It's Time for Science

It's Time for Science and it's time to talk about English Language Development (ELD) and translanguaging! Tom talks with Diana Vélez and Claudio Vargas about ELD in the science classroom and discusses their work on translanguaging. Diana Vélez is a curriculum developer and professional learning provider for the Full Option Science System Project (FOSS K–8) at the Lawrence Hall of Science. She specializes in English language development and the integration of literacy in science teaching and learning. Ms. Vélez assists in the development and implementation of FOSS instructional materials and creates pedagogical resources that support access and equity. She also leads professional learning experiences for educators, administrators, families, and community members using FOSS instructional materials to develop scientific literacy, teacher capacity, and systemic change in schools and districts across the country and internationally. Before coming to the Lawrence Hall of Science, Ms. Vélez was the instructional leader for a science-centered elementary school in Oakland, California and was a founding-member and teacher in a Spanish dual-immersion program. She has two bachelor's degrees from the University of California, Berkeley and bi-lingual teaching credentials from California State University, East Bay. Claudio Vargas is an educational consultant with Sci-Lingual Education and FOSS at the Lawrence Hall of Science. He delivers keynote presentations on equity in STEM and creates professional learning experiences for science educators, emphasizing support for Multilingual Learners with language and literacy development. Mr. Vargas has developed and led numerous professional learning programs throughout California, Washington, Texas, and Central America. Mr. Vargas serves on the Board of Directors of the California Association of Science Educators (CASE), a statewide organization dedicated to promoting access and equity in science education. He also served on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee that issued the national Call to Action to advance equitable science education. Previously, Mr. Vargas served as the Coordinator of K-12 Science Programs at the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), where he led the district's implementation of the NGSS. Tom begins with Diana and Claudio by discussing translanguaging in the science classroom; including asking what exactly IS translanguaging? They discuss working towards having the mindset that all resources students bring in are assets, including different languages; a brief history of translanguaging–this work is approximately 40 years old, beginning in Wales; in science, having students use ALL their repertoire of knowledge in sense-making; expanding the idea of bringing in prior knowledge to include bringing in understanding in different languages; letting students use everything they bring in to enhance the learning experience (a way students can connect their own individual lived experiences and cultures); learning languages as learning ways of interacting with the world; and how a feeling of belonging and being able to contribute helps students engage in the science classroom. They talk about  the ways that translation tools make using different languages more accessible in the classroom; how showing an interest in the language of your students can help them feel valued; a change in mindset for teachers to look at multilingualism as an asset and not a barrier; and how research shows that letting students switch in and out of languages can be beneficial–including for sense-making. They go on to discuss how it's not only "okay" to go back and forth between languages, but it can be beneficial; in science in particular, allowing students to not be limited and to pull upon all their resources; using opportunities to include other languages and seeing those opportunities  as opportunities to deepen student le

It's Time for Science, and it's time to talk about science communication! Tom talks with Erin Winick Anthony, science communicator and founder of STEAM Power Media, about what it means to be an effective science communicator, the importance and many components of effectively communicating about STEM/STEAM, her recent time on an ocean mapping expedition aboard the EV Nautilus, and being a competitive pinball player! Tom then talks with Kelly Guarino, Ocean Exploration Trust Communications Lead, about her organization, their ocean expeditions on the EV Nautilus, the fellowship opportunities available to educators of all types (from informal to formal), and internship opportunities available to community college, undergraduate, graduate students, and recent graduates. Erin Winick Anthony is the founder of STEAM Power Media, a science communication company focused on digital storytelling. Her clients include everyone from lunar rover company Astrolab to women in STEM-focused TV show Mission Unstoppable to parabolic flight company Zero-G. She holds a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Florida, and uses her technical background to serve as a translator between scientists and the public. Erin even sailed on a 2-month ocean expedition aboard the JOIDES Resolution as an onboard outreach officer, and as a science communication fellow aboard E/V Nautilus. Erin previously worked as a science communication specialist at NASA's Johnson Space Center for the International Space Station where she was awarded NASA's Silver Snoopy, and as a reporter for MIT Technology Review. She has a social media following of more than 250K (@erinwinick) to whom she shares space, science and pinball content. In her free time you can find her playing competitive pinball, hiking, and going to local musicals in Houston, Texas. https://www.erinwinick.com/ Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Bluesky, X: @erinwinick YouTube: @erinwinickanthony LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/erinwinick Tom and Erin talk about growing up a part of a family of teachers and engineers, becoming the fusion of the two; watching shuttle launches from her front yard as a kid in Florida; the teachers that made an impact on her; the importance of hands-on education in science; engineering as an application of science, and the best way to experience that as through hands-on and figuring out why something doesn't work; figuring out the fun in failure–the process of figuring out what didn't work; the many components and importance of STEM/STEAM education; creativity in science and math and showing students those creative elements; girls and women in STEM; the importance of representation; what it is to be a science communicator, who can be a science communicator (anyone!), and how she became a science communicator; her journey into figuring out her path in school; finding her people within a larger/tougher environment in college; her experiences flying on research flights and how micro-gravity on a parabolic flight works; her work for NASA and the International Space Station (including a family connection to the Apollo missions!); the collaborative nature of being a science communicator; her sea-mapping journey on the EV Nautilus, learning about what areas of the ocean need to be projected–talking with classrooms while at sea; how educators can be involved with the EV Nautilus mission; thinking about what humans bring to science and science communication, including on social media, during the rise of AI; and her involvement playing competitive pinball! Kelly Guarino is the Communications Lead and Education Program Coordinator for the Ocean Exploration Trust. She is in charge of communicating with and scheduling all of the live interactions between the EV Nautilus and venues across the world, including schools, museu

It's Time for Science, and it's time to talk about going back to school–with a first on It's Time for Science–talking to actual students! Tom talks with teacher Lisa Lacey about embedded assessment, student collaboration, academic vocabulary, and more! AFTER listening to an interview Ms. Lacey conducted with two students–talking about their experiences in the science classroom! Lisa Lacey is currently a third-grade teacher living in England. She has spent her career living and working in military communities. She has 26 years of teaching experience in elementary schools, with a language arts reading specialization and a Masters in Education.  Ms Lacey has led several writing initiatives and enjoys transferring her passion for teaching writing into helping students develop their scientific responses. She finds it a rewarding experience to witness students' confidence grow as they begin to facilitate sense making discussions and collaborate with others. Tom and Ms. Lacey begin by discussing what students bring to science, how they can take ownership over collaboration, and she works to empower students with the learning process. They discuss why she chose the students she did to interview, how the students prepared for the interview, and why the interview process was so valuable. Then we have the treat of listening to the students discuss their experiences during science! After the interview, they discuss how focussing on the embedded assessment notes helped assist Ms. Lacey in helping students better answer the focus questions; they discuss the importance of sense-making at the end of the lesson; her use of hand signals to help include all students, even the more quiet students, then moving on to using academic vocabulary, then later using a student to facilitate a discussion in the classroom; how hand signals can help students feel more comfortable in establishing a safe and engaging classroom environment; the importance of student collaboration and how it applies to everything students do in the classroom; the growth Ms. Lacey sees in students from the beginning to the end of the year in working collaboratively; the critical use of claim, evidence, and reasoning, and how Ms. Lacey brings in other tools and elements from literacy lessons to help students gain the skills and confidence to successfully engage with and answer focus questions; how the word wall can help students and take pressure off of students to remember how to spell; how science notebooks help students make claims; students learn from each other as well, so when some students begin using academic language, the class takes ownership over language; the real importance of the embedded assessment notes and using student notebooks. Past Episodes on Going Back to School: Back to School with Science [https://www.foss-science.com/back-to-school-with-science/] Back to School Readiness [https://www.foss-science.com/back-to-school-readiness/] Tips and Tricks on Starting Back to School: Set Goals and Prepare Your Science Classroom for Back to School [https://www.foss-science.com/set-goals-and-prepare-your-science-classroom-for-back-to-school/] Getting Ready for a New School Year with Science [https://www.foss-science.com/getting-ready-for-a-new-school-year-with-science-tips-for-teachers/] Want to read more about our guests and catch up on the podcast? Visit our new and improved blog: https://www.foss-science.com/category/podcast/. It's Time for Science! To get in touch with us, wh

It's Time for Science, and it's time to talk about cross cutting concepts and sense-making discussions! Tom talks with Dr. Samantha Messier and professional learning specialist Leslie Lausten about those deep fundamental ideas that span across all science disciplines and how to facilitate students making sense of the data they collect while engaging with phenomena and cross-cutting concepts.  Dr. Samantha Messier is a retired educator and biologist from Boulder, Colorado.  She served as Director of Standards and Instructional Support for the Colorado Department of Education and in multiple roles for the Boulder Valley School District, including Science Director and Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services and Equity. Her Ph.D. research was on the evolutionary ecology and behavior of termites.  Tom begins the discussion with Dr. Messier on cross-cutting concepts (CCC) and making sense of data, with discussing how one of the most critical components of a science-learning experience for a student is making sense of what they've experienced in the classroom. Tom and Dr. Messier talk about how, as educators, we often think of aiming towards a specific performance expectation (PE), but that PE almost always weaves together discipiinary core ideas (DCI), practice, and CCC; how those CCC provide connections across multiple disciplines of science; how we ultimately want students to be able to apply to different contexts and solve different types of problems; CCC help to build conceptual frameworks, which help students to better understand, organize their thinking, and retrieve ideas more easily. They talk about CCC across grades and how CCC change and deepen; Dr. Messier talks about her own deepening of understanding in college, using structure and function as an example; how beginning or less experienced teachers can work at helping students with sense-making; how as a teacher do you help students develop conceptual understandings and move on to the next level?; the importance of high quality instructional materials (HQIM), naming FOSS and the resources FOSS provides in helping facilitate sense-making through clear storylines; examining the DCI and CCC before beginning instruction to understand where a lesson is going; rephrasing DCIs in student-language, how students might say it in their own words, as one way of preparing to teach; how to help teachers with concerns that data collection will go awry–pay attention to groups as they collect data and help facilitate adjustment if needed; the learning opportunities presented by conflicting sets of data from different groups–how do we figure out which outcome is better supported by the data?; the importance of asking good questions as a teacher, rather than understanding all aspects of the science; how teachers might apply CCC to their local context to give students immediate and concrete pieces that relate to their everyday lives–science is literally everywhere! Leslie A. Lausten has a rich background in science instruction. She taught multiple elementary grades, was a literacy coach and science lead teacher for over 30 years in Virginia. She has an MEd in Science Education (K-8) and a Reading Specialist endorsement. Currently, she is the East FOSS Professional Learning Specialist and enjoys helping teachers implement best practices into their science classrooms through meaningful experiences and sensemaking. Tom and Ms. Lausten continue the CCC and sense-making conversation, beginning with discussing how sense-making is something many folks just don't understand the importance of when teaching a lesson; how science can help interdisciplinary connections; the importance of sense-making in all disciples; demystifying CCC–how are we already doing those things in other disciplines, and how can we transfer that to science?; the importance of HQIM in helping structure sense-making for students; how the exploration of concepts changes across grades, but also how it stays

Want to read more about our guests and catch up on the podcast? Visit our new and improved blog: https://www.foss-science.com/category/podcast/.   It's Time for Science, and it's time to talk about the importance of activating prior knowledge and a multimodal approach to science education through establishing noticing, wondering, and connections routines! Tom talks to Dr. Joel Donna, professor of teacher education, about routines that help students access prior knowledge and lived experiences, setting the stage for learning by centering student thinking. They also discuss teachers leveraging their own prior knowledge, how AI might begin to fit in to the science classroom, and much more!   Joel Donna is a professor of teacher education at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, where he prepares future elementary through high school teachers to teach science by engaging students in doing science. After earning his degree from UW–River Falls, he taught science in Kasson-Mantorville, MN, then earned a Ph.D. in Science Education from the University of Minnesota. He served as STEM Specialist at the Minnesota Department of Education, overseeing Math Science Partnership Grants and leading state STEM initiatives. He's been a Lecturer at the University of Minnesota, a Bush Fellow, and Assistant Professor of Physics at Winona State. He also founded 3Ring, a nonprofit supporting new science teachers. He's taught science at elementary, middle, high school, and college levels, consults with schools, and has served on regional science education committees. He contributed to the development of the OpenSciEd middle school curriculum. His research focuses on curriculum design for teacher learning and exploring teacher purposes of teaching science. He has published five peer-reviewed articles and two book chapters and led over 20 professional development workshops for districts.  He's presented at 60+ teacher conferences. He lives in River Falls with his wife and son and enjoys time in the water.   Tom talks with professor Joel Donna about the importance of activating prior knowledge—asking in the classroom what can we do together collectively as a science community?; how teachers coming into elementary science often believe they don't have the experience or knowledge to teach science and how important it is to leverage a teacher's prior knowledge, and then how modeling to do that with students. They discuss the the process of noticing, wondering, making some connections, slowing down, making space to see what we're seeing and hearing and what does it make us think of and connect to; asking teachers to bring in relevant experiences to bridge to students experiences; how when we engage in routine, we have a goal together, and need to make space for time for students to think. Dr. Donna describes the silent count—waiting and giving students time to think, which positions the teacher as co-learner; following routines of noticing, wondering, making connections, and then into group discussion; how high quality instructional materials (HQIM) then fit in; positioning teachers as co-learner BOTH for the teacher AND students. They discuss the importance of no right answers in initially activating prior knowledge and how these techniques can be taken into other disciplines, such as social studies; the importance of HQIM and Dr. Donna's shift from thinking teachers should design materials to partnering with them in appraising and evaluating HQIM; the importance of facilitating sense-making. Tom and Dr. Donna talk about the importance of kids seeing themselves in science and valuing the experiences and language they bring; bringing in vocabulary after students have worked to make sense of phenomena using observations and data; dealing with phenomena-fatigue through connection to real-world experiences and thinking. How teaching is not about perfection; practice mak

It's Time for Science, and it's time to talk about student-centered learning and successful implementation! Tom talks to science specialists Lynn Gutzwiller and Rachael Coleman from Jordan School District in Utah about how they best support teachers and how they were able to use ELA and technology funds to help fund their science curriculum purchase. Tom then talks with international classroom teacher Kendra Villalpando about keeping students engaged and her love of science!   Lynn Gutzwiller has worked in education for over 20 years, with extensive experience in middle school classrooms, administration, and instructional coaching.  She holds a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction and multiple endorsements including Secondary English, Elementary STEM, Instructional Coaching, and Educational Technology. For the past 5 years, Ms. Gutzwiller has worked as a Science Specialist in Jordan School District. Her consulting work includes museums, universities, and school districts throughout Utah. After parenting 4 boys to adulthood, she enjoys exploring new places in Southern Utah and hanging out with her granddaughter. Rachael Coleman has taught  middle and high school science for twenty years. For 6 years she has worked as a Science Specialist in Jordan School District. She holds Masters Degrees in Instructional Design and in Curriculum and Instruction, in addition to multiple teaching endorsements. Outside of work, Ms. Coleman enjoys outdoor adventures of any kind and spending time with her 4 children. Her consulting resume includes Discovery Gateway, Utah State Board of Education, Murray School District, School Specialty, Utah State University, and Canyons School District.   Tom talks with science specialists Lynn Gutzwiller and Rachael Coleman about how they approach supporting teachers in science instruction, including building resources and professional development; their beginnings as classroom teachers; the importance of hands-on science (nothing better than doing something with your hands while your brain is engaged!); how doing things with your own hands and watching data change is so critical to analysis; how being able to touch and interact with supplies is critical to answering focus questions. They discuss their journey to implementing FOSS; beginning with looking for a curriculum based on SEP and CC (not just slid in at the end); how they knew going into exploring implementation that they didn't have enough funds to purchase a curriculum just with science funds, so they included ELA in the conversation and decision, allowing them to use some ELA and tech funds to purchase FOSS. They discuss how ELA has their own curriculum in district and their work to balance science and ELA; how they've found that as kids are building vocabulary doing science, they're able to access more difficult texts; the shift for teachers to introduce vocabulary in context during an investigation and how it helps students understand vocabulary better; the advantages to having a district-wide curriculum, better able to support that curriculum across 42 schools. They talk about how their visits to every school helps teachers who are less comfortable with science as well as those who have a wider understanding of science; the importance of professional development and what it offers to assist both new and established FOSS teachers; fostering collaboration between teachers; what it was like adopting during lockdown; their favorite FOSS modules; and how disappointed kids are when it's recess!   Kendra Villalpando has taught all over the world. Ms. Villalpando is a newer teacher, currently teaching upper elementary, who holds a master's degree in curricular instruction.    Tom and Ms. Villalpando discuss her love of science; how science is best learned through active investigation; how she draws on her own childhood experiences with the natural word, bringing the spirit of curiosity and exploration to the classroom; the adva

It's Time for Science, and it's time to talk again providing access to STEM for all students and technology integration! Tom talks to Dr. Leena Bakshi McLean (founder of STEM4Real, and author of the book "STEM for All: How to Connect, Create, and Cultivate STEM Education for All Learners") and Nicole Czaplicki, a principal in the Upper Dauphin Area School District.     Dr. Leena Bakshi McLean is the founder of STEM4Real, a nonprofit professional learning organization dedicated to integrating science, mathematics, and STEM content with principles of justice-centered teaching and leadership. She has served as an adjunct professor of teaching methods and Universal Design for Learning at UC Berkeley and Claremont Graduate University. Dr. McLean is a former district and county-level administrator as well as a mathematics, science, and health teacher. She currently serves as the Director of Multicultural Education for the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) and previously served on the CASE Board of Directors. A sought-after international speaker, global consultant, and trusted advisor to schools, districts, charter networks, and nonprofit organizations, Dr. McLean leads research at the intersection of equity and STEM education. Her work focuses on creating access and opportunity for every student, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic status. She is the author of the children's book "There's Something in the Water" and her latest book, "STEM for All: How to Connect, Create, and Cultivate STEM Education for All Learners." Each year, she convenes education leaders from across the globe at the STEM for ALL Leadership Symposium, a powerful gathering dedicated to advancing equity, access, and opportunity in STEM education—for ALL, #4Real.   Tom talks with Dr. McLean about the importance and interdisciplinary nature of stem; looking at art and history through a STEM lens; why it's important for students from all backgrounds to see themselves in STEM and industry; looking at the gaps for where we are loosing different students as not a way to divide or pit us against each other, but questions we can ask so we can have some important conversations about what can we do to meet the needs of all students. They discuss teaching students to be real world change makers; Dr. McLean's experiences as a woman of color in STEM; what happens when students fail and how to help them learn from failure; the importance of all students seeing themselves in books, in STEM; how social media can fit in to online education; the power of combining pedagogy and leadership and being able to put both into practice together; the importance of connecting with administrators, teachers, and community members; and how to connect experiences for students, making experiences local and bringing excitement to STEM!   Here are some of the links Dr. McLean discusses: STEM4Real Homepage: www.stem4real.org Children's Book: www.stem4real.org/book STEM for ALL Book: www.stemforallbook.com STEM for ALL Leadership Symposium: www.stem4real.org/symposium   Nicole Czaplicki was a health & physical education teacher for 21 years at Halifax Area School District. In March of 2022, she joined Upper Dauphin Area School District and spent two years as a secondary instructional coach before becoming an elementary principal in February of 2024. She has two master's degrees: one in Health Education and one in Educational Technology.   Tom and Ms. Czaplicki discuss her background and the point when she was invited to help train teachers and introduced to FOSS, being asked to help with the transition to new state standards using FOSS; her transition to becoming a principal; the importance of hands-on learning and STEM; how providing more pathways to learn

It's Time for Science, and it's time to talk again fostering safeR hands-on science environments! Tom talks to safety expert Dr. Kenneth R. Roy (Director of Environmental Health & Safety for Glastonbury Public Schools in Connecticut) and 2025 Paul deHart Hurd Award winner Kenneth L. Huff!    Dr. Kenneth R. Roy is currently the Director of Environmental Health & Safety for Glastonbury Public Schools (CT). In addition, he is the Chief Science Safety Compliance Adviser/Chief Safety Blogger for the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) and the Safety Compliance Officer for the National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA). He also serves as the manager and senior consultant for National Safety Consultants, LLC. He has published 13 recognized science and STEM laboratory safety books and manuals, and authored over 850 safety articles in professional journals and associations including NSTA, NSELA, CSSS, ITEEA and more, covering safety education focused on science, technology education and STEAM disciplines based on legal safety standards and better professional safety practices. Dr. Roy has been actively involved with aspects of risk management and mitigation for decades and is recognized as an 'Expert Witness' in litigation cases specializing in the area of legal liability in K-12 laboratories. His career in science and mathematics education has included many, many roles and research positions, and includes the teaching of chemistry, physics & mathematics at the high school level, biology and general science at the college level, and central office administration as a K-12 science curriculum director. Dr. Roy has received numerous professional acknowledgement awards over the years for his outstanding work in the field of science education.   Tom talks with Dr. Roy about the importance of safety in the science classroom; Dr. Roy's role as Director of Environmental Health & Safety for Glastonbury Public Schools; putting the "R" on "safe" through training and responsibility taking; why labs take some of the safety precautions they take through engineering controls; how teachers can make sure any necessary controls are in place before they teach; different kinds of hazards in a lab; how teachers who may have not be trained by their credential programs can be safer; naming some of the differences between elementary and middle/high safety issues; safety seminars they offer at NSTA as preservice; the importance of hands-on science for and explaining safety issues to students; the need for administrator support for safety; proper storage AND proper disposal; knowing the safety policies in writing for field trips and other outside time; surveying outside areas for any risks before bringing students; checking in with any outside speakers to make their presentations safer. Dr. Roy shares some stories of safety skirting; his origin story of why safety matters so much to him personally and professionally; some of the great safety resources available; and a reminder to always put it in writing!   NMLSTA 2025 Paul deHart Hurd Award Winner Kenneth L. Huff has been a public-school science teacher for over 33 years and is currently teaching in the Williamsville Central School District in New York. He is also a Teacher in Residence with Harvard University-LabXchange. Mr. Huff served two terms on the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Board of Directors and as president of the Science Teachers Association of New York State and of the Association of Presidential Awardees in Science Teaching. He was a member of the writing team for the Next Generation Science Standards. Mr. Huff was awarded the NSTA Distinguished Teaching Award, National Science Education Leadership Association Outstanding Leadership in Science Education Award, State University of New York Buffalo State Distinguished Alumnus Award, and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Mr. Huff is also a Fellow of the American Asso

It's Time for Science, and it's time to talk again about implementing elementary science effectively! Tom talks with the team from the Syracuse City School District about what they've done to have such a successful implementation of the FOSS Program. This well-oiled team consists of Science and Technology Director Dr. Dana Corcoran and elementary science instructional coaches Amy MacDonough and Ashley Blood.   Dr. Dana Corcoran is the Science and Technology Director for the Syracuse City School District (SCSD), a role she has been in for the past 10 years. Prior to her current position, Dr. Corcoran served as the Supervisor of Science at OCM BOCES. Her extensive teaching experience includes both middle and high school science. Dr. Corcoran holds a degree in Biology from Utica College, a Master of Science in Teaching (MST) in Science Teaching from Le Moyne College, and both a PhD and a Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) in Educational Leadership from Syracuse University. Her academic background and professional journey reflect her deep commitment to education and leadership in the field of science and technology. Dr. Corcoran is also an avid supporter of community engagement and lifelong learning, often participating in local science fairs, mentoring young educators, and staying updated with the latest advancements in science and technology. Throughout her career, Dr. Corcoran has been instrumental in ensuring that all elementary students, from kindergarten through fifth grade, receive comprehensive science programming. She has also been a key leader in the district's transition to the new New York State Science Learning Standards (NYSSLS).   Amy M. MacDonough is from Syracuse; New York and has been working for the SCSD for 24 years. In the classroom 22 years, this is her 2nd year as an elementary science instructional coach. In her current role she has greatly enjoyed hooking teachers with the FOSS program.  As a former student herself of the SCSD, up to 6th grade, she's thrilled to be giving back. "It's so cool to see their students with materials and being engaged with their learning."    Ashley Blood is an elementary science instructional coach for the SCSD. Prior to this role she was an elementary teacher for ten years both in her home state of Alaska and in Syracuse. She is a passionate science educator, as she sees the incredible benefits to her students.   Tom begins the discussion with the SCSD team talking about why science education is so important, the importance of a scientific literate community; talking about learning gaps in their district; and how often science instruction is the most exciting for many kids. Students who don't have a lot of success in school in general can come in and feel successful in science. They discuss Dr. Corcoran's hiring; how she worked to get instructional coaches out of the classroom and working full time; and the need she saw to get consistency across schools and the need to bring in a strong curriculum program. They talk about the importance of instructional coaches in helping teachers get going; their journey to adoption and getting teacher buy-in, implementing small and then expanding to other grades; getting teachers excited; and how FOSS specifically helped students become engaged and get teacher buy-in to teaching science. They continue talking about how teachers learn about management and where to go for help; the PLC work they do helping teachers understand concepts and breaking various concepts down; and making sure new teachers get the support they need. They talk about how teachers are always surprised that there's really something for kids at all levels to do in science; their successes with students; and hearing over and over again about kids who aren't necessarily successful in other areas being engaged with science. Even kids that may not be fluent in English can draw, understand, and explore. Tom asks the team to dive deeper into how they approach access an

It's Time for Science, and it's time to talk again about science learning outdoors! Host Tom Racine talks with Dr. April Holton and educator Elisa Slee about outdoor professional learning and the value of getting both kids and teachers outside. Then Tom talks with Erica Beck Spencer about the history and importance of Taking FOSS Outdoors and weaving outdoor experiences directly into the FOSS curriculum.   Dr. April Holton has dedicated over 30 years to science education, serving as a middle school teacher, instructional coach, curriculum specialist, and professor. Currently a Clinical Assistant Professor at Arizona State University and science education consultant, she bridges academia with classroom practice. Her work focuses on transforming science instruction through teacher development, emphasizing phenomena-based, three-dimensional learning that puts students at the center. Dr. Holton believes students learn science best through hands-on exploration, meaningful discourse, and real-world connections. She equips educators with research-backed, practical strategies that make science engaging and accessible. Elisa Slee is a longtime educator and former science curriculum specialist. She currently works as a FOSS consultant and science professional development provider, supporting teachers in bringing hands-on science experiences into the classroom. Her passion for outdoor education began as a child while walking to school and was further shaped by a pivotal experience—spending a week at Yosemite with her high school chemistry class. Ms. Slee loves collaborating with teachers and families, emphasizing the role of hands-on investigations in fostering sensemaking in science. Tom begins the discussion with Dr. Holton and Ms. Slee talking about a professional learning summer camp that they conducted with teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). In collaboration with LAUSD, they conducted a two day science camp with teachers, working to expand thinking on getting kids outdoors and off screens post-lockdown; highlighting how to work with kids outdoors—getting fresh air and making science connections; and focussing on outdoor learning not as something extra to do with the kids, but as an integral part of learning. They describe taking teachers through group activities, rotating just as if they were students; undergoing several sessions learning about different aspects of outdoor learning, such as nature journaling, using FOSS investigations (possibly ones that teachers might have skipped because they were worried about management); how teachers were able to be in the role of the learner and imagine what they could do with their own kids—working to help get teachers over any obstacles in taking kids outdoors. They discuss how outdoor activities are not something extra, but already built into FOSS. Dr. Holton and Ms. Slee worked to focus on ultra-local phenomena with teachers; walking around their own campuses; seeing how just a bit of dirt and some plant matter can be just as engaging as large open space; helping kids become citizen scientists every time they walk around the school. Dr. Holton and Ms. Slee share some of their own "ah-ha!" moments, with their own learning and with teachers. They discuss how FOSS helped engage students and families during lockdown; how FOSS Home/School Connections bring families into the learning; how simulations just aren't the same for student engagement; and how when you do science outside you begin to ask, what else can I do outside?   Erica Beck Spencer is a former curriculum specialist with the Full Option Science System (FOSS) and spearheaded the Taking FOSS Outdoors initiative. In addition to being a curriculum developer, she collaborated with over 50 districts and guided tens of thousands of educators on implementing the FOSS program. She has instructed thousands of formal and nonformal teachers about teaching outside. She is  the chair of the board of directors

It's Time for Science is back in 2025 to celebrate being FOSS awarded a design review badge by Johns Hopkins University! Host Tom Racine talks with Dr. Steven Ross and Dr. Alan Reid from Johns Hopkins, before having a conversation with FOSS director Linda De Lucchi.   Steven M. Ross, PhD is a professor and Executive Director at the Center for Research and Reform in Education at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Ross is the author of six textbooks and over 140 journal articles in the areas of educational technology, at-risk learners, educational reform, extended learning time programs, and research and evaluation. He is a noted lecturer on school programs and educational evaluation, Editor Emeritus of the research section of the Educational Technology Research and Development journal, and a member of the editorial board for four other professional journals.  He was the first faculty recipient of The University of Memphis Eminent Faculty Award for teaching, research and service, and held the Lillian and Morrie Moss Chair of Excellence in Urban Education and a Faudree Professorship at The University of Memphis. In 2019, he was awarded the prestigious Michael Spector Career Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Communications and Technology. He has testified on school restructuring research before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth, and Families, has been a consultant to the National Science Foundation on project evaluation design, and is a technical advisor and researcher on current national initiatives regarding the evaluation of out-of-school learning, STEM instruction, technology integration, and social-emotional learning.     Alan J. Reid, PhD is an assistant research scientist at the Center for Research and Reform in Education at Johns Hopkins University. He specializes in mixed-methods evaluation research in the fields of instructional design, STEM, and educational technology. He has published several books, journal articles, and book chapters that explore the intersectionality between technology, human behavior, and learning. Dr. Reid continues to teach graduate courses in research writing, instructional design, and educational research at various institutions. Learn more about Dr. Reid here: https://alanjreid.my.canva.site/    Tom and Drs. Ross and Reid discuss FOSS Pathways being awarded the Instructional Design Review FOSS Pathways (PK-5) Tier 4 ESSA badge. They discuss the importance of curriculum design and evaluation; how the Center for Research and Reform in Education at Johns Hopkins works to support the publishing industry to evaluate their own curricula and the importance of said curricula being scientifically based and able to be refined over time. They discuss what is involved in the design review process and what the tiers of evidence of ESSA mean; and how ESSA tier 4 is a good foundational basis for a curriculum. They discuss the badge as a type of accreditation for school districts, allowing schools to be able to validate a program; what made FOSS Pathways stand out; specific elements and rubrics from the evaluation process; and the challenges teachers and administrators face in having to continually adjust to policy changes. They close with talking about the value of these types of reviews, not just for teachers and administrators, but for students; the badge lets users know that a product has been vetted by an experienced third party (a validation that certain elements exist within the product awarded a badge).   Linda De Lucchi is co-founder and director of the Full Option Science System Project (FOSS K–8). She has developed instructional materials in K–8 science education (FOSS), environmental education (OBIS), health education (HAP Project), and special education (SAVI/SELPH) for 50 years at the Lawrence Hall of Science. In addition to curriculum development, Ms. De Lucchi has directed numerous teacher pre

Closing out the second season of It's Time for Science, it's time to talk about STEM learning and women in STEM! Host Tom Racine talks with teacher Stacy Gale and science communicator Dr. Alex Dainis!   Stacy Gale is currently a 4th grade teacher and the former STEM specialist at Paul Cuffee School in Providence, RI. Her love of outdoor education began when she was a camp counselor in Lake George, NY. Ms. Gale has been a GEMS-Net Science Teacher Leader since 2014. Prior to that, she was chosen to be a Science Communication Fellow onboard the EV Nautilus, where she learned about a multitude of STEM careers while exploring the depths of the ocean with Dr. Robert Ballard and his team. In 2018 she won the Greenovation Award for Environmental Innovation and STEM through Project Green School; in 2022 she was named the Rhode Island Environmental Education Association Teacher of the Year, and she was a Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) state finalist in 2024.   Tom and Ms. Gale discuss why STEM education is important in to teach in schools; taking S(cience)- lessons and adding the -TEM; what got her interested in teaching STEM; STEM as the easiest way to engage students; how STEM can help students find pathways into careers; how STEM brings all the 21st century skills together like nothing else; teaching students how to fail; the importance of improving equitable access to STEM; how STEM relates to the science of reading; why teachers and parents need to keep pushing for incorporating more STEM; showing all students themselves in the field; resources and suggestions for teachers; and what it might mean for a district to have a STEM specialist.   Dr. Alex Dainis is a freelance science communicator and video producer with over a decade of experience producing digital, educational content for the web. Her background includes a PhD in genetics from Stanford University, and she was honored to be a 2019 Jackson Wild Media Lab Fellow. Recent projects include "Hungry Planet," a six-episode series for PBS Digital Studios. She is additionally the project coordinator for the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation's Chemistry Shorts ® Program and a host and writer for the American Chemical Society's Reactions YouTube channel. She is a recent recipient of the 2024 National Academies Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications.   Tom and Dr. Dainis talk about why STEM education is critical for preparing people to make decisions about science; how personal experiences for students may change their lives; Dr. Dainis' personal experiences in being mentored and inspired; the critical thinking skills developed through STEM education that transcend science; the importance of getting women and girls excited but also helping them stay in STEM; why representation matters; what got her started in science communication; her work in helping people feel welcomed into ongoing conversations in science; some of the new communication work she's excited about; and how she tries to showcase passion in her work.   You can find Dr. Dainis on the web at; www.helicasemedia.com Twitter: @alexdainis Instagram: @alex.dainis TikTok: @alexdainis   It's Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you! Look for School Specialty and FOSS on Twitter and Facebook. It's Time for Science is produced by School Specialty and the Full Option Science System (FOSS) at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.

This month on It's Time for Science, it's time to talk about ELD (English language development) and science instruction! Host Tom Racine talks with Diana B. Vélez  and Veronica Gallardo.   Diana B. Vélez is a curriculum developer and professional learning provider for the Full Option Science System Project (FOSS K–8) at the Lawrence Hall of Science. She specializes in English language development and the integration of literacy in science teaching and learning. Ms. Vélez assists in the development and implementation of FOSS instructional materials and creates pedagogical resources that support access and equity. She also leads professional learning experiences for educators, administrators, families, and community members using FOSS instructional materials to develop scientific literacy, teacher capacity, and systemic change in schools and districts across the country and internationally. Before coming to the Lawrence Hall of Science, Ms. Vélez was the instructional leader for a science-centered elementary school in Oakland, California and was a founding-member and teacher in a Spanish dual-immersion program.   Veronica Gallardo is a bilingual reading specialist and science consultant.  In the last fifteen years, she has held multiple professional and volunteer roles; a kindergarten, first grade, and middle school teacher, a site administrator for two elementary schools, and volunteers her time in support of community literacy initiatives. She holds a Master of Science, Literacy and Reading, a Certificate in Education Finance, and the following CA credentials: multiple subject, reading specialist, and administrative.  She can be reached at www.readingliteracyspecialists.com   Tom talks with Ms. Vélez and Ms. Gallardo about the importance of connecting ELD and science instruction; the correlation of oral vocabulary and the ability to read words; and the research and experience supporting active science as one of the best places to develop language skills. They go into depth discussing the relationship between the FOSS Project and Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD): FOSS has existing resources for ELD and ELA instruction and worked with SBUSD to help create lessons and units that aligned with the FOSS curriculum. They talk about looking deeper at why are kids talking?; are they explaining, analyzing, arguing?; how kids learn best while learning in context; the importance of oral learning for all students; and how impactful it is for teachers to see what their students are capable of when given the chance. Ms. Gallardo and Ms. Vélez provide some examples from working with students, and how invigorating it is to see the connections students are able to make. They close the discussion talking about equity in the classroom connected to speaking/reading/listening/writing all in tandem with doing science; how there is variability in the rate of development for all students; focussing on having a shared experience where all students can engage; and the importance of focussing on the the needs of particular students so that you can know what those students need to fully participate and be able to access the curriculum.   Producer David Lippman also has a few words about Amy Tan's amazing book, The Backyard Bird Chronicles, published by Knopf.   It's Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you! Look for School Specialty and FOSS on Twitter and Facebook. It's Time for Science is produced by School Specialty and the Full Option Science System (FOSS) at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.    

This month on It's Time for Science, it's time to talk about the science of reading! Host Tom Racine talks with Leslie Lausten, M. Ed  and Dr. Jennifer Slavick, Ed. D., authors of the whitepaper FOSS Enhances the Science of Reading Through Knowledge Building.   Get the paper here: FOSS Enhances the Science of Reading Through Knowledge Building   Leslie Lausten, M.Ed has a rich background in elementary science instruction. She has taught multiple grades, was a literacy coach and science lead teacher for over 30 years. She has an MEd in Science Education (K-8) and a Reading Specialist endorsement. Currently, she is  the East Coast FOSS Professional Learning Specialist and enjoys helping teachers implement best practices into their science classrooms through meaningful experiences and literacy integration.    Dr. Jennifer Slavick, Ed.D., Director, K-12 Research Partner Engagement and Success at EAB, has a diverse professional background spanning education and educational leadership. Beginning as a high school Biology teacher, she transitioned to roles such as Assistant Director of Science for a K-12 urban charter network and Director of Professional Learning and Implementation Services for a K-8 science program. With a commitment to educational excellence and a passion for fostering a supportive environment for educators, Dr. Slavick's primary focus at EAB is on the building systems that support Science of Reading and Early Literacy initiatives, improving Teacher Morale, and Building a High-Performance District. Dr. Slavick earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Penn State University, a Masters of Education in Multicultural Education from Eastern University, and a Doctorate of Education in Education Administration and Public Policy from West Chester University. Dr. Slavick has won several awards, including the Award for Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year from the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers, and the Award for Excellence in Scholarship as well as a Certificate of Excellence from the West Chester University.   Tom talks with Ms. Lausten and Dr. Slavick about what exactly the science of reading is; how sections of students' brains have to work together to take text and turn it into knowledge; what Scarborough's Reading Rope is that they discuss in their paper; the importance of incorporating background knowledge; how much more likely students are to pick up vocabulary in context (including science vocabulary!); how kids can become experts in science vocabulary through relating it to their actual experiences; how sentence frames can help students learn; the critical need for sense-making; and how all the new vocabulary and sense-making work to make text more engaging and accessible. They discuss ELD instruction and how science can work across curricula and help kids feel successful, among many other things!  The FOSS Teacher Resource Introductory Videos that Dr. Slavick discusses are available through YouTube via the links below:   Teacher Resource Introductory Videos (K-2) Teacher Resource Introductory Videos (3-5) Teacher Resource Introductory Videos (6-8)   It's Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you! Get the paper here: FOSS Enhances the Science of Reading Through Knowledge Building Look for School Speci

This month on It's Time for Science, it's time to talk about Implementation Strategies! Host Tom Racine talks with Nicole Krefting who is the Elementary Curriculum Coordinator for Grand Forks Public Schools in Grand Forks, North Dakota.    Tom and Nicole discuss tips on Implementation strategies and steps needed when implementing a full science curriculum.   They discuss the importance of a professional learning plan and creating a true partnership that will allow for successful implementation throughout the entire district.   They also talk about the importance of supporting teachers throughout the integration process, and how to bring excitement to the classroom. We cover the advantage of having all the materials you need to teach a unit of science in one convenient kit, how the process of going through the three year evaluation of multiple curriculum options worked and who was involved, and that the most important aspect of all is the professional development that has to happen for all your teachers.     Nicole Krefting is the Elementary Curriculum Coordinator for Grand Forks Public Schools in Grand Forks, North Dakota. As an elementary teacher for 30 years and in the education system for 36 years, Krefting has taught at numerous grade levels, working with a variety of students and peers.  She left the classroom to become an Instructional Coach, where she was able to support teachers and students in her building in all content areas.  Currently, Nicole has the opportunity to work with all teachers district-wide in her role as a curriculum leader.   Through her years of classroom experience and district roles, Mrs. Krefting has developed a strong understanding of how important science education is and how it supports all other content areas. She has worked alongside teachers to ensure students have the opportunity to develop strong background knowledge, increase speaking and listening skills, and translate ideas into written word through their science education.  Her belief that student inquiry and investigation lead to true understanding of scientific concepts supports her push for robust professional development and collaboration in the districts' schools.   It's Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you! Look for School Specialty and FOSS on X and Facebook. It's Time for Science is produced by School Specialty® and the Full Option Science System™ (FOSS®) at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.

This month on It's Time for Science, it's time to talk about going back to school! Host Tom Racine talks with Dr. Anne Farley Schoeffler, the president of the National Middle Level Science Teachers Association, and award-winning outside educator Rachel Arbor.    Dr. Anne Farley Schoeffler is the currently the president of the National Middle Level Science Teachers Association (NMLSTA), as well as the NMLSTA Awards Committee chair. She is also a member of the Polar Educators International (PEI) council, 2024-25. Dr. Schoeffler is a middle school science teacher near Cleveland, Ohio. She believes that students learn best when they can make connections between what they are learning in school and what they experience around them. She endeavors to show students that science is not just a set of facts but a way of seeking answers to questions and trying to solve problems.  She also regards environmental stewardship as one of the great challenges of our times and, therefore, encourages her students to explore and experience the great outdoors and make connections between basic science and the phenomena of the world. She and her husband and three adult children all hike, camp, and share the wonders that the natural world has to offer.     https://nmlsta.wildapricot.org/   https://polareducator.org/our-community/council-2023/   https://www.facebook.com/groups/247660677828   Tom and Dr. Schoeffler discuss tips on starting back to school, formulating a plan and organizing all the various pieces you have to deal with when starting back, setting up a science classroom in advance, enhancing communication and visibility in the classroom, keeping the room fresh, starting the school year getting kids excited about science, bringing environmental science into the classroom right away, getting kids outside, and resources for teacher burn out,    Rachel Arbor is the award-winning CEO of Gaia Scholastic, the New York State Lead for SubjecttoClimate, and the PK-8 Director of Environmental Education for the Garrison School District. For all of these roles, her mission is to cultivate a generation of environmentally-literate global citizens by integrating nature and environmental concepts into the learning experiences of students of all ages and abilities. She supports educational organizations in weaving interdisciplinary Environmental Education into their work through curated curriculum, Professional Development, and with community events like the PK-12 Youth Climate Summit. Her work challenges students to make connections--with themselves, with each other, and with nature, across content areas. A former outdoor educator, she trains teachers across the country on how to re-shape their curriculum through an environmental lens. Her educational and professional pursuits focus on bridging the gap between Mainstream and Environmental Education. Ms. Arbor's many awards and accolades include: Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (2024); U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Award (2024); NMLSTA Paul DeHart Hurd Award (2024); STANYS Excellence in Science Education Award (2023), and many more!   Social: Gaia Scholastic website LinkedIn Tom talks with Ms. Arbor about setting up for a new year, being at least a day ahead

This month on It's Time for Science, it's time to talk about summer science at home and nature journaling! Host Tom Racine talks with John Muir Laws, a principal innovator in the global nature journaling movement, and outside educator Erica Beck Spencer.   John Muir Laws is an award-winning naturalist, artist, scientist, educator, and the author and illustrator of several books including The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling, The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds, The Laws Guide to the Sierra Nevada. He is also the co-author of How to Teach Nature Journaling. He is co-founder and president of the Wild Wonder Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to encouraging nature connection and conservation through attention, curiosity, art, science, and community.   https://johnmuirlaws.com/ https://www.wildwonder.org/   Tom talks with John Muir Laws about what exactly nature journaling is, why you don't need to be an artist to nature journal, and what nature journaling offers all of us and why it is important.   Erica Beck Spencer is a curriculum specialist with the Full Option Science System Project (FOSS) and spearheaded the Taking FOSS Outdoors initiative. In addition to her development work, she has collaborated with over 50 districts and tens of thousands of educators on implementing the FOSS program. She has worked with thousands of formal and nonformal teachers about teaching outside. She has served on the board of directors for the Maine Environmental Education Association, Rippleffect, and will be stepping up as the board president for the Maine Math and Science Alliance. Prior to working for FOSS she taught in urban schools in Cambridge, Boston, and Portland, Maine.    Tom and Erica discuss Tom's interview with John Muir Laws, how nature journaling might be used with students over the summer, nature journaling's value for students and teachers, and Erica's experiences with nature journaling as an educator and personally.    Erica also offers some resources to help folks get started and keep going with nature journaling: •Quick start guide to Nature Journaling: Digital Download:  https://www.wildwonder.org/store/p/nj-zine • Wild Wonder Resources: https://www.wildwonder.org/nature-journaling-resources • The Nature Journal Connection video series: https://johnmuirlaws.com/the-nature-journal-connection/ • Taking FOSS Outdoors chapter and other resources: https://help.thinklinkhq.com/s/article/Taking-FOSS-Outdoors   It's Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!   Look for School Specialty and FOSS on X and Facebook. It's Time for Science is produced by School Specialty and the Full Option Science System (FOSS) at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.

This month on It's Time for Science, we talk with a very special guest about student engagement. Host Tom Racine talks with award winning science communicator, the Hip Hop M.D., Maynard Okereke!   Maynard Okereke, better known as the Hip Hop M.D., graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Civil Engineering.  He is an award winning Science Communicator, having received both the Asteroid Award for "Best Streaming Content" and the People of Change Award for his community outreach efforts.  His passion for science and entertainment, along with his curiosity for new innovation has taken him through an incredible life journey. Noticing a lack of minority involvement in the S.T.E.M. fields, he created Hip Hop Science with the goal of encouraging minorities and youth to pursue more advanced career paths.  His background in engineering, acting, music, business, and credible work in STEM make him uniquely qualified to engage on a wide variety of topics from an entertaining perspective.  This is highly reflected in his speaking engagements and daily social media posts which provide both humorous and informative SciComm content.   #HipHopScience https://www.hiphopscienceshow.com/ https://www.instagram.com/hiphopscienceshow/ https://www.facebook.com/HipHopScienceShow   Tom talks with Maynard about the importance of staying curious, keeping our students and ourselves engaged, why you don't need to be an expert to teach science, embracing changing perspectives as a part of science, why representation matters for EVERYONE, and the most surprising thing he's learned from doing an investigation.    It's Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!   This month's Insights article: Engaging Students as Active Science Learners with FOSS Look for School Specialty and FOSS on X and Facebook. It's Time for Science is produced by School Specialty and the Full Option Science System (FOSS) at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.

This month on It's Time for Science, it's time to talk about social and emotional learning (SEL)! Host Tom Racine talks with Dr. Kenneth Wesson, a consultant on the science of education, learning, and the brain, and Ilyse Opas, Independent Educational Consultant specializing in SEL.   Kenneth Wesson is a former higher education faculty member and administrator. He delivers keynote addresses on the neuroscience of learning for educational organizations and institutions throughout the United States and overseas. His audiences range from early childhood specialists to university-level educators. seven continents. His research is frequently published and referenced in Parents Magazine, HealthNet, and the journal Brain World. He is also a contributing author with Frog Street Press, the ECE publisher.   Dr. Wesson regularly addresses educational organizations, counseling associations, school districts and parenting organizations on the subject of "brain-considerate" learning environments. In addition to his speeches on the neuroscience of learning, Dr. Wesson speaks on the subjects of early brain development, design and engineering, STEM and STREAM, social-emotional learning, and curriculum development. Dr. Wesson also serves on the advisory boards for the Korean Institute of Brain Science, Kids at Science, and the International Association of STEM Leaders. He is an active member of Scientists without Borders and he can be seen on PBS specials on human learning and the teenage mind.    You can read and download Dr. Wesson's amazing paper on SEL which is filled with dozens of references and links to help you explore by clicking here. Tom talks with Dr. Wesson about what SEL is and isn't, the need to make space for SEL in science classrooms and integrate it into instruction, the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on students' SEL, and how the pandemic so greatly reinforced the need to create safe spaces and environments for kids to learn.   As an independent educational consultant, Ilyse Opas is passionate about examining and strengthening the relationships between literacy, equity, and SEL. She believes that supporting teacher wellness is the first step in creating safe and successful classrooms for all and co-created KindMind, an online SEL support group for educators, in 2020. Ilyse spent almost two decades in the public school system as an educator, intervention instructor/coordinator, and instructional coach before founding IRO Educational Consulting, an independent consultancy based in SEL, mindfulness, and restorative justice. She also serves as a Professional Learning Lead for Collaborative Classroom, facilitating training for their SEL and Collaborative Literacy programs. Ilyse received her Master of Arts in Elementary Education and teaching certification from Mills College and her 200-hour yoga/SEL certification through Breathe for Change, an organization dedicated to bringing yoga and mindfulness to educators throughout the world.   Tom and Ms. Opas discuss how SEL can help students and educators know themselves better and have more access to interior emotional states, how making space for SEL in classrooms can have help students with interpersonal skills and academics, some of the programs that help introduce SEL at a school or district level, and some of the things that educators can consider to take better care of themselves.   It's Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!   Look for School Specialty and FOSS on X and Facebook. It's Time for Science is produced by School Specialty and the Full Option Science Syst

It's Time for Science Podcast Episode 10   This month on It's Time for Science, it's time to talk about community engagement and citizen scientists! Host Tom Racine talks with Dr. Mwenda KudumuBiggs from the Fleet Science Center and Emma Giles from SciStarter.   Mwenda KudumuBiggs, the Fleet Science Center's Vice President for Community Service and Engagement, fell in love with science while growing up in the Valencia Park and Lincoln Park neighborhoods of Southeastern San Diego. Her passion for science was encouraged and nurtured at the Elementary Institute of Science, where at age 15, she received a young scientist award, presented to her by Dr. Jonas Salk, for participating in San Diego's National Student Science Competition. Dr. KudumuBiggs earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Stanford University and was a fisheries biologist and wildlife manager before changing careers to dedicate herself to broadening the participation of underrepresented voices in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). After designing and implementing programming in museums across California, New York, and North Carolina for over a decade, she was inspired to move to Ghana, where she spent eight years developing a science and technology center at the University of Cape Coast. While working in science centers in the United States, Mwenda noticed that there were not a lot of Black and Brown people. With over 18 years of experience working in science centers and a master's degree and doctorate in science education from North Carolina State University, Dr. KudumuBiggs is excited to return to San Diego to give back to her hometown. Her research interests explore culturally relevant practices in informal STEM contexts. She is inspired by the need for Black and Brown voices to rejoin the science conversation and committed to helping the residents of Southeastern San Diego recognize and recover their STEM legacy.   Tom talks with Dr. KudumuBiggs about her position at the Fleet Science Center, why it's so important to connect people and families to science, the power of kids seeing their families involved with science, why science is at risk without including marginalized voices, some of the many services the Fleet offers, and some resources to consider if you don't have a local science center.   Emma Giles is the Manager of Public Outreach and Programs at SciStarter where she produces and hosts "SciStarter LIVE," a weekly, virtual event series. Ms. Giles is also the managing director of SciStarter's Citizen Science Month and One Million Acts of Science among other signature programs. Emma has a Master's degree in Science & Technology Policy at Arizona State University. In 2021, she was a recipient of the Teach Earth Fellowship with Earthwatch where she studied caterpillars and climate change in southern Arizona during her tenure as a 5th grade math and science teacher. Continuing her education in 2023, Ms Giles attended the University of Vienna, Austria for the Scientific World Conceptions Summer School Vienna Circle on Climate Science.    Tom and Ms. Giles discuss SciStarter's goal of getting citizen scientists involved in 1,000,000 acts of science in April 2024! They talk about what a citizen scientist is, the types of resources SciStarter offers, and what you can do to get your students involved with citizen science.    Read more about SciStarter and 1,000,000 acts of science on our site!   Get involved! Onemillionactsofscience.org Projects based on grade level: scistarter.org/education   You can find SciStarter as @SciStarter everywhere except for Tiktok, @SciStarter.org.    It's Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you

It's Time for Science Podcast Episode 9   This month on It's Time for Science, it's time for extended learning! Host Tom Racine talks with Dr. Bryan Méndez about the upcoming solar eclipse and Erica Beck Spencer about getting kids outside.   Dr. Bryan Méndez is an astronomer at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the Planetarium Director at the Lawrence Hall of Science, creates educational programming for NASA missions at the Space Sciences Laboratory, and teaches classes for the Astronomy Department. Dr. Méndez is a family man who loves to spend time with his wife and twin boys, a sci-fi/fantasy fan with particular obsessions for Star Wars and Star Trek, a saxophonist, and an amateur filmmaker. He is multicultural, of Mexican and European heritage, and strives to foster diverse perspectives in his work.    You can find Dr. Méndez on Instagram and Threads: @doctorstarlight You can find the Lawrence Hall of Science on Facebook, Instagram, and X.   Tom talks with Dr. Méndez about what an eclipse actually is, including what to expect from a total solar eclipse, how to look at the eclipse safely, and how to engage your students with this amazing celestial event.   A reminder on eclipse safety. As Dr. Méndez points out, it is safe to look directly at the eclipse during the "brief and spectacular period known as totality," this only applies to those folks who will be in the path of the total eclipse, and then ONLY for the small amount of time during the totality.    For more on safety and where/how to view the eclipse, visit these NASA sites.   https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/ https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/where-when/ Erica Beck Spencer is a curriculum specialist with the Full Option Science System Project (FOSS) and spearheaded the Taking FOSS Outdoors initiative. In addition to her development work, she has collaborated with over 50 districts and tens of thousands of educators on implementing the FOSS program. She has worked with thousands of formal and nonformal teachers about teaching outside. She has served on the board of directors for the Maine Environmental Education Association, Rippleffect, and will be stepping up as the board president for the Maine Math and Science Alliance. Prior to working for FOSS she taught in urban schools in Cambridge, Boston, and Portland, Maine.    Ms. Beck Spencer discusses how going outside can benefit students' mental health, how starved they often are for outside time, some of her favorite activities (and how to successfully manage them), and connecting inside learning with outside learning. She also talks about connecting to local experiences, including local resources designed to help educators get kids outside.   It's Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you! Look for School Specialty and FOSS on X and Facebook. It's Time for Science is produced by School Specialty and the Full Option Science System (FOSS) at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.

Welcome to It's Time for Science! For our first episode of 2024, host Tom Racine continues our conversation on equity in science education! Tom talks with Meagan Sternberg, a K-12 Science Instructional Coach in Oregon, and Channon Jackson, a Program Director at the Alameda County Office of Education.   We end the episode with a few words from Diana B. Vélez, author of this month's insight article, Access and Equity: Changing How We View and Support All Students [LINK NEEDED].   Meagan Sternberg is a K-12 Science Instructional Coach in North Clackamas School District, Milwaukie, OR. Sternberg taught middle school science for 16 years at two schools in the North Clackamas School District. During that time, she developed skills working with adults through professional learning facilitation and state standards implementation. In 2011, she transitioned into an instructional coach position that focused on supporting science teachers as Oregon began the transition to the Next Generation Science Standards. Her focus is now on supporting teachers in the implementation of curriculum with a focus on effective instructional practices through guiding teacher leader teams and facilitating professional learning sessions.   Channon Jackson is a Program Director at the Alameda County Office of Education in Hayward, CA. As an elementary teacher for 15 years, Ms. Jackson loved teaching science. She became a science lead teacher in the Oakland Unified School District and took a year off to work as a science curriculum writer at the Lawrence Hall of Science. As a program director, Channon uses her love for students, science, and integration to create supportive professional learning opportunities in her county and throughout the state.   Diana B. Vélez is a curriculum developer and professional learning provider for the Full Option Science System Project (FOSS K–8) at the Lawrence Hall of Science. She specializes in English language development and the integration of literacy in science teaching and learning. Ms. Vélez assists in the development and implementation of FOSS instructional materials and creates pedagogical resources that support access and equity. She also leads professional learning experiences for educators, administrators, families, and community members using FOSS instructional materials to develop scientific literacy, teacher capacity, and systemic change in schools and districts across the country and internationally. Before coming to the Lawrence Hall of Science, Ms. Vélez was the instructional leader for a science-centered elementary school in Oakland, California and was a founding-member and teacher in a Spanish dual-immersion program.   It's Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you! Look for School Specialty and FOSS on Twitter and Facebook. It's Time for Science is produced by School Specialty and the Full Option Science System (FOSS) at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.

This month on It's Time for Science, host Tom Racine talks about equity in science education with Claudio Vargas and Holly Gil.   Claudio Vargas, a Science Education Consultant with a focus on Equity in STEM, works with Sci-Lingual Education and FOSS at the Lawrence Hall of Science. He provides keynote presentations on equity in STEM and professional learning experiences for educators in science, focusing on supporting Multilingual Learners with language and literacy development. Mr. Vargas has developed and led numerous professional learning programs throughout California, Washington, Texas, and Central America. Mr. Vargas served as a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee, which issued the national Call to Action to advance equitable science education.     Tom talks with Mr. Vargas about working on the committee that issued the national Call to Action, how the pandemic affected education and science, how to help teachers structure a more equitable classroom, the importance of a rigorous curriculum with an emphasis on active learning, and being aware of our own biases, just to name a few of the topics they discuss.   Holly Gil, an Instructional Specialist, Science Education/ELD Consultant has trained and mentored hundreds of teachers in the Santa Barbara area. She is a skilled facilitator and instructor and serves as a consultant to schools, districts and nonprofit organizations. Her expertise derives from nearly 30 years of professional experience as a bilingual classroom teacher, science education specialist, curriculum developer, instructional coach and leadership coach. Ms. Gil is currently an Instructional Specialist for Adelante Charter School, a dual language immersion K-6 elementary school. She is an advocate for multilingual students and an English Learner Leadership and Legacy Initiative (ELLLI) Fellow through Californians Together   Ms. Gil and Tom chat about supporting teachers as they work to overcome their fears of teaching science and difficulties in working to implement an equitable classroom, how to encourage and help teachers stay committed, the linguistic challenges inherent in the NGSS, how students' excitement can help drive them, and more!   Producer David Lippman also reviews the book Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers who Changed the World by Rachel Ignotofsky and published by 10 Speed Press. And we wish a happy birthday to Dr. Patrica S. Cowings!   It's Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you! Look for School Specialty and FOSS on Twitter and Facebook. It's Time for Science is produced by School Specialty and the Full Option Science System (FOSS) at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.

It's Time for Science! This episode Tom talks with Leonor Rebosura from Newark Unified School District and Kimberly Astle from the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. We also remember FOSS co-director, Larry Malone.  Leonor Rebosura, the Director of Teacher Induction at Newark Unified School District in Newark California, talks with us about how to get families involved with science. Ms. Rebosura touches on science resources for home, events that teachers and districts can do to get parents involved, and the difference parental involvement makes in helping kids learn. Kimberly Astle, who we spoke with at the NSTA conference in Atlanta back in March 2023, is the Associate Director of Elementary Science and Integration for the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Ms. Astle spoke with us about funding for getting kids outside, their statewide project of integrating science, ELA, and math, teacher burnout, and getting the joy and fun back into science, among other things!   Laurence Edward Malone,1943-2023, passed away on June 13, 2023. Larry was passionate about science education and spent over 50 years working at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley, California. At its inception, he provided the vision for the Full Option Science System (FOSS), was the major materials designer, writer, and voice of this highly successful national curriculum project, and served as the project co-director for over 20 years. We spend a few minutes remembering Larry and his legacy.   It's Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you! Look for School Specialty and FOSS on Twitter and Facebook. It's Time for Science is produced by School Specialty and the Full Option Science System (FOSS) at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.

It's Time for Science--outdoors!  At the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) conference in Atlanta (March 2023), host Tom Racine interviewed two amazing educators about the importance of going outside when you teach. Autumn Rivera, the Colorado Teacher of the year, and a Finalist for National Teacher of the Year, talks about the importance of taking kids outside and on day trips to local areas. She discusses the power of science to help integrate disciplines across the school and how to work with other curriculum areas. We also chat about teacher burnout and strategies on how to help both teachers and students recover after the pandemic. Then it's Andrea Burrows' turn! Ms. Burrows is an award-winning science teacher in Santa Clara, California with many years of classroom experience. She talks about focusing on exploring the outdoors of your local area to give students real-life context and how science affects us all. We also touch on how impactful garden programs in schools can be, as well as the importance of teacher leadership and connecting with other teachers across all disciplines.   Producer David Lippman also reviews the game Photosynthesis from Blue Orange Games.    It's Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you! Look for School Specialty and FOSS on Twitter and Facebook. It's Time for Science is produced by School Specialty and the Full Option Science System (FOSS) at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.

For this episode of It's Time for Science, we went to the world-renowned San Diego Comic Convention! We looked high and low for folks to talk with about the importance of science education and graphic novels, and it turns out it was super easy to find people on the same page!   Tom speaks first with Tracy Edmunds, a teacher, educational consultant, curriculum developer, editor, and writer with over 14 years of experience as an elementary teacher, in addition to authoring 25 resource books for educators.   They talk about what got Ms. Edmunds excited about using comics with kids, research about using science comics, creating meaning through interpreting comic visuals, resources and ideas for teachers working science comics into the classroom, and discuss a great number of resources and suggestions for teaching with comics in general.    Ms. Edmunds maintains a list of science comics as well as a number of other lists of comics/graphic novels recommendations.    Next Tom talks with Corinna Bechko, a Hugo- and Eisner-nominated New York Times best-selling author who works as a fossil preparator by day.   They discuss Ms. Bechko's creative work, why kids love dinosaurs, green dinosaur bones, how to spark wonder about the world, and the coolest bones she's had the opportunity to work with.   Then it's time to talk with Brandon M. Easton, a professional writer, screenwriter, and educator who is a NASA solar-system ambassador, and was a New York City public school teacher for 6 years.   Tom talks with Mr. Easton about the importance of understanding basic elements of science, the perspective offered by studying space science, resources offered by NASA, getting families involved, and getting kids engaged and excited about science using pop culture.   Finally, Tom talks with Laini Taylor and Jim Di Bartolo. Ms. Taylor is the award-winning, New York Times–bestselling author of the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy and the Strange the Dreamer duology, among other books. Mr. Di Bartolo is a mixed-media illustrator, painter, visual storyteller, and writer. They are the creative team behind the new book, Billie Blaster and the Robot Army from Outer Space, an out-of-this-world new middle-grade graphic novel about a genius scientist and her evil nemesis.   Tom talks with them about the importance of good science teachers, how history and science inform their creative process, and getting kids excited about reading. Ms. Taylor and Mr. Di Bartolo have never accidentally started an intergalactic war (at least according to their author bio) .   It's Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you! Look for School Specialty and FOSS on Twitter and Facebook. It's Time for Science is produced by School Specialty and the Full Option Science System (FOSS) at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.

In this episode of It's Time For Science, we're talking about going back to school (yes, already!).  Host Tom Racine talks with education leader Rosanna Ayers and is joined in a road table discussion with instructional coach Laruen Brown and curriculum developer Brian Campbell.  Rosanna Ayers is the former director of youth education at the biomimicry institute and has been a county office science coordinator with 20+ years of classroom experience.  Ms. Ayers has written an article about getting started with science on day 1: Getting Ready for a New School Year with Science: Tips for Teachers. She shares some tips to easily getting started with highly engaging science activities and discusses why starting with science is a great and effective way to start the year. Lauren Brown is an instructional coach with Oakland Unified School District with 11 years of experience in education, including 8 years as a science teacher, winning the 2018 Grand Prize NSTA Shell Science Lab Challenge. Brian Campbell has been a curriculum developer with FOSS for the past 18 years, was a classroom teacher for 7+ years, and is the co-author of Science Notebooks: Writing About Inquiry. Tom talks with Ms. Brown and Mr. Campbell about starting the year with science, establishing a safe classroom culture, some specific activities they recommend for starting with, and how to keep your science instruction going effectively throughout the year. It's Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you! Look for School Specialty and FOSS on Twitter and Facebook. It's Time for Science is produced by School Specialty and the Full Option Science System (FOSS) at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.

For this episode of It's Time For Science, we're going to space! Host Tom Racine talks with science teacher Dave Curry, winner of the NMLSTA Paul DeHart Hurd Award and renowned astrophysicist Dr. Erika Hamden from the University of Arizona. Dave Curry is an experienced middle school science teacher and the 2023 recipient of the Paul DeHart Hurd Award, presented by the National Middle Level Science Teachers Association (NMLSTA), an affiliate of NSTA. Mr. Curry talks to us us about some of his early influences, working on an NSF-funded project to bring art into science instruction, interdisciplinary teaming at school sites, how to help teacher burnout, and how he works to keep his students engaged, including connecting local observations to concepts they're learning in the classroom. Dr. Erika Hamden is a Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Arizona. She develops UV detector technology, builds telescopes for NASA, and observes galaxies and hydrogen all over the universe.Her last project was a UV telescope that flew on a high-altitude balloon, and she is currently leading a team designing a UV space telescope. We talk with Dr. Hamden about teachers that influenced her interest in science, the importance of failure in science, some of her ongoing projects, working at earning her pilot's license, and more! Producer David Lippman also reviews "The Crew: Quest for Planet Nine" from Kosmos Games. To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you! Look for School Specialty and FOSS on Twitter and Facebook. It's Time for Science is produced by School Specialty and the Full Option Science System (FOSS) at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.

Welcome to the very first episode of It's Time for Science!  We are creating a podcast aimed directly at the amazing and wonderful science teachers, educators and administrators out there, from Pre-K thru High School, who are engaging students and fostering curiosity about the world around them. We start off with a fantastic round table discussion with three educators from South Carolina:  Yolanda Bennett, Ed Emmer, and Felipe AndreSilva.   We couldn't have asked for a more engaging and diverse group, and our conversation ran from discussing Equity in Teaching Science,  Dealing with Teacher Burnout in a Post-COVID world, and how science education can and should be a transdisciplanary subject, involving literacy, math, social studies and history.     Plus they give teachers some valuable nuggets of advice at the end. It's Time for Science is produced by School Specialty, along with FOSS, the Full Option Science System, from The Lawrence Hall of Science.