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Editorial | November 2025 Remember that Great Idea about…?
AACT Governing Board DivCHED Representative, Laura Trout, proposes a simple system teachers can adopt to help them consider and use more of the ideas they encounter during professional development.
Classroom Commentary | November 2025 You Have to Ask Before You Can Give
A teacher suggests that meaningful collaboration begins with listening and gathering ideas from others before offering your own. His journey from working in isolation to connecting with colleagues and teacher communities has fueled his growth and inspired him to create new collaborative spaces for educators.
Classroom Commentary | November 2025 How Participating in an ACS Conference Motivated and Inspired Me
The author shares her experience of attending and presenting at an ACS conference in person — the energy, passion, and camaraderie of researchers worldwide, and the professional growth that result from face-to-face interactions.
Nuts & Bolts | November 2025 Why Metacognition is Important and How I Find Time to Include it
The author presents three different strategies for developing metacognitive skills (awareness of one's own thinking processes) and discusses how she uses them in her own classroom while providing tips for other ways to use them.
Advice Column | November 2025 Dear Labby: Dubious about Demos
A teacher seeks guidance in connecting common chemistry demos to relevant content for high school students.
Classroom Commentary | September 2025 Student Research Opportunities in IB Chemistry
The author writes about her experience teaching IB chemistry at an international school in Singapore. She offers a comparison of AP and IB chemistry and shares about the research opportunities for students.
Classroom Commentary | September 2025 Spectroscopy Puzzles
In this article, the author shares about his experience developing a high school level elective science class that combines organic chemistry and spectroscopy to investigate forensic chemistry in a meaningful way.
In My Element | September 2025 The Winding Road That Led Me to Teaching
The author shares how her responses to various life changes ultimately led her to a fulfilling teaching career.
Advice Column | September 2025 Dear Labby: Cautiously Curious
A high school teacher seeks understanding about what it means to join a professional organization like AACT.
Editorial | September 2025 Sometimes You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know!
AACT President Amiee Modic encourages teachers to model curiosity by staying open to learning. She describes her experiences at some recent chemistry education conferences and offers tips for teachers looking for new learning opportunities beyond the classroom.
Editorial | May 2025 Reflecting Back and Looking Ahead
AACT President Martin Palermo advises fellow teachers to spend their summer reclaiming their time, reflecting on their experiences, connecting with their purpose, building a support network, setting boundaries, and fostering curiosity to reignite engagement.
Advice Column | May 2025 Dear Labby: Supporting Future Scientists
A high school chemistry teacher searches for resources to support students who want to pursue careers in science, without an undergraduate degree.
Nuts & Bolts | May 2025 Building 21st Century Skills through Lab Notebooks
In this article, the author describes how using lab notebooks helps his high school students slow down, think critically, and build essential 21st century skills through collaboration, exploration, and reflection.
Nuts & Bolts | May 2025 Lab-Based Scientific Writing, Without the Report
A high school chemistry teacher shares how she designs structured lab activity packets to enhance student learning. She also includes tips for an approach to grading that provides students with meaningful feedback without overwhelming the instructor.
Classroom Commentary | May 2025 Teaching Chemistry through Art
In this article, the author shares how combining art and chemistry through culturally relevant lesson plans increased student engagement. She reflects on the chemistry concepts covered, the unit’s structure, and the impact on her students.
In My Element | March 2025 Small Schools… Big Challenges and Rewards
In this article, the author shares her experience teaching multiple science subjects in a small school. She highlights the challenges of wearing many hats, and also the rewards of building strong, lasting connections with students.
Classroom Commentary | March 2025 Best Practices for Planning Professional Development for Teachers
The article explores the author’s experience as a chemistry teacher trainer, emphasizing the importance of pedagogy in education. Drawing inspiration from The Toyota Way, the author highlights how Japanese principles can be applied to enhance chemistry training.
Tech Tips | March 2025 Using Online Simulations for Middle School Chemistry
In this article, the author explores the benefits of online simulations in middle school science. She highlights their accessibility and versatility, shares implementation techniques that have worked well in her classroom, and provides recommendations for free chemistry simulations.
Editorial | March 2025 Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
AACT Governing Board President-Elect Aimee Modic advises teachers on best practices for selecting classroom resources, including choosing vetted materials, testing in advance, and personalizing content.
Advice Column | March 2025 Dear Labby: Why do Moles Matter?
A high school chemistry teacher struggles with helping students grasp the concept of mole conversions and their real-world applications.
Tech Tips | March 2025 Using Conditional Formatting in Spreadsheets to Create Engaging, Interactive Lessons with Instant Feedback
In this article, the author explores how he uses spreadsheets featuring interactive activities and instant feedback to enhance high school chemistry learning. He reports that his students became more engaged with the material, and at the same time gained essential spreadsheet skills.
Nuts & Bolts | November 2024 Using Rolling Feedback to Clear Up Students’ Misconceptions
A high school chemistry teacher shares how student-driven feedback practices and rolling feedback help her address student misconceptions, allowing them to revisit content, correct misunderstandings, and take ownership of their learning throughout the year.
Editorial | November 2024 Opportunities for Growth Through Engagement in Summer Research
AACT Governing Board SOCED Representative Don Warner emphasizes the benefits of summer research for students and teachers, highlighting programs, like ACS Project SEED, that foster personal growth, professional connections, and innovative teaching practices.
Classroom Commentary | November 2024 Understanding the Need for Greater Resources and Diversity in Chemistry Teaching
This article highlights the challenges of teaching chemistry in underfunded schools, focusing on inadequate resources and lack of minority role models. It emphasizes the importance of addressing these issues through increased funding, community partnerships, and recruiting diverse teachers.
Classroom Commentary | November 2024 From the Classroom to Capitol Hill
A chemistry teacher shares her experience as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, detailing her journey from the classroom to Capitol Hill. She reflects on the fellowship’s impact and her contributions to education policy, and encourages other STEM teachers to apply.