Welcome to Your Home for Science Education in Alaska

Dear ASTA Members,

 I looked out the window this morning and noticed that for the first time in what seems like far too long, the light of the sun beamed down as the first school bell of the day went off. It reminded me of the short time we have with our students every year, but the lasting impact of our work.

 Unfortunately, it seems science is continually being belittled or ignored in our current society and this brings a new urgency to our work. Add in the rampant growth of standardization in so many of our schools that pushes science to the sidelines and limits our youngest citizens from an experiential science education, and it could be argued we, as science teachers, are warriors on the front line to keep science at the forefront of our society. While this sounds like a daunting task, it is one we do every day through inquiry-based, experiential science teaching for all students, regardless of background or geographic location. And for this, I say thanks and keep up the good fight.

 The 2019 Alaska Cross Content Conference will be coming to Anchorage this fall, October 25, 26, 27, 2019. Exact details are being worked out, but stay tuned for more information and how to register for this weekend filled with national speakers, presenters, and vendors.  I hope to see you all there!

 Thank you.

Ben Walker

President, ASTA 2017-2019

Alaska Science and Engineering Fair

March 29-31 at the Northway Mall in Anchorage

Attend or even consider expanding

your professional experience by volunteering!

https://alaskasciencefair.org/

Interior Alaska Science Fair

March 27-30 at Pioneer Park in Fairbanks

Don't miss the fun and a chance to learn from students!

https://www.k12northstar.org/Page/2969

ARE YOU A MEMBER of ASTA?

If you are, or if you join now, you can apply for a professional development travel grant OR a classroom project grant worth up to $500. Deadline March 31.

Apply here Classroom Project or Professional Development Travel

SOME PAST CLASSROOM PROJECT GRANTS AWARDED

Cindy Fabbri in Fairbanks: Hydroponics as a model for inquiry

Rebecca Watts in Juneau: Trail camera to monitor wildlife movement

Michelle Ganoza: Building and programming robots

BIENNIAL CROSS-CONTENT CONFERENCE

COMING IN THE FALL

to Anchorage

Science, Math, Literacy, World Languages

USEFUL LINKS FOR TEACHING

RIGOROUS AND RELEVANT SCIENCE IN ALASKA

K-12 Energy Lessons

K-12 Resources from

the Alaska Science Curricular Initiative

from years back.

Standards-based Curriculum for teaching about our aquatic resources in grades K-8.

Excellent collection of lessons centered around rural Alaskan life.

Web cams images and background images on Alaska's volcanoes and real-time data.

Materials assembled by Andy Hope through the Alaska Native Knowledge Network at UAF.

PROUD OF OUR PRESIDENTIAL AWARDEES!

As announced on June 25, 2018

For more information on how to

apply for the PRESIDENTIAL

AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHING

or nominate someone else, go to PAEMST or contact Joey Jigliotti for science or Sandy Schoff for math.

The 2019 nomination period is for secondary teachers, grades 7-12, is now open. The process of applying

is itself professional development in

its purest form, away from the oversight of administrators or actual instructors. It is a time for self-reflection and celebrating your

intrinsic gifts as a teacher. Keep science and math education moving forward and in the news!

Ms HEATHER WOLLRICH

of Anchorage School District earns the PAEMST award for Elementary  Science for 2016.

Click for more about her

Ms. JENNIFER KUETER

of Anchorage School District earns the PAEMST award for Elementary Mathematics for 2016.

Click for more about her.