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  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Classroom Commentary | March 2024 Experimenting with Standards-Based Grading in High School Chemistry

    Two chemistry teachers describe their experiment with standards-based grading, sharing their reasons, methods, and challenges faced over the last two years. They hope to encourage teachers to use this practice themselves, and share their experiences.

  • Editorial | March 2024 Teacher Leadership in Science and Chemistry

    AACT President-Elect Martin Palermo discusses the concerning trend of STEM educator retention, particularly in chemistry. He highlights the benefits of engaging in teacher leadership and the role of organizations like AACT in supporting chemistry educators.

  • Classroom Commentary | November 2023 Student Mental Health Matters... and so Does Yours!

    Student mental health has gained greater focus over recent years, yet many teachers have not applied that knowledge to themselves. A discussion at ChemEd 2023, led by the author, introduced techniques for teachers to prioritize their own well-being.

  • Editorial | November 2023 Engaging Students Through Chemistry Research

    AACT Governing Board SOCED Representative Don Warner explains how his career began with scientific research that changed his life. He implores educators to introduce their students to research opportunities and incorporate course-based research experiences into their classes.

  • Editorial | September 2023 Connect, Collaborate, and Contribute

    As teachers embark on the new school year, the 2023-24 AACT Governing Board President, Michael Farabaugh, encourages educators to embrace what he calls the “three C’s.”

  • Nuts & Bolts | September 2023 ChatGPT in the Chemistry Classroom

    Learn how two co-teachers plan to explore and integrate artificial intelligence (AI), specifically ChatGPT, in their science classroom. This article emphasizes that AI should not replace teachers, but rather be used to enhance the learning experience.

  • Advice Column | September 2023 Dear Labby: Puzzled With Precipitates

    A teacher from Texas asks about precipitates and Labby answers. 

  • Resource Feature | May 2023 Exploring Social Justice Through a Chemistry Lens

    This article details a project that introduces students to the intersection of social justice and chemistry. Over the course of a semester, students study the Flint, Michigan water crisis and discuss the social aspects while exploring the solution chemistry underlying the events.

  • Editorial | May 2023 How Are You?

    AACT President Matt Perekupka reflects on the school year and revisits the topic of teacher burnout. He hopes that other teachers have shared his feeling of revitalization this school year and credits the importance of building connections for combatting his battle with burnout.

  • Resource Feature | March 2023 Restoring the Passion for Chemistry: How Collaborating on a Research Project can Inspire both Students and Teachers

    In this article, the author shares about her struggle to balance curriculum requirements and pacing with the opportunity to provide real lab experiences for students. Recently, she has experienced science classes dwindling in popularity, particularly since the pandemic. When she had the opportunity to end a particularly difficult school year with a student-led research project, she helped both herself and her students regain a love of learning.

  • Classroom Commentary | November 2022 Chemical Phenomena in Everyday Life: An Adventure in Writing Across the Curriculum

    This article describes a year-long writing project in an upper-level chemistry course that culminates in a Writing Marathon field trip to New York City. The goal of the project was to use student writing about chemical phenomena observed in daily life to make connections to the concepts discussed in class. The author shares that her students enjoyed exploring the city and examining it through their chemistry lens. She found it even more rewarding to watch them apply their knowledge to explain the phenomena around them.

  • Editorial | November 2022 Making Connections: The Value of a Professional Learning Network

    AACT President-Elect Michael Farabaugh reflects on his journey building a professional learning community throughout his career. He provides insight to both online and in-person opportunities, and shares about some of his most impactful experiences. He encourages teachers to get involved and make connections through a variety of resources.

  • Editorial | September 2022 Battling and Overcoming Teacher Burnout

    AACT President Matt Perekupka addresses the difficult but timely topic of teacher burnout. He shares about the obstacles he has faced as a teacher in recent years, and outlines shared goals for overcoming burnout in the year ahead. Matt emphasizes the importance of having a positive professional network, while also encouraging teachers to be mindful of their personal well-being this year.