January 2016 ChemEd X Newsletter

Chemical Education Xchange

Happy New Year!

If you decided to make a resolution this year, I hope that you are still on track! We don’t all need a special holiday to set a goal, but the end of the calendar year is a time when many of us reflect on how things have been going in our personal and work lives. So, it isn’t surprising that many of us choose this time to set goals. Teachers and students need to reflect more often than once a year in the classroom. It is important to reflect during and after every lesson so that we can process the experience. We can then set up goals as necessary to help finish the content of the specific unit of material successfully. It is easy for both students and teachers to get caught up in the day to day routines and forget the importance of reflection. I know that I have been guilty of that. My own classroom goal for 2016 is to improve on my strategies for reflection so that I don’t miss opportunities for deep learning.

Wishing you a peaceful and productive 2016!

Deanna Cullen

 

Journal of Chemical Education January 2016 cover

Journal of Chemical Education January 2016 Issue

Highlights Explore the highlights of the January 2016 issue of JCE.

Especially JCE Read Erica Jacobsen’s picks for the January 2016 issue of JCE as she considers the manuscript from a high school perspective.

 

our model thus far

Chemistry Thus Far

This method of reflection and review is modified from Modeling Instruction curriculum materials and is important for implementing Modeling. But, you could certainly use this strategy as part of any curriculum that you are using.

 

STEM CLub activity

How Running a STEM Club Benefits My Classroom

Read what guest author Ryan Schoenborn has to say about his STEM Club.

 

card sorting

Card Sorts

Change things up and try a different approach to formative assessment. 

 

AMTA logo

Modeling Instruction Training from AMTA

Plan your summer professional development now. There are many Modeling Instruction workshops coming up in 2016.

 

test tubes

Infographic Contest Announced

Engage your students in class or your science club in creating a chemistry infographic. The February deadline for the contest is approaching quickly.

 

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