underrepresented groups in tech. Attendees will leave the session with best practices and guidance for building inclusive coding programs in their communities.

SPEAKERS:
Kibret Yebetit

Teacher PD typically includes 1-2 weeks of intensive summer instruction, but implementation is often months later. How effective is this model and is there a better way? We will share our research from a PD model that is based on pedagogical techniques used in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
This paper will share the logistics of our PD model, challenges, findings from our current research, and implications for future PD in K-16.

SPEAKERS:
Karen Matsler

Instructional coaching is a way to build reflective practices in teachers to drive instructional change. The relational nature of coaching techniques allows the coach to provide specific, context-based suggestions that could be used to address inequitable structures in classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Individuals who work with teachers can make specific and intentional moves to help science teachers reflect on and challenge structures of power, narratives, and values of science, and what science participation looks like from within specific classroom structures.

SPEAKERS:
Jeff Spencer

We invite educators from both formal and informal science learning environments to come and engage with the Informal Science committee. Learn how the committee can support you, and connect with professionals from museums, zoos, aquaria, out-of-school-time programs, and more!

TAKEAWAYS:
Meet the Informal Science Committee, and find out how to connect with them in their work to support informal educators, expand the role of informal learning institutions, and strengthen the bonds between formal and informal science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Karen Hays, Lindsay Milner

In this session, you will learn about how Lincoln Park Zoo and Chicago Public Schools have created spaces for teachers, informal science educators, and researchers to come together to increase student understanding of the natural world in ways that support both formal and informal curricula.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn methods for more robust collaboration between school districts and informal science partners that will increase student critical thinking and science literacy to make informed decisions about their communities and the environment.

SPEAKERS:
Rosie Arnold, Laura Decker

Join our panel of preservice and novice teachers as they share internship and early teaching experiences. Ask questions and gain valuable insights!

TAKEAWAYS:
Preservice teachers can be better prepared to student teach and begin their first jobs by hearing stories from, and asking questions of, preservice and new teachers who have just experienced interning, or their first years of teaching.

SPEAKERS:
Flavio Mendez, SOPHIA JEONG, Laura Robertson, Jaclyn Murray, Erika Reeves, Kelsea Gray

Sponsoring Company: Nuclear Energy Education Initiative

This workshop will provide a one-stop-shop for Nuclear and other STEM Professionals, Industry Organizations, Parents, Teachers, Coaches, and Influencers to encourage 8th graders to pursue nuclear and STEM careers.

SPEAKERS:
Desiree Wolfgramm, Mandi Brigman, Bobbi Jo Halvorson

Sponsoring Company: Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

Did you know the federal government offers numerous internships, fellowships, and institutes for teachers? Join us as Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) recipients share their own experiences working with federal agencies like NASA, NSF, and more.

The presentation will review the findings and implications of a qualitative dissertation research study of elementary teachers who developed and implemented a standards-based science curriculum and how that experience plays out in teachers' classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
How does building and district leadership help or hinder the science curriculum implementation process?

SPEAKERS:
David Jacob

“Those who can do; those who can’t teach.” Sorry, that quote does not resonate with my teaching story. Learn the power of storytelling and how it can help transform your class and school through building better student relationships, creating student voice, and increasing student engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn benefits and strategies for creating and telling stories in the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jeremy Harden

Higher Education faculty were engaged in an ELit professional learning community focused on capacity building and ELit integration into the teacher education classroom. In this session, we will share the qualitative data (course artifacts, participant reflections) and details on the HEEL curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will share ideas for integration of environmental literacy in teacher education curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Chelsea McClure

Top educators (PAEMST) share their FAVORITE resources for bringing best practices into the K-12 classroom. Teaching treasures will range from favorite lessons, to websites, grants, and other resources. This session includes grade-level specific sharing as well as resources for all educators.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about outstanding resources that are a favorite of the Presidential Awardees (PAEMST) and walk away with QR codes, websites, grant ideas, lesson plans, and more!

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Renfrew, DeLene Hoffner

This poster will share connections between cybersecurity research and student leadership and was developed from an NSF Research Experience for Teachers. The premise empowers student leadership by cultivating cybersecurity awareness and digital citizenship for ethical engagement in the digital era.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will share and provide resources from a curriculum developed during an NSF summer Research Experience for Teachers. A QR code linking to the curriculum website will provide lesson ideas and support for potential implementation.

SPEAKERS:
Steve Gewinner, Tara Bonebrake

Learn about the National Middle Level Science Teachers Association and what we offer to our members.

TAKEAWAYS:
NMLSTA is the only national organization dedicated to the support of middle-level educators—grades five through nine.

SPEAKERS:
Anne Schoeffler, Mary Lou Lipscomb

New teachers struggle with classroom management, a work-life balance, and a lack of support. In contrast, teachers benefited from professional and emotional support, improved their communication skills through teaching, and felt a sense of purpose in their teaching.

TAKEAWAYS:
New teachers benefit from their own parental support and/or mentor support.

SPEAKERS:
Donald Selway

Engage with a strategic tool used to identify specific and systemic barriers that hinder students' with IEPs access to grade level science instruction in order to intentionally design high quality, standards-based science and engineering learning experiences and environment for ALL students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Research on equitable systems and instructional practices used to design tools to support moving toward system-wide goals for equity in science classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Eva Bridgeforth, Tammy Law, Elizabeth Johnston

DEI session focuses on ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) & how they affect children’s education. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of how ACES affect behavior & learning, how educators can promote a safe classroom environment, & rehearse coping strategies for use in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
ACEs contribute to toxic stress that changes the brains of the affected. This interrupts quality health, behavior, and of most importance, learning. In order to maximize student achievement, educators must learn to recognize the effects of ACEs and how to foster resilience.

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Eades

Leaders and advocates will critically review strategies for connecting with their community to build a program focused on supporting STEAM with emphasis on inclusive practices for design with equity at the forefront.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will take away strategies for engaging with their community to support their schools in developing and sustaining STEAM programming focused on equity.

SPEAKERS:
Terry Smith, Vincent Scotto

Calling all diverse and experienced K-12 educators that impact students and their community. Learn how to win up to $10K with Shell-sponsored teacher awards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Collaborate with past winners and judges to learn how to start your winning application for the Shell Teaching Awards. We'll walk through the application step-by-step, and you'll be able to begin your application or nomination form live. These awards are applicable to K-12 science educators.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Upton

College and university faculty who recruit STEM teacher candidates: This session is for you!

TAKEAWAYS:
There is a STEM teacher shortage. Students are interested! College and university faculty can help!!

SPEAKERS:
Jia Wern Hue

Hosting a STEM Science Fair promotes engagement with the scientific method and CER. It allows students to investigate areas of science that interest them. Learn the logistics of hosting a science fair at your school and the benefits it can bring to your building.

TAKEAWAYS:
Hosting a Science Fair allows students to be active scientists as they study, experiment, and share their knowledge of an in-depth topic of their interest.

SPEAKERS:
Stacie Hopple

In this session, teachers and administrators will gain information about using formative assessments to make instructional shifts to meet students' learning needs. The intended audience is teachers and administrators for science, math, and engineering courses in grades 3-12.

TAKEAWAYS:
The importance of exit tickets: Assessments are only useful when used to guide further instruction. Often times, assessments are used to evaluate what students don’t know. How can teachers make daily adjustments to meet the needs of students? Make student learning visible to make adjustments.

SPEAKERS:
Victor Sampson

A discussion on how the CMU preservice student NSTA chapter maintains the organization at the university level, focusing on how they are involved in promoting STEM sensemaking in schools, fundraising for their organization, and providing professional development opportunities to preservice teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about the ideas, strategies, and resources the CMU preservice chapter uses to maintain the chapter. The executive board members will touch on community science events, fundraising, and the professional development opportunities that allow us to be a successful organization.

SPEAKERS:
Eli Vincent, Jim McDonald, Emma Patrus, Morgan Glann, Lauren Rupe

Teacher leaders are the superheroes of education. In this session participants will investigate the Domain IV of the Teacher Leader Model Standards. In this deep dive, facilitating improvement in science instruction and student learning will be addressed.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through participant dialogue, each attendee will walk away with a list of methods or practices found to be successful in the science classroom, as well as, ways to collaborate and support colleagues.

SPEAKERS:
Jenne VandePanne, Jessica Wagenmaker

Come see how you can make a shift to storylines in your classroom where students make sense of phenomena and see how this motivates them to engage in science and engineering practices, learn disciplinary core ideas, and crosscutting concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Having students make sense of phenomena leads to greater engagement and deeper understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard

Education research emphasizes the importance of representation; however, this session takes a broader perspective. Join us as we share insights from PEBC’s inaugural BEST Conference, an effort to expand beyond young learners and explore belonging that centers educators and professionals.

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of the session, participants will have a greater understanding of the purpose behind PEBC's BEST Conference, and pragmatic strategies to employ with the BIPOC educators and professionals that they support.

SPEAKERS:
Jailyn Jenkins