The Tech Edvocate

Top Menu

  • Advertisement
  • Apps
  • Home Page
  • Home Page Five (No Sidebar)
  • Home Page Four
  • Home Page Three
  • Home Page Two
  • Home Tech2
  • Icons [No Sidebar]
  • Left Sidbear Page
  • Lynch Educational Consulting
  • My Account
  • My Speaking Page
  • Newsletter Sign Up Confirmation
  • Newsletter Unsubscription
  • Our Brands
  • Page Example
  • Privacy Policy
  • Protected Content
  • Register
  • Request a Product Review
  • Shop
  • Shortcodes Examples
  • Signup
  • Start Here
    • Governance
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • The Edvocate
  • The Tech Edvocate Product Guide
  • Topics
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise

Main Menu

  • Start Here
    • Our Brands
    • Governance
      • Lynch Educational Consulting
      • Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
      • Careers
    • Write For Us
    • The Tech Edvocate Product Guide
    • Contact Us
    • Books
    • Pedagogue
    • Edupedia
    • The Edvocate Podcast
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Topics
    • Assistive Technology
    • Child Development Tech
    • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech
    • EdTech Futures
    • EdTech News
    • EdTech Policy & Reform
    • EdTech Startups & Businesses
    • Higher Education EdTech
    • Online Learning & eLearning
    • Parent & Family Tech
    • Personalized Learning
    • Product Reviews
  • Advertise
  • Apps
  • Tech Edvocate Awards
  • The Edvocate
  • P-20 Ed Careers

logo

The Tech Edvocate

  • Start Here
    • Our Brands
    • Governance
      • Lynch Educational Consulting
      • Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
        • My Speaking Page
      • Careers
    • Write For Us
    • The Tech Edvocate Product Guide
    • Contact Us
    • Books
    • Pedagogue
    • Edupedia
    • The Edvocate Podcast
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Topics
    • Assistive Technology
    • Child Development Tech
    • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech
    • EdTech Futures
    • EdTech News
    • EdTech Policy & Reform
    • EdTech Startups & Businesses
    • Higher Education EdTech
    • Online Learning & eLearning
    • Parent & Family Tech
    • Personalized Learning
    • Product Reviews
  • Advertise
  • Apps
  • Tech Edvocate Awards
  • The Edvocate
  • P-20 Ed Careers
  • Product Review of 5 Dice: Order of Operations Game

  • Product Review of Toontastic 3D

  • Product Review of ToonDoo

  • Product Review of Too Noisy

  • Product Review of Tommy the Turtle

  • Product Review of Todo Math

  • Product Review of Titans of Space

  • Product Review of TinyTap

  • Product Review of TINgr

  • Product Review of TimeSavr

Uncategorized
Home›Uncategorized›In this teacher’s classroom, science leads students to more questions

In this teacher’s classroom, science leads students to more questions

By Matthew Lynch
June 8, 2017
2837
0
Spread the love

Originally posted on Chalkbeat by Nicholas Garcia

“I’m not any good at math!”

“I just don’t get science!”

As early as second grade, students start convincing themselves they just aren’t cut out to learn two subjects that are essential to navigating life and understanding the world.

Teachers like Jessica Noffsinger can convince them otherwise.

A teacher at the STEM Magnet Lab School in the Adams 12 Five Star School District just north of Denver, Noffsinger was recently named one of the nation’s best science teachers, recognized in the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

As part of the prize, Noffsinger got $10,000 and the chance to fill out our new How I Teach survey! Below, the educator explains the most important elements in a science lesson and how she keeps parents informed of what’s happening in her classroom.

School: STEM Magnet Lab School

Current subject/grade:
8th Grade Science and Engineering and 7th Grade Math

One word or short phrase you use to describe your teaching style:
Minds-On

What’s your morning routine like when you first arrive at school?
On an average morning I get to school, prepare the lesson for the day, visit with other teachers for a few minutes, grab a Diet Dr. Pepper and head out for morning driveline duty!

What does your classroom look like?
My classroom is organized chaos. At any given time you will find a huge assortment of science tools for investigations (right now it is physics cars and ramps) as well as engineering projects in progress (light wave equipment). Our furniture is set up for group work and students sit in rolling chairs to get more movement into their day. There is a Friday Superstar board that celebrates student achievements as well as the “Noffia” wall that features pictures of all the students I have taught at STEM Lab. There are computers for each student and a lot of books to reference too!

What apps/software/tools can’t you teach without? Why?

  1. PhET Simulations from CU. These provide my students with an opportunity to collect real-time data and make decisions about their investigational design.
  2. Google Classroom. I love how this allows students to turn in their work to one place and access assignments from anywhere!
  3. Google Docs! The docs allow my students to collaborate with each other (and me!) from anywhere. I also love that I can give kids feedback in a timely manner.

How do you plan your lessons?
For me, a lesson plan must includes four things. First, there is important science or engineering content that comes from our standards. Next, I work on developing students’ skills as scientists. After that, I figure out how we are going to incorporate literacy/math skills. Finally, there is some form of engagement that will make students want to participate in the learning. When these four qualities are balanced, learning becomes a magical thing!

What qualities make an ideal lesson?
The best lessons are those that make students ask more questions, get excited about an idea or challenge their current thinking. Our school focuses on Problem Based Learning and this provides students a framework to do these things on a regular basis.

How do you respond when a student doesn’t understand your lesson?
Sometimes it is pulling students into a small group to reteach the idea in a different way. Other times it might mean setting up a study session before or after school to give the student one on one attention. If there are many students not understanding an idea, it is time to stop as a whole class and figure out where we are stuck. From there, I can plan our next steps.

What is your go-to trick to re-engage a student who has lost focus?
My favorite go-to is to have a student take a brain break. This could be a 30-second dance party, moving to work with a new partner, or going to get a drink in the hall. Nine times out of 10, it is enough to get refocused. If not, it is time for a conversation to figure out what is going on and how we are going to move past it together.

How do you maintain communication with parents?
I send home a short email to all parents one or two times a month so they have a general sense of what is going on in class. I also email specific parents when issues arise or call them if technology is a barrier. I also try to be present at a wide variety of school events to build relationships with our families outside of the classroom.

What hacks or tricks do you use to grade papers?
Ah…..grading. This is the one part of my job I would happily trade in! I think my best hack is to write student-friendly rubrics ahead of time so that kids put exactly what they need into assignments. It is still a lot of work to grade them, but I usually get so excited about seeing my students grow that it becomes bearable. The other trick I swear by? Have an amazing playlist of music to listen to while you grade! Mine is named “FUN.”

What are you reading for enjoyment?
My most enjoyable reading is whatever my sons’ pick out for read aloud before bed. Lately, that has been a National Geographic book of answers and “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.”

What’s the best advice you ever received?
My former principal Bobby Ortega always said, “Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” I have this hanging above my desk and remind myself of it daily. Relationships are key to student learning and I have to meet my kids where they are. Then we can journey forward together.

Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.

Previous Article

What the heck is STEM? (And eight ...

Next Article

This high schooler broke out of his ...

Matthew Lynch

Related articles More from author

  • Uncategorized

    Stereotypes Affect Math Competence in Girls, Research Suggests

    June 20, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Uncategorized

    Trailblazers in Edtech: Steven Anderson

    August 11, 2017
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Uncategorized

    Growing the Next Generation of Data Scientists

    June 29, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Uncategorized

    Digital Writing Strategies for Every Learner

    July 31, 2018
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Uncategorized

    Trailblazers in Edtech: Eric Sheniger

    July 4, 2017
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Uncategorized

    Including Parents in Your Digital Community

    May 9, 2018
    By Matthew Lynch

Leave a reply Cancel reply

  • EdTech Startups & Businesses

    7 Tips on Bringing Your Edtech Company to Market

  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech

    Transform Your Staff Meetings with Edtech

  • Higher EducationProduct Reviews

    Product Review of Oracle Higher Education

Search

Login & Registration

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Newsletter

Signup for The Tech Edvocate Newsletter and have the latest in EdTech news and opinion delivered to your email address!

  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • Product Review of 5 Dice: Order of Operations Game

    By Matthew Lynch
    May 27, 2022
  • Product Review of Toontastic 3D

    By Matthew Lynch
    May 27, 2022
  • Product Review of ToonDoo

    By Matthew Lynch
    May 27, 2022
  • Product Review of Too Noisy

    By Matthew Lynch
    May 27, 2022
  • Product Review of Tommy the Turtle

    By Matthew Lynch
    May 27, 2022
  • 20 Top Virtual Reality Apps that are Changing Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    March 11, 2017
  • 7 Ways Technology Is Impacting Modern Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    March 4, 2017
  • Why Mobile Technology Enhances Instruction

    By Matthew Lynch
    December 14, 2016
  • 7 Roles for Artificial Intelligence in Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    May 5, 2018
  • Digital Literacy is the Most Important Lifelong Learning Tool

    By Matthew Lynch
    December 30, 2017
  • 5 Reasons Why an MBA can Boost Your Career - Appeio
    on
    May 26, 2022

    How Distance Learning Fosters Global Collaboration

    […] and distance learning ...
  • 4 Ways EdTech Companies Can Involve Faculty in Research - WGU Labs | Advancing Innovation in ...
    on
    May 17, 2022

    25 Ways that EdTech Benefits Teachers and Students

    […] EdTech products can ...
  • What is a professional learning network? - What Type Degree
    on
    May 16, 2022

    What is a Personal Learning Network?

    […] What is a ...
  • Digital Branding is Key for Everyone In Education | Edtech Magazine
    on
    May 15, 2022

    Tips To Conduct A Gap Analysis For Your LMS Marketing Strategy

    […] How do you ...
  • 7 Ways to Approach Financial Decluttering in Your Life - Amida Wealth
    on
    May 15, 2022

    The Best External Hard Drives Of 2022: All The Best Options For Backing Up Your Device’s ...

    […] and updating your ...

EdTech Policy & Reform

  • Adaptive LearningCurriculum & InstructionDigital & Mobile TechnologyDigital Age TeachersEarly Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech & InnovationEdTech Policy & ReformInstructional Technology

    Exploring New Ideas: Student-Driven Remote Learning

    Spread the loveRemote learning is taking its toll on our students. They miss the social side of school. Not seeing their classmates or teachers is leading to nervousness, anxiety, and ...
  • Digital & Mobile TechnologyEdTech & InnovationEdTech Policy & Reform

    Implementing Education Technology by Pursuing Technology Education

    Spread the loveTechnology is used for many great things in our world. It’s a powerful tool when used correctly. As such, this powerful tool can be used to transform learning.  ...
  • EdTech Policy & Reform

    How Much Bias Is Okay in Your School?

    Spread the loveThe algorithm has proven itself to be a handy tool when it comes to solving education problems. It’s also not without bias.  You may be wondering how some ...
  • EdTech Policy & ReformFeaturedFresh

    Edtech Should Complement Good Pedagogy, Not Attempt to Replace It

    Spread the loveThe newest generation of edtech is downright amazing; it’s no wonder that various education stakeholders might be a little excited about its potential to transform education. However, edtech ...
  • EdTech Policy & ReformFeaturedFresh

    How to Teach Kids to Communicate in This Digital Age

    Spread the loveWhen even the youngest children are spending the equivalent of a full work day looking at screens, it is perhaps no surprise that parents are wondering how to ...

EdTech Startups & Businesses

  • Digital LeadershipEdTech Startups & BusinessesProduct Reviews

    Product Review of Collegix

    Spread the love This is a comprehensive ERP solution for colleges and universities that provides modular, totally integrated learners services, finance, HR, and advancement. Collegix provides online and offline workarounds ...
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech Startups & BusinessesProduct Reviews

    Product Review of Discovery Education

    Spread the love Discovery Education is a big player in EdTech. The company has established itself as the leading provider of digital curriculum resources, digital content, and professional development for ...
  • EdTech Startups & BusinessesProduct Reviews

    Product Review of AptaFund

    Spread the loveAptaFund is a business management software that provides essential functions to educational institutions, such as web access to educators, parents, and learners. It allows elementary schools and other educational ...
  • EdTech Startups & Businesses

    Understanding the Fundamentals of a Sales Script in Your Customer Interaction Journey

    Spread the loveSales scripts are crucial to any business and can be the main difference in achieving the set targets. A well-written sales script that factors in customers from different ...
  • Digital & Mobile TechnologyEdTech Startups & BusinessesTeachers

    Top 5 Things to Consider When Designing an LMS

    Spread the loveCovid-19 has changed many things in our world, and education is one of them. More students lean toward using online schooling. Therefore, learning management systems (LMS) are becoming ...

Digital Equity

  • Digital & Mobile TechnologyDigital EquityDigital Literacy

    Teaching Learners Digital Content Creation Skills

    Spread the loveContent curation is nothing new and has always been a coveted skill. It has been this way for hundreds of years — think of art galleries, museums, or ...
  • Digital & Mobile TechnologyDigital EquityEdTech & Innovation

    Promoting Online Access With Hotspots, Laptops, and Planning

    Spread the loveWhen becoming a leader in the field of education, it is important to consider equity. Some students may not have access to devices or the internet from their ...
  • Digital EquityDigital Leadership

    How Can You Assess the Tech Needs of Your Students Outside of School?

    Spread the loveToday, I received an email from the middle school principal in Los Angeles. She explained to me that the school that she ran was in one of the ...
  • Digital Equity

    It Is Time for the Edtech Industry to Stop Denying Its Equity and Race Problem

    Spread the loveThe EdTech industry is dominated by white employees, white leaders, and white entrepreneurs. If you doubt this statement, just attend an Edtech conference. Admittedly, educators and others don’t ...
  • Digital Equity

    How OER Can Help Overcome the Higher Education Equity Barrier

    Spread the loveThe cornerstone of the American dream is the ability to succeed in life regardless of one’s family of origin. And, for most people, that requires a college education. ...

EdTech Futures

  • Adaptive LearningAssistive TechnologyEdTech FuturesInstructional TechnologyTeachers

    Will AI Replace Teachers?

    Spread the loveThrough the years, robots have taken over many jobs. First, they replaced horses and wagons and horses and plows, then they started to replace people. A few examples ...
  • EdTech FuturesHigher EducationHigher Education EdTechUncategorized

    The Future of Higher Education Must Avoid Returning to the Past

    Spread the loveColleges and universities can make higher education safer, smarter, and more accessible through automation and collaboration technologies – if they commit to it. Author: John Hulen, Director of ...
  • EdTech FuturesOnline Learning & eLearning

    IT Trends To Watch As Higher Education Moves Into a New Decade

    Spread the loveEdtech couldn’t have hoped for a better launch into the new decade than the push the industry received from COVID-19. Even the most tech-resistant institutions and individuals have ...
  • EdTech Futures

    4 Emerging EdTech Trends in 2022

    Spread the loveCovid-19 has not only changed education as we know it, but it has forced education technology (EdTech) to up its game. EdTech has been crucial since the start of this ...
  • Adult EducationEdTech & InnovationEdTech FuturesEducation LeadershipEducational LeadershipHigher EducationHigher Education EdTechThe Future of Education

    Education Technology and the Future of Higher Ed Leadership

    Spread the loveEducation Technology (EdTech) has had a more significant impact on education than anyone expected. Now its effects are reaching into the field of higher education. In this article, ...

About Us

Since technology is not going anywhere and does more good than harm, adapting is the best course of action. That is where The Tech Edvocate comes in. We plan to cover the PreK-12 and Higher Education EdTech sectors and provide our readers with the latest news and opinion on the subject. From time to time, I will invite other voices to weigh in on important issues in EdTech. We hope to provide a well-rounded, multi-faceted look at the past, present, the future of EdTech in the US and internationally.

We started this journey back in June 2016, and we plan to continue it for many more years to come. I hope that you will join us in this discussion of the past, present and future of EdTech and lend your own insight to the issues that are discussed.

Newsletter

Signup for The Tech Edvocate Newsletter and have the latest in EdTech news and opinion delivered to your email address!

Contact Us

The Tech Edvocate
5322 Markel Road, Suite 104
Richmond, VA 23230
(601) 630-5238
[email protected]

Follow us

Copyright © 2022 Matthew Lynch. All rights reserved.