by Tom Racine
A podcast aimed directly at the amazing and wonderful science teachers, educators and administrators out there, from Pre-K thru High School, who are engaging students and fostering curiosity about the world around them. It’s Time for Science is produced by School Specialty, along with FOSS, the Full Option Science System, from The Lawrence Hall of Science.
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Publishing Since
5/22/2023
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April 14, 2025
<div dir="ltr"> <div> <div>It's Time for Science, and it's time to talk again fostering safeR hands-on science environments! Tom talks to safety expert Dr. Kenneth R. Roy (Director of Environmental Health & Safety for Glastonbury Public Schools in Connecticut) and 2025 Paul deHart Hurd Award winner Kenneth L. Huff! </div> </div> <div> </div> <div>Dr. Kenneth R. Roy is currently the Director of Environmental Health & Safety for Glastonbury Public Schools (CT). In addition, he is the Chief Science Safety Compliance Adviser/Chief Safety Blogger for the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) and the Safety Compliance Officer for the National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA). He also serves as the manager and senior consultant for National Safety Consultants, LLC. He has published 13 recognized science and STEM laboratory safety books and manuals, and authored over 850 safety articles in professional journals and associations including NSTA, NSELA, CSSS, ITEEA and more, covering safety education focused on science, technology education and STEAM disciplines based on legal safety standards and better professional safety practices. Dr. Roy has been actively involved with aspects of risk management and mitigation for decades and is recognized as an ‘Expert Witness’ in litigation cases specializing in the area of legal liability in K-12 laboratories. His career in science and mathematics education has included many, many roles and research positions, and includes the teaching of chemistry, physics & mathematics at the high school level, biology and general science at the college level, and central office administration as a K-12 science curriculum director. Dr. Roy has received numerous professional acknowledgement awards over the years for his outstanding work in the field of science education.</div> <div> </div> <div>Tom talks with Dr. Roy about the importance of safety in the science classroom; Dr. Roy’s role as Director of Environmental Health & Safety for Glastonbury Public Schools; putting the “R” on “safe” through training and responsibility taking; why labs take some of the safety precautions they take through engineering controls; how teachers can make sure any necessary controls are in place before they teach; different kinds of hazards in a lab; how teachers who may have not be trained by their credential programs can be safer; naming some of the differences between elementary and middle/high safety issues; safety seminars they offer at NSTA as preservice; the importance of hands-on science for and explaining safety issues to students; the need for administrator support for safety; proper storage AND proper disposal; knowing the safety policies in writing for field trips and other outside time; surveying outside areas for any risks before bringing students; checking in with any outside speakers to make their presentations safer. Dr. Roy shares some stories of safety skirting; his origin story of why safety matters so much to him personally and professionally; some of the great safety resources available; and a reminder to always put it in writing!</div> <div> </div> NMLSTA 2025 Paul deHart Hurd Award Winner Kenneth L. Huff has been a public-school science teacher for over 33 years and is currently teaching in the Williamsville Central School District in New York. He is also a Teacher in Residence with Harvard University-LabXchange. Mr. Huff served two terms on the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Board of Directors and as president of the Science Teachers Association of New York State and of the Association of Presidential Awardees in Science Teaching. He was a member of the writing team for the Next Generation Science Standards. Mr. Huff was awarded the NSTA Distinguished Teaching Award, National Science Education Leadership Association Outstanding Leadership in Science Education Award, State University of New York Buffalo State Distinguished Alumnus Award, and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Mr. Huff is also a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is an author of the book Engaging Students in Science Investigation Using GRC: Science Instruction Consistent with the Framework and NGSS. He has served the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, andMedicine (NASEM) in multiple capacities including as Co-chair of the Teacher AdvisoryCouncil, on the Committee on Science Investigations and Engineering Design Experiences in Grades 6-12 and he presently serves the NASEM on the Collaborative on Advancing Science Teaching and Learning in K-12. He is a National Board-Certified Teacher in Science/Early Adolescence.</div> <div dir="ltr"> </div> <div dir="ltr">Tom and Mr. Huff discuss Mr. Huff’s long career and how his interest in teaching began; challenges he faced as he began as a middle school teacher, and how his interest in space science helped him; they discuss his general approach to teaching and what’s inspired him; how he engages students with science content, including culturally scientific phenomena that are important to students’ lives; a teacher’s role in engaging students in science by piquing their curiosity and including interesting phenomena; how he engages students outside, including the SSSNOW project; he offers some tips for non-science trained teachers on engaging students with science across disciplines; his experience writing for the NGSS and the importance of all the pieces going into the construction of the standards; his role as teacher in residence with Harvard University-LabXchange, including the free resources they offer to teachers around the world; advice he’d give to young teachers; and close with the importance of outside real-world curiosity.<br /> <br /></div> <div>Here are some of the safety resources Dr. Roy discusses:</div> <div dir="ltr"> <div><br /> <a href="https://www.nsta.org/topics/safety" target="_blank" rel= "noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nsta.org/topics/safety&source=gmail&ust=1744404958411000&usg=AOvVaw3NsgQeca0aRsaQUtM80q0w"> NSTA Safety Resources</a><br /> <a href= "https://www.nsta.org/resources/safer-science-nsta-portal-science-safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nsta.org/resources/safer-science-nsta-portal-science-safety&source=gmail&ust=1744404958411000&usg=AOvVaw2MvlO-ox3jnHyi5rYvnztT"> Safer Science: NSTA Portal to Science Safety </a></div> <div><a href="https://www.nsta.org/blog/welcome-nsta-safety-blog" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nsta.org/blog/welcome-nsta-safety-blog&source=gmail&ust=1744404958411000&usg=AOvVaw0hhGEpdxCTswZTuOG_Gh6X"> NSTA Safety Blog</a><br /> <a href="https://sciencesafety.com/nsela/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://sciencesafety.com/nsela/&source=gmail&ust=1744404958411000&usg=AOvVaw21m5kKQAxTBopk_-9DJqb5"> NSELA and Science Safety</a><br /> <a href= "https://www.acs.org/education/policies/middle-and-high-school-chemistry.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.acs.org/education/policies/middle-and-high-school-chemistry.html&source=gmail&ust=1744404958411000&usg=AOvVaw091Q5cffsc4O8ypVRUXmmq"> ACS Middle & High School Chemistry Guidelines </a></div> <div dir="ltr"> </div> </div>
March 17, 2025
<div dir="ltr"> <div> <div>It's Time for Science, and it's time to talk again about implementing elementary science effectively! Tom talks with the team from the Syracuse City School District about what they've done to have such a successful implementation of the FOSS Program. This well-oiled team consists of Science and Technology Director Dr. Dana Corcoran and elementary science instructional coaches Amy MacDonough and Ashley Blood.</div> </div> <div> </div> <div>Dr. Dana Corcoran is the Science and Technology Director for the Syracuse City School District (SCSD), a role she has been in for the past 10 years. Prior to her current position, Dr. Corcoran served as the Supervisor of Science at OCM BOCES. Her extensive teaching experience includes both middle and high school science. Dr. Corcoran holds a degree in Biology from Utica College, a Master of Science in Teaching (MST) in Science Teaching from Le Moyne College, and both a PhD and a Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) in Educational Leadership from Syracuse University. Her academic background and professional journey reflect her deep commitment to education and leadership in the field of science and technology. Dr. Corcoran is also an avid supporter of community engagement and lifelong learning, often participating in local science fairs, mentoring young educators, and staying updated with the latest advancements in science and technology. Throughout her career, Dr. Corcoran has been instrumental in ensuring that all elementary students, from kindergarten through fifth grade, receive comprehensive science programming. She has also been a key leader in the district's transition to the new New York State Science Learning Standards (NYSSLS).</div> <div> </div> <div>Amy M. MacDonough is from Syracuse; New York and has been working for the SCSD for 24 years. In the classroom 22 years, this is her 2nd year as an elementary science instructional coach. In her current role she has greatly enjoyed hooking teachers with the FOSS program. As a former student herself of the SCSD, up to 6th grade, she's thrilled to be giving back. "It's so cool to see their students with materials and being engaged with their learning." </div> <div> </div> Ashley Blood is an elementary science instructional coach for the SCSD. Prior to this role she was an elementary teacher for ten years both in her home state of Alaska and in Syracuse. She is a passionate science educator, as she sees the incredible benefits to her students.<br /> <div> </div> <div>Tom begins the discussion with the SCSD team talking about why science education is so important, the importance of a scientific literate community; talking about learning gaps in their district; and how often science instruction is the most exciting for many kids. Students who don’t have a lot of success in school in general can come in and feel successful in science. They discuss Dr. Corcoran's hiring; how she worked to get instructional coaches out of the classroom and working full time; and the need she saw to get consistency across schools and the need to bring in a strong curriculum program. They talk about the importance of instructional coaches in helping teachers get going; their journey to adoption and getting teacher buy-in, implementing small and then expanding to other grades; getting teachers excited; and how FOSS specifically helped students become engaged and get teacher buy-in to teaching science. They continue talking about how teachers learn about management and where to go for help; the PLC work they do helping teachers understand concepts and breaking various concepts down; and making sure new teachers get the support they need. They talk about how teachers are always surprised that there’s really something for kids at all levels to do in science; their successes with students; and hearing over and over again about kids who aren’t necessarily successful in other areas being engaged with science. Even kids that may not be fluent in English can draw, understand, and explore. Tom asks the team to dive deeper into how they approach access and equity in the science classroom; how having equitable access to science can help immensely in trying to work on closing the achievement gap in students from different backgrounds; the importance of sense-making at the end of each lesson to allow kids a collaborative discussion and complete understanding of the phenomenon they just experienced; and the emphasis they put on giving every student the opportunity to succeed.</div> <br /> If you'd like to talk to Dr. Corcoran, she's graciously offered to be available: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" target= "_blank" rel="noopener">[email protected]</a></div> <div dir="ltr"> <div> </div> <div>It’s Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at <a href= "mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">itstimeforscience@<wbr />schoolspecialty.com</a>. We’d love to hear from you!<br /> <br /> Look for School Specialty and FOSS on X and Facebook. It’s Time for Science is produced by School Specialty and the Full Option Science System (FOSS) at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.</div> </div>
February 18, 2025
<div> <div>It's Time for Science, and it's time to talk again about science learning outdoors! Host Tom Racine talks with Dr. April Holton and educator Elisa Slee about outdoor professional learning and the value of getting both kids and teachers outside. Then Tom talks with Erica Beck Spencer about the history and importance of Taking FOSS Outdoors and weaving outdoor experiences directly into the FOSS curriculum.</div> </div> <div> </div> <div>Dr. April Holton has dedicated over 30 years to science education, serving as a middle school teacher, instructional coach, curriculum specialist, and professor. Currently a Clinical Assistant Professor at Arizona State University and science education consultant, she bridges academia with classroom practice. Her work focuses on transforming science instruction through teacher development, emphasizing phenomena-based, three-dimensional learning that puts students at the center. Dr. Holton believes students learn science best through hands-on exploration, meaningful discourse, and real-world connections. She equips educators with research-backed, practical strategies that make science engaging and accessible.</div> <div> <p>Elisa Slee is a longtime educator and former science curriculum specialist. She currently works as a FOSS consultant and science professional development provider, supporting teachers in bringing hands-on science experiences into the classroom. Her passion for outdoor education began as a child while walking to school and was further shaped by a pivotal experience—spending a week at Yosemite with her high school chemistry class. Ms. Slee loves collaborating with teachers and families, emphasizing the role of hands-on investigations in fostering sensemaking in science.</p> </div> <div>Tom begins the discussion with Dr. Holton and Ms. Slee talking about a professional learning summer camp that they conducted with teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). In collaboration with LAUSD, they conducted a two day science camp with teachers, working to expand thinking on getting kids outdoors and off screens post-lockdown; highlighting how to work with kids outdoors—getting fresh air and making science connections; and focussing on outdoor learning not as something extra to do with the kids, but as an integral part of learning. They describe taking teachers through group activities, rotating just as if they were students; undergoing several sessions learning about different aspects of outdoor learning, such as nature journaling, using FOSS investigations (possibly ones that teachers might have skipped because they were worried about management); how teachers were able to be in the role of the learner and imagine what they could do with their own kids—working to help get teachers over any obstacles in taking kids outdoors. They discuss how outdoor activities are not something extra, but already built into FOSS. Dr. Holton and Ms. Slee worked to focus on ultra-local phenomena with teachers; walking around their own campuses; seeing how just a bit of dirt and some plant matter can be just as engaging as large open space; helping kids become citizen scientists every time they walk around the school. Dr. Holton and Ms. Slee share some of their own "ah-ha!" moments, with their own learning and with teachers. They discuss how FOSS helped engage students and families during lockdown; how FOSS Home/School Connections bring families into the learning; how simulations just aren't the same for student engagement; and how when you do science outside you begin to ask, what else can I do outside?</div> <div> </div> <div>Erica Beck Spencer is a former curriculum specialist with the Full Option Science System (FOSS) and spearheaded the Taking FOSS Outdoors initiative. In addition to being a curriculum developer, she collaborated with over 50 districts and guided tens of thousands of educators on implementing the FOSS program. She has instructed thousands of formal and nonformal teachers about teaching outside. She is the chair of the board of directors for the Maine Math and Science Alliance and has served on the board for the Maine Environmental Education Association as well as the board for Rippleffect, a nonprofit outdoor expeditionary learning program. Currently she is working on a children's book about fairy houses, inspired by her daughter's college essay, that interweaves an intergenerational love for and sharing of nature, the intersection of play and engineering design, and the importance of connection to place. She is also consulting while looking for what comes next professionally. </div> <div> <p dir="ltr">Ms. Beck Spencer provides us with a brief history of Taking FOSS Outdoors; how she became involved; and how Taking FOSS Outdoors went from supplemental guides to being interwoven into the FOSS curriculum. She discusses the importance of management for outside work; the benefits of having PL camps such as the one done with LAUSD; how anyone, even in big urban areas can get outside; the specific layout of the Taking FOSS Outdoors chapter; lessons she learned from taking kids outside earlier in her career; and the importance of helping kids connect to the natural world. She underscores that teachers don’t have to know everything to go outside; and that once you get kids outside, they can’t wait to go back out.</p> <span id= "m_80453624884437945gmail-docs-internal-guid-0f2bb46f-7fff-b681-3318-2ab1b0875555"></span></div> <div>More about Taking FOSS Outdoors: </div> <div> </div> <div><a href= "https://foss.lawrencehallofscience.org/teaching-tools-science-centered-language/teaching-tools-taking-foss-outdoors/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://foss.lawrencehallofscience.org/teaching-tools-science-centered-language/teaching-tools-taking-foss-outdoors/&source=gmail&ust=1739989547813000&usg=AOvVaw3_HKPS0gDVTpshYwEI4DFm"> https://foss.<wbr />lawrencehallofscience.org/<wbr />teaching-tools-science-<wbr />centered-language/teaching-<wbr />tools-taking-foss-outdoors/</a></div> <div><a href= "https://blog.schoolspecialty.com/taking-science-instruction-outdoors-with-foss/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://blog.schoolspecialty.com/taking-science-instruction-outdoors-with-foss/&source=gmail&ust=1739989547813000&usg=AOvVaw3cDUQ1aV3vyzJxoB3kpe6N"> https://blog.schoolspecialty.<wbr />com/taking-science-<wbr />instruction-outdoors-with-<wbr />foss/</a></div> <div><a href= "https://www.foss-science.com/science-instruction-outside-of-the-classroom/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.foss-science.com/science-instruction-outside-of-the-classroom/&source=gmail&ust=1739989547814000&usg=AOvVaw22fM7nhGZekPpCu6V--fUe"> https://www.foss-science.com/<wbr />science-instruction-outside-<wbr />of-the-classroom/</a></div> <div> </div> <div>It’s Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at <a href= "mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">itstimeforscience@<wbr />schoolspecialty.com</a>. We’d love to hear from you!<br /> <br /> Look for School Specialty and FOSS on X and Facebook. It’s Time for Science is produced by School Specialty and the Full Option Science System (FOSS) at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.</div> <div> </div>
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