Jacky Bransome is neither a scientist nor a teacher. But she happens to know that fireflies aren’t the best way to explain chemiluminescence to students living in her part of the world. Turns out that fireflies aren’t a thing in Gillingham, UK. It’s one of many fun facts she’s picked up over the years through […]
Lauren Ashman, program manager and instructional specialist for the mySci Program at The Institute for School Partnership at Washington University in St. Louis (ISP), has been recognized with the Emerging Leader Award. The Emerging Leader Award recognizes a Washington University employee who positively influences and leads others at the university, in their community and in […]
Creating environments that invite all students to engage confidently with ambitious mathematical learning is an aim best achieved working in tandem with peer professionals who want the same thing for their students. After three years of deep exploration into the most impactful ways to implement equitable math instruction, teachers, administrators and math coaches from Mehlville, […]
Using Our Resources Wisely, a fifth grade science unit developed by the Institute for School Partnership’s (ISP) mySci program has been awarded the NGSS Design Badge. The Badge is awarded to top-rated science units designed for the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Since 2017, only four other units, including mySci’s From Sun to Food, have […]
For children to learn and love science takes time and intention One of many lessons I have taken away from the pandemic is just how critical basic science education can be to our daily lives. While both national and state education experts agree that hands-on science teaching and learning best set kids up for success, […]
The gap in access to STEM education and careers is often talked about in terms of who. Who is taught and affirmed around their STEM learning capabilities? When responding to this question, we usually reference girls, Black students and populations of students named as Students of Color. Who then do speak about when we think […]
“This is going to be fun!” When fifth graders walk into a classroom set up for the next science lesson with that level of enthusiasm, something very right is happening, and it’s not magic. Their teacher, Sarah Carter, knows engaging science learning – the messy kind, with hands-on lessons and authentic, sometimes unpredictable inquiry that […]
Patti Pyatt, an experienced fourth grade teacher, eagerly accepted the challenge of teaching at Meramec Elementary, one of the most under-resourced neighborhood schools in the St. Louis Public School District. “It’s not easy,” she admits. “But we have been learning a lot because our school is part of the innovation zone. I’ve been making some […]
An ISP-led collaboration with three St. Louis area school districts aimed at improving math outcomes for all students is featured in Success Stories from Catalyzing Change, a new book published by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Available now on pre-order, the book, edited by Karen J. Graham, Robert Q. Berry III, Sarah […]
A friend of mine worked as a research scientist at a prestigious university medical school. Tona (name changed) was never sure if the hostilities from female colleagues were because Tona identified as lesbian/queer or because their preferred pronouns were they, them, theirs. Tona was targeted with hazing-like experiences in the workplace, such as having the […]