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Classroom Commentary | November 2023 Preparing Students for the International Science and Engineering Fair
In this article, the author describes her efforts to prepare students for the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) for the first time. She also shares the experience of two students who reached the regional and state levels.
Nuts & Bolts | November 2023 A Self-Paced, Mastery-Based Chemistry Classroom
The author uses three elements in her classroom: blended instruction, self-paced learning, and mastery-based grading. These components foster students’ ownership of their own learning, helping them find joy in mastering challenging topics and gain confidence in their abilities.
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.
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.
In My Element | November 2023 An Unexpected Journey from Medical Aspirations to Becoming a Teacher in the UAE
In this article, the author describes lessons learned in her journey to becoming a teacher in both a foreign language and country. She also describes the challenges faced during her first years as a chemistry teacher.
Resource Feature | September 2023 Developing Chemistry Lessons with Student Interest in Mind
The author shares an overview of example chemistry lessons designed to engage low performing students by connecting content with relevant life experiences. Connections to NGSS standards, as well as attention to reading, writing, and mathematics are described as well.
Advice Column | September 2023 Dear Labby: Puzzled With Precipitates
A teacher from Texas asks about precipitates and Labby answers.
Classroom Commentary | September 2023 Empowering Preservice Teachers Through Mentoring
In this article, the author reflects on her experience as a mentor of preservice teachers and the valuable impact it has on their personal and professional growth.
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.”
Classroom Commentary | September 2023 The Impact of Mentorship
The author describes the sizable gap in academic performance in STEM that existed between the White and Hispanic students at the high school where she teaches. Creating a club for her school’s Hispanic students to provide STEM mentorship helped address the issue successfully.
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.
Tech Tips | September 2023 Making the Instructional Videos I Wish I’d Had as a Teacher
A former chemistry teacher shares about the challenges she faced in the past when incorporating videos into her teaching, and how she now uses that perspective in her work as a science video content creator.
Classroom Commentary | May 2023 5 Lessons I Wish I’d Learned Earlier in My Career

A veteran chemistry teacher shares five pearls of teaching wisdom from her teaching career. She hopes to inspire and support fellow chemistry teachers, especially those who are just starting out in the profession.
Nuts & Bolts | May 2023 Using Notetaking to Help Students Take More Meaningful Notes
In this article the author discusses her journey to transform traditional notetaking in her classroom to a more active, engaging activity for students. She describes several successful strategies that she uses in her middle school science classroom, including group notetaking, processing-based activities, like one-pagers, and combining colors, pictures and text through the sketchnoting approach.
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.
In My Element | May 2023 Embracing a Challenging Opportunity
In this article, a teacher shares his story about moving from the Philippines to Orlando, Florida to accept a chemistry teaching position at an inner city, Title I high school. He highlights an unanticipated challenge that he encountered, his successful journey to overcome it, and some adjustments he needed to make in order to succeed. He shares several strategies and examples that helped him along the way, ultimately motivating him to remain true to his calling as a teacher.
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.

Classroom Commentary | March 2023 High School Girls in STEM Club

In this article, the author shares about the motivation for and purpose of the Girls in STEM club, created in her school nearly a decade ago. The club has flourished over the years, encouraging and supporting high school girls in STEM subjects as well as providing outreach opportunities for club members and younger girls in the community who are interested in STEM.

In My Element | March 2023 In the Philippines, Teaching Starts with Problem-Solving
In this article, the author offers her unique perspective as an educator in the Philippines. Though she has been faced with many challenges throughout her career, when problems arise, she is solution-focused. She shares about the obstacles she and her colleagues often face, including limited support, closed schools and laboratories, isolation, and personal struggles. Through perseverance and successful networking, some of these burdens have been reduced, but other difficulties remain. She encourages educators near and far to lend a hand and support one another as much as possible.
Editorial | March 2023 They Need Care: Rebuilding with Connections
In this editorial, AACT Governing Board DivCHED Representative Michael Mury discusses the importance of teacher-student relationships. He encourages teachers to continue to build essential connections with students in their classrooms, and provides several suggestions for doing so. It’s never too late, he reminds teachers, to get to know your students!
Nuts & Bolts | March 2023 Enhancing the Lab Experience with Alternative Approaches
In this article, the author discusses the use of both at-home and virtual labs to supplement and support in-class labs. She includes examples of both, and discusses their unique benefits and approaches. She also describes how making and sharing videos of the teacher conducting labs can promote a more engaging make-up experience for absent students. Although many of these approaches were developed for hybrid and remote learning environments, the author has continued using them with in-person teaching to support in-class labs and extend the overall lab experience.
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.
Resource Feature | November 2022 Safely Introducing Students to the Chemistry Lab by Modifying a Classic Investigation
In this article, the author discusses the common objectives of early weeks in first-year high school chemistry, such as safe lab attitudes and techniques, learning SI measurements, and communicating data and conclusions. The lab investigation highlighted in this article can be used to begin achieving all these objectives in an engaging and fun chemical reaction using a heating source with a reduced carbon footprint. The data developed gives an excellent opportunity for students to practice writing results and conclusions in the “claim, evidence, logical connection” manner taught in many secondary schools.
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.