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  • Nuts & Bolts | March 2020 Tips for Surviving and Thriving in Your First Years as a Chemistry Teacher

    Created by Kaitlin Johnson

    This article provides tips for finding success as a new chemistry teacher. Tips include helpful organizational advice and lab logistics for teachers who are navigating their first few years of teaching.

  • Classroom Commentary | November 2018 Access is an AACT member benefit. Working Together toward Vertical Alignment

    Created by Scott J. Hawkins

    The author shares his experience organizing a science workshop that connects high school science teachers with elementary school teachers in their same system. During the workshop, high school teachers present labs and activities to help elementary science teachers best prepare their own students. The experience lets teachers collaborate and discuss vertical alignment of their teaching, and be better prepared to work together to provide students with the most effective science education.

  • Classroom Commentary | November 2018 Access is an AACT member benefit. Successful Collaboration, Fostered by the American Chemical Society

    Created by Steven Kosmas

    This article describes the exciting collaboration between university and high school students and faculty that developed over a decade. The two main components that contribute to this successful partnership are the ChemClub and Science Coaches programs, sponsored by ACS/AACT.

  • Classroom Commentary | March 2018 The Science Coaches Program in Action

    Created by Jennifer Dower with Bill Dower

    This article describes the very successful Science Coaches partnership between a third-grade teacher and a Ph.D. chemist, who is also her father. The authors offer insight and tips for making the best use of a Science Coach partnership, or any science visitor to your classroom.

  • Nuts & Bolts | November 2017 Access is an AACT member benefit. TMI (Too Much Information) in Science

    Created by Anita Tseng

    In an age when information comes at us at breakneck-speed, how do we help our students deal with science outside the confines of their standard curriculum — and think critically about alternative arguments to questionable research data?

  • Classroom Commentary | September 2017 Access is an AACT member benefit. One Teacher’s Journey on the Path to Modeling Instruction

    Created by Laura E. Slocum

    This article describes a teacher’s journey and reflections over her 27-year career as she moved from a traditional chemistry classroom to one using modeling instruction techniques. To illustrate a central insight she gained along her journey, she describes one activity in particular, Sticky Tape. In this activity, students find evidence for charged particles smaller than an atom, and the discussion after the activity ultimately leads them to the subatomic particle we know as the electron. Making the move to incorporating modeling instruction transformed the author’s classroom and teaching style, and her students are now much more engaged in their own learning.

  • Classroom Commentary | May 2017 Access is an AACT member benefit. Read! But Read the Right Things

    Created by Adrian Dingle

    Contemplating some summer reading? The author shares his thoughts on two books that are rich in details about the progression of science, and also explore more important, fundamental insights about the discipline.

  • Nuts & Bolts | May 2017 There’s More to the New Safety Data Sheets than a Missing “M”

    Created by E. Kate Walker

    Safety in the chemistry lab is a concern for all teachers, regardless of years of experience. In 2015, major changes occurred to chemical labels and SDS in the US, however, many people that work and teach with chemicals are still fuzzy on the details. This article aims to increase your comfort level with SDSs by describing the timeline, some changes over the last 5 years, pros/cons of the newer format, related hazard communication issues, and providing info on other available resources.

  • Classroom Commentary | May 2016 Reflections of a Mentor Teacher

    Created by Scott Hawkins

    A veteran teacher reflects on the valuable, unexpected, and rewarding learning experience of being a mentor to a student teacher. He encourages you to consider hosting an intern for a school year.

  • Classroom Commentary | May 2016 Access is an AACT member benefit. On Being a Head of Department

    Created by David L. Byrum

    How can you be a better, more proactive Department Chair? This article contains suggestions from an author with experience as a Department Chair in three different schools, over a 41-year teaching career.

  • Classroom Commentary | September 2015 Access is an AACT member benefit. How I Found Modeling Pedagogy

    Created by Frank Lock

    Throughout his 35-year teaching career, this teacher found success in active learning, particularly through modeling chemistry pedagogy. Read how his teaching evolved by incorporating new techniques, strategies, and ideas.

  • Tech Tips | May 2015 Access is an AACT member benefit. How Social Media Improved My Teaching

    Created by Wanda Battaglia

    Twitter, Google+, and blogs have expanded this teacher's resources and learning networks outside of her own district, and allowed her to be reflective about her teaching.

  • Tech Tips | September 2014 Access is an AACT member benefit. ChemEd X: Online Chemistry Teacher Community

    Created by Deanna Cullen

    An associate editor of the Journal of Chemical Education, Deanna Cullen, introduces ChemEd X.

  • Classroom Commentary | March 2016 Reviving The Reason For My Work

    Created by Adrian Dingle

    Adrian Dingle re-discovers a love of chemistry academia through a prestigious fellowship—and encourages you to reconnect with your own inspiration for teaching.