In this session, participants will learn about the NSTA Best STEM books and how they are selected. They will dive into the SEPs and examine how they are portrayed in the books. They will also take advantage of opportunities to examine how each book models the SEPs, improving their ability to identify and apply them throughout the book. The books selected will be from previous BSB lists.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn to utilize the Best STEM Books to teach the Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs).

SPEAKERS:
Simone Nance, Kimberly Berry, Christine Anne Royce, J Carrie Launius

This session focuses on turning classroom insight into meaningful policy influence by treating advocacy as a practical, learnable skill for science educators. Participants will explore a clear framework for engaging at the school, district, and state levels in ways that are professional and sustainable. Drawing on National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) position statements and classroom-based evidence, we’ll focus on advocating for the professional learning and resources needed so standards translate into effective practice—not unfunded mandates. We’ll also examine responsible ways to involve students in advocacy that build civic skills like evidence-based communication and research. Participants leave with adaptable tools and language to support high-quality, inclusive science education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Your day-to-day classroom experience is valid evidence—and when you pair it with a clear framework and tools, you can use it to advocate effectively for the resources and support your students actually need.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Keller

This session pulls back the curtain on the NSTA/CBC Best STEM Book award, examining the selection process and how titles can anchor complex, three-dimensional learning. Participants will first explore the committee's specific criteria, looking beyond standard narratives to identify books that authentically model the Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) and the iterative nature of design. In a hands-on workshop format, you will act as a committee member to evaluate a variety of high-quality trade books. Can you identify which titles meet the "Best STEM" threshold and which fall short? We will analyze how these books highlight real-world problem-solving and divergent thinking. Finally, we will demonstrate how to move beyond "read-alouds" by using these books as catalysts for these practices. You will leave with instructional strategies and ideas for support materials to help students engage with complex content through the lens of award-winning STEM literature.

TAKEAWAYS:
Go beyond read-alouds by learning how the NSTA/CBC committee selects Best STEM Books. Evaluate titles using the Science and Engineering Practices to anchor three-dimensional learning. You'll leave with strategies to integrate these books into instruction, making the practices come alive for students

SPEAKERS:
Simone Nance, Elizabeth (Betsy) O'Day, Christine Anne Royce, J Carrie Launius

How do leaders move from "talking the talk" to "walking the walk" with science equity? Often, the barrier is a systemic avoidance of uncomfortable conversations regarding race and instructional priorities. Our team will lead this interactive session and introduce the World Café Protocol—a low-prep, high-leverage discussion framework designed to build psychological safety. Participants will examine compelling national data showing that science is the engine of literacy and economic agency, practice facilitating courageous conversations about the "STEM Desert," and leave with three concrete leadership commitments to foster durable change without contributing to burnout.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave this session with: ● A World Café Facilitator's Guide ● An Equity Data Deck ● 3 Leadership Commitments

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Williams, Tyrone McNichols

Science is a fundamental right for every student, starting in the earliest grades. However, elementary science is often reduced to simplified facts or infrequent activities. This session challenges that narrative, presenting a framework for consistent, complex, and equity-based science instruction across all grade levels. We will explore how to transition from traditional "experiments" to student-led investigations where sense-making is the primary goal. Participants will learn how to leverage three-dimensional instruction (SEPs, CCCs, and DCIs) to build student agency and ensure that every learner—regardless of background or language proficiency—has access to high-level scientific thinking. We will discuss the selection of support materials that reflect diverse voices and the development of non-biased assessments that prioritize conceptual complexity. By treating science as a core pillar of the elementary experience, we create a more equitable landscape for all students. Attendees wi

TAKEAWAYS:
Science belongs in every grade level. Equity is achieved when students are "doers" of science. Use Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) to create inclusive, complex environments where all students have agency to make sense of the world, regardless of their reading level or background.

SPEAKERS:
Tyrone McNichols, Mike Szydlowski, J Carrie Launius, Nicole Williams

Storylines are often presented as a powerful way to engage students in authentic science learning, but what does implementation really look like in practice? This session provides an honest examination of using storylines in a secondary science classroom, including both successes and failures. Through classroom examples, participant discussions, and collaborative brainstorming, attendees will explore how storyline instruction compares with traditional teaching approaches in supporting student engagement, curiosity, and scientific thinking. Participants will leave with a realistic understanding of the opportunities and challenges of storyline implementation and ideas they can immediately adapt for their own classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain a realistic understanding of how storyline instruction can transform science learning and identify practical steps for implementing storylines in their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Erin Snelling

In this hands-on session, participants will explore how to emphasize the “T” in STEM by integrating simple microcontrollers into authentic scientific inquiry. Attendees will use microcontrollers as accessible measuring tools to collect real-time data, observe patterns, and support evidence-based explanations. Through short inquiry investigations, we will examine how technology can deepen students’ understanding of scientific concepts while building their confidence with computational thinking. This session is designed for beginners and those looking to expand their STEM toolkit with meaningful, manageable technology integration.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will use microcontrollers and scientific inquiry to give students a hands-on experience with a technological tool that has sensor integration. The investigation will show the three dimensions and how the microcontroller can be a tool that drives modern STEM exploration.

SPEAKERS:
Susan German