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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 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.
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.
Chemistry Fun | March 2025 Isotope Sisters Puzzle
In this activity, students are given clues about various sister isotopes in order to complete a crossword puzzle. Students will become familiar with isotope names, symbols, and mass numbers as they consider descriptions of the isotopes and information about their uses to solve the puzzle.
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.
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.
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.
Advice Column | November 2024 Dear Labby: Swamped with Subjects
A new teacher asks for suggestions related to managing lesson planning for multiple learning levels.
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.
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.
Chemistry Fun | November 2024 Measurement: Crack the Code
In this activity, students will be tasked with solving questions related to the topic of chemical measurement. Each correct answer will decode a letter needed to decipher a series of riddles.
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.
Nuts & Bolts | November 2024 Automated Assessment Feedback to Encourage Student Self-Reflection
A high school chemistry teacher explains her automated feedback system using Google Forms and Sheets, enabling her students to self-assess their performance. This approach enhances self-reflection and ownership of learning, while providing structured and meaningful feedback.
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.
Editorial | September 2024 Extending Collaboration Beyond Chemistry
AACT President Martin Palermo emphasizes the importance of collaboration outside chemistry educators. Interacting with teachers from other disciplines can enrich one’s teaching practices, reduce isolation, support professional growth, and enhance student learning experiences.
Resource Feature | September 2024 Enhancing Student Self-Awareness of Learning Progress in High School Chemistry
A veteran high school chemistry teacher shares how implementing a year-long strategy using ongoing lab examples enhanced students’ self-awareness, allowing them to reflect on progress, correct misconceptions, and take ownership of their learning.
Nuts & Bolts | September 2024 Using a Soccer-Based Strategy for a Safer Chemistry Classroom
This article describes a lab safety system modeled on soccer’s yellow and red card discipline. It effectively enforces safety rules in the classroom by using clear, visual indicators of student safety violations, and escalating consequences for repeated violations.
Nuts & Bolts | September 2024 Flexible Grading and Immediate Feedback in the Chemistry Classroom
This author describes her flexible grading and immediate feedback strategy. Her technique promotes reflection and resilience, while enhancing students’ real-world skills and supporting a positive environment for growth.
Advice Column | September 2024 Dear Labby: Grappling with Groups
A teacher asks for suggestions when forming lab groups.
Chemistry Fun | September 2024 Laboratory Equipment Scramble
In this activity, students will be challenged to solve a set of scrambled word puzzles. Each scrambled word corresponds to the name of a common piece of chemistry laboratory equipment. After solving each puzzle, students will use designated letters from each word to solve a riddle.
In My Element | September 2024 From Lab Coats to Lesson Plans
The author shares his career transition from work as a pharmaceutical chemist to teaching high school chemistry. During his 1,000-mile journey, he discovered a passion for education and positively impacting students’ lives.
Editorial | May 2024 Reflecting on the Three Cs
AACT President Michael Farabaugh reflects on the end of the school year, balancing emotions, and setting goals. He encourages his peers to continue embracing connection, collaboration, and contribution to enhance teaching and community engagement.
Nuts & Bolts | May 2024 Reflecting on ChatGPT in our Chemistry Classroom
In a follow-up to their September 2023 article, two high school chemistry teachers explore the integration of ChatGPT (a tool for artificial intelligence, or AI) in their classroom. While AI has helped the authors with instructional planning, they have also found challenges with its accuracy and the ways students use it.
Classroom Commentary | May 2024 From High School Chemistry to Upper Elementary Science
This author reflects on her unique teaching experience, transitioning to elementary science after 17 years in the high school chemistry classroom. She compares her experiences and shares the challenges and successes of teaching across levels.
Nuts & Bolts | May 2024 It Takes Two: Partner Work in the Chemistry Classroom
A chemistry teacher reflects on his transition from individual to partner worksheets. He shares his journey adopting the “Pass the Paper” and “Turn + Talk” protocols to enhance student collaboration and accountability in his classroom.