VAST Is Excited to Announce...

2025 Professional Learning Series: Students at the Center

We’re thrilled to bring you this dynamic series designed to support science educators at every level. Through interactive webinars and engaging sessions, the VAST Professional Learning Series focuses on practical strategies, innovative ideas, and hands-on tools to enhance science teaching and learning.

Whether you’re looking to deepen your content knowledge, explore new teaching techniques, or connect with fellow educators, this series is your gateway to growth and inspiration. Join us as we navigate the evolving landscape of science education and empower you to create meaningful, student-centered experiences in your classroom.

FEBRUARY

Elevating Middle School Science Teaching and Learning

We’re excited to invite you to an incredible professional learning opportunity tailored specifically for middle school science educators and administrators. Join us for a dynamic workshop designed to move science instruction from traditional methods to research-based, student-centered practices. Together, we’ll explore strategies to empower students, increase engagement, and meet the needs of all learners. It will be an opportunity to collaborate with others and share ideas for SOL test review. 

Date: Monday, February 24, 2025

Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Where: Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220

Registration Fee (includes lunch and materials):

• Member: $35.00
• Non-Member: $60.00 (includes a one-year VAST membership!)

To register: click here.

For more information, view the flyer here here.

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Making Science Accessible for English Learners

Dr. Alexis Rutt, Professor, University of Mary Washington

Access to rigorous, age-appropriate science instruction is a right for all students, including English learners. Join Dr. Alexis Rutt for a webinar highlighting how to amplify your instruction to provide more equitable learning opportunities for your English learners. In this session you will learn high-leverage practices you can use in your science classroom tomorrow to make your instruction more comprehensible for your English learners and to provide more supported opportunities for student output. This session is targeted at science teachers at any grade level who are working with English learners.

Date: February 26, 2025

Time: 4:15 - 5:15

Registration: Complete this Google Form

MARCH

PhET Hacks for Student-Centered Science: Customizing Sims & Unlocking Free Resources (Middle School)

Linda Stegemann, MSc., Partnerships Specialist and Former Science Teacher

Discover how to maximize the power of PhET interactive simulations for student-centered learning! In this session, explore the newly revamped Activities page, packed with ready-to-use lessons, and dive into free professional development resources designed to enhance your teaching. Learn how to customize simulations with dynamic settings and query parameters—a hidden gem that allows you to control and tailor sims to fit your lessons. Walk away with classroom-ready activities, simple tweaks to elevate engagement, and strategies to put students in the driver’s seat of their own learning.

Date: March 11, 2025

Time: 4:15 - 5:15

Registration: Complete this Google Form

APRIL

PhET Hacks for Student-Centered Science: Customizing Sims & Unlocking Free Resources (High School)

Linda Stegemann, MSc., Partnerships Specialist and Former Science Teacher

Discover how to maximize the power of PhET interactive simulations for student-centered learning! In this session, explore the newly revamped Activities page, packed with ready-to-use lessons, and dive into free professional development resources designed to enhance your teaching. Learn how to customize simulations with dynamic settings and query parameters—a hidden gem that allows you to control and tailor sims to fit your lessons. Walk away with classroom-ready activities, simple tweaks to elevate engagement, and strategies to put students in the driver’s seat of their own learning.

Date: April 11, 2025

Time: 4:15 - 5:15

Registration: Complete this Google Form

__________ . __________

Science and Literacy Integration: The Science Classroom Meets the Science of Reading

Leslie Lausten, Professional Learning Specialist

Today’s teacher has a multitude to accomplish each day. How do we fit it all in? In this webinar, we share how using rich, inquiry-based learning will not only build science knowledge but also the skills needed to increase language comprehension.

We build on principles from the language comprehension side of Scarborough’s Reading Rope as we introduce, explore, and make sense of science concepts in today’s classroom. Learn how three-dimensional science teaching and learning provides meaningful context to develop language comprehension.

Date: April 16, 2025

Time: 4:15 - 5:15

Registration: Complete this Google Form

__________ . __________

Stay tuned for more professional learning opportunities VAST is planning for you! 

Please email 2025president@vast.org with ideas and suggestions.