We asked the question, how can a picture walk of trees in forested environments spark student thinking about energy needs of trees? This presentation reports on the findings with undergraduates and shares insights on how the picture walk can be used with middle, secondary, and undergraduate students

TAKEAWAYS:
How to use an everyday phenomena of trees in forested environments to spark students in sensemaking about from where trees access their energy and what they do with that energy; foundational ideas for understanding photosynthesis and respiration.

SPEAKERS:
Katherine Sharp, Rebecca Krall

Many graduate programs include a requirement to write an article for publication. This roundtable will offer Q+A for graduate students with two professors who specialize in helping their students get published.

TAKEAWAYS:
Instructions and tips for graduate students hoping to publish in NSTA journals.

SPEAKERS:
Brooke Whitworth, Colby Tofel-Grehl, Peter Lindeman

This project is to create a synchronous online instructional model that integrates academic coaching to enhance the learning experience of future elementary teachers regarding diverse cultures.

TAKEAWAYS:
This project is to create a synchronous online instructional model that integrates academic coaching to enhance the learning experience of future elementary teachers regarding diverse cultures.

SPEAKERS:
Jiyoon Yoon

This session shares resources to create meaningful, integrated learning experiences for young learners. By incorporating trade books tailored for young learners, the session offers insights into how these books can function as catalysts for sparking curiosity and providing pathways for SEPs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn techniques to evaluate science content from trade books and will take away a curated collection of recommended literature and hands-on activity ideas built on science and engineering practices.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Parks

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

Past and present members of the Early Childhood Education Committee will share their journey of how they became elementary science teachers. The discussion includes the importance of science equity from the beginning of a child's education, and how panel members 'grew' science in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
The panel would like to promote and support early education and elementary teachers to teach science as an interdisciplinary discipline. Sharing our "journey" is a way of dispelling the myth that great science teachers haven't had the same struggles as novice teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Jenn Brown-Whale, Mary Lynn Hess, Annette Venegas

Interactive modeling aids in addressing alternate conceptions for major science concepts and develops students’ science identity. This session will share the research results from a middle school Earth Science classroom and explore methods to incorporate modeling for increased Earth Science literacy

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with ideas to incorporate Iterative modeling in Earth Science classrooms, addressing alternate conceptions to increase Earth Science literacy and using modeling for formative and summative assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Jocelyn Miller, Missie Olson

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

Dive into the world of watershed stewardship! This session will provide a clear roadmap and lesson plan for bringing this experience to your classroom. Together, we'll inspire the next generation of environmental leaders and make a positive impact on our world, one watershed at a time.

TAKEAWAYS:
This presentation is designed to inspire and equip teachers to embark on exciting watershed stewardship projects with students. By the end of this presentation, teachers will be ready to embark on a watershed stewardship journey, fostering environmental stewardship and scientific curiosity.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Biernat

Pedagogy is a word we hear but rarely engage with. This session will outline how pedagogy is a teacher’s superpower and how it can make learning most meaningful for learners. It will enable teachers to be agents of change, empower them and re-establish their relationship with curricula.

TAKEAWAYS:
The relationship between curricula and pedagogy is complex – this session will mean you have the opportunity (and challenge!) to be more aware of the power in your hands as 'teacher' by immersing yourself in pedagogical thinking.

SPEAKERS:
Leigh Hoath

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

Science and literacy go hand in hand in the early elementary classroom. In this session we will use non-fiction picture books to help our students understand scientific and STEM concepts, teach them to connect to the texts, and teach them how to apply these connections to their everyday lives.

TAKEAWAYS:
As elementary teachers, we love to implement literature into our teaching. In this session, attendees will be given several student-approved non-fiction picture book ideas and lessons they can take back with them to encourage problem-solving, creativity, and relationships in their science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Megan Hunt

In this session, teachers will share their experience as participants in a summer research program and how they transferred that opportunity into classroom activities to develop scientific practices in their students.

TAKEAWAYS:
The panel will share their experience as participants in a summer research program and will describe the design and implementation of classroom activities that promote the development of scientific practices.

SPEAKERS:
Sandra Beltrán-Morales, Cruz Vázquez Enchautegui, Mabel Rodriguez Espinosa, Michelle Borrero, Angela Del Toro

Join this panel discussion that highlights the strategies that three science teachers use for adapting the Matter, Energy, and Forces framework, a tool integrated in OpenSciEd materials. This tool aims to support student sense making of disciplinary core ideas across multiple domains

TAKEAWAYS:
The Framework promotes the use of language about energy and matter across the disciplines in science instruction. There are productive instructional practices to use the MEF triangle to draw students' attention to interactions between matter, energy, and forces as they explore natural phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
Joe Kremer, Kathryn Fleegal, Diego Rojas-Perilla

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

Using NEED (National Energy Education Development) Project resources and tools for engaging STEM lessons that engage and energize students during school day and after school instruction. Presenter is a public school educator with two decades of classroom and after school experience using NEED.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to use the NEED website to find resources to meet their individual teaching needs. Engaging lessons that are well-tested with students will be highlighted and shared in hopes that educators walk away with more useful tools that can be used to excite students about STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Audrey Hughes

This study aims to provide opportunities to collaborate with rural science teachers in a mutually beneficial partnership in order to build agency in rural teachers, students, and preservice teachers in rural classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will collaborate with presenters in order for all to better understand the challenges and opportunities for providing high-quality, engaging science instruction to students in rural areas.

SPEAKERS:
Gwinn North

Rather than simply use an interesting news story or issue to "hook" students, I use a current issue to drive the Biology content covered in that lecture. By carefully choosing issues across all parts of Biology, I cover all content normally included in an introductory Biology class.

TAKEAWAYS:
I will provide specific guidance to transform the delivery of content to align with current, relevant issues. This includes individual variations that can either include or exclude physiology, and cover more, or less, content in specific areas of Biology.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Sawey