Dear NESTA Members,

As we approach the holiday break, my students are not-so-gently reminding of the incredible adaptability required in our profession. Now in my 25th year of teaching, I find myself working harder than ever to meet the diverse needs of my students. To “work smarter, not harder,” I’ve committed to increasing student agency in my classes. By fostering independence and ownership, my students gain unique access to our learning goals. Their ability to share personal experiences, engage in sense-making, and participate actively not only sparks curiosity but also strengthens critical thinking—better enabling them to connect scientific concepts to real-world challenges.

In exploring strategies that work (and learning from those that don’t), I invite you all to join me in supporting one another as we navigate future challenges together. During this break, I plan to carve out a “skinny minute” (or “New York minute,” depending on where you’re from!) to catch up and engage in our NESTA Professional Learning Community on Facebook. I’ll be sharing my commitment to instructional practices that promote inquiry, collaboration, and deeper understanding in Earth and space science classrooms. If you’d like to join or contribute, visit us here: bit.ly/3XzxZBY.

I also want to acknowledge that many of us (myself included) are actively trying to step back from social media. While Facebook remains our most cost-effective platform for sharing resources, questions, and ideas as a group, we are actively exploring alternatives for the near future.

Let’s continue building a stronger, more connected community together.

Warm regards during this holiday season,
Natalie Macke
President, NESTA

NOTE: The PLC will be only be available to paid members o NESTA