--- title: Blog | National Institute of STEM Education | Amanda James --- [![National Institute for STEM Education](https://blog.nise.institute/hubfs/NISE_August2019%20Theme/img/logo-nise.png "National Institute for STEM Education - Go to Home Page") ](http://nise.institute/index.php) # [NISE](http://nise.institute/index.php) [ Get STEM Certified! ](http://webstore.nise.institute/) [* * ](https://www.facebook.com/NISE.STEM/) [* * ](https://twitter.com/NISE_STEM) [* * ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-institute-for-stem-education) - About NISE - [Program Overview](https://nise.institute/program-overview.php) - [Philosophy & Design](https://nise.institute/philosophy-and-design.php) - [Research](https://nise.institute/resources/nise_stem_observation_protocol_teacher_actions_that_matter_wp.pdf) - Certification - [Micro Certification](https://nise.institute/micro-certification.php) - [Teacher Certification](https://nise.institute/teacher-certification.php) - [Campus Certification](https://nise.institute/campus-district-certification.php) - University Partnerships - [SNHU Graduate Programs](https://nise.institute/#university-partnerships) - [ACE Graduate Programs](https://nise.institute/#ace) - Resources - [News](https://nise.institute/news.php) - [Blog](https://blog.nise.institute/) - About NISE - [Program Overview](https://nise.institute/program-overview.php) - [Philosophy & Design](https://nise.institute/philosophy-and-design.php) - [Research](https://nise.institute/resources/nise_stem_observation_protocol_teacher_actions_that_matter_wp.pdf) - Certification - [Micro Certification](https://nise.institute/micro-certification.php) - [Teacher Certification](https://nise.institute/teacher-certification.php) - [Campus Certification](https://nise.institute/campus-district-certification.php) - University Partnerships - [SNHU Graduate Programs](https://nise.institute/#university-partnerships) - [ACE Graduate Programs](https://nise.institute/#ace) - Resources - [News](https://nise.institute/news.php) - [Blog](https://blog.nise.institute/) ## Amanda James ### Recent Posts ## [How to connect STEM to your Standards](https://blog.nise.institute/connecting-stem-to-your-standards) Posted by [Amanda James](https://blog.nise.institute/author/amanda-james) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Most teachers we talk to agree that their students struggle with critical thinking, problem-solving ability, and reasoning. We also know that many students lack the skills they need to read information, extract important points within the text, and synthesize what they have read (Barrow, 2006). [Read More](https://blog.nise.institute/connecting-stem-to-your-standards) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.nise.institute/connecting-stem-to-your-standards#comments-listing) ## [Why Do Teacher Actions Matter in STEM Education?](https://blog.nise.institute/why-teacher-actions-matter) Posted by [Amanda James](https://blog.nise.institute/author/amanda-james) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Think back to your first year of teaching. Whether you had just graduated from college where you majored in education or had completed an alternative certification program, most people can remember their first year of teaching like it was yesterday. At the end of  your first year, your sense of satisfaction came from surviving all the unexpected trials you encountered. You were required to observe master teachers and take notes on how they ran their classroom. So, what made their classes good? [Read More](https://blog.nise.institute/why-teacher-actions-matter) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.nise.institute/why-teacher-actions-matter#comments-listing) ## [What is Mastery Learning in STEM?](https://blog.nise.institute/mastery-learning-in-stem) Posted by [Amanda James](https://blog.nise.institute/author/amanda-james) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) One of the biggest challenges teachers face in the classroom is ensuring learning for all. What do I do if some of the students get it and others do not? How do I challenge the students that grasp the content at a faster rate than other students? How can I support my struggling students who get lost early in the material but do not ask for help? How can I challenge my students to think critically and problem solve? What activities can I use to provide my students with creative opportunities while still interacting with content? [Read More](https://blog.nise.institute/mastery-learning-in-stem) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.nise.institute/mastery-learning-in-stem#comments-listing) [All posts](https://blog.nise.institute/all) ### Subscribe Here! ### Posts ![Scroll To Top](https://blog.nise.institute/hubfs/NISE_August2019%20Theme/img/icon-top.svg) Ready to Change Your World and Theirs? [ Get STEM Certified! ](http://webstore.nise.institute/) ![National Institute for STEM Education](https://blog.nise.institute/hubfs/NISE_August2019%20Theme/img/logo-nise.png "National Institute for STEM Education - logo") ## What NISE STEM Certified Teachers Are Saying The NISE campus certification experience has been extremely valuable to our district as we continue to grow our STEM program. ** Ian Frank, Assistant Superintendent, and Lindsay Windatt, Elementary Assistant Principal ** Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy The NCSE process has helped transform three of our campuses from a condition of STEM awareness to that of STEM excellence. ** Pam Walker, K-12 STEM Coordinator ** Douglas County School District, Georgia The NISE campus certification has given our schools a foundation to support STEM implementation. We appreciate the coaches making the sessions easy, stress free and interesting. We are following up with the STEM best practices throughout the schools and encourage our teachers to continue on the path that NISE has started us on. The NISE process is well thought out, easy to understand and with the guidance of our coach, an extremely pleasant experience. ** Cat Morgan, District Elementary STEAM Specialist ** Longview ISD, Texas The campus certification process has allowed our leadership team to identify areas of strength and refinement for our campus as we seek to develop future ready learners. We believe that aligning our instructional practices with the 15 STEM Teacher Actions will definitely help us to reach this vision for our students. ** Danielle Record, Principal ** Pink Elementary, Frisco ISD, Texas NCSE streamlined the development of STEM education sustainability and growth catered to our learning community. ** Phil Johnston, STEM Coordinator ** Central High School, Grand Junction, Colorado Working through the campus certification has been one of the most impacting experiences we have undergone as a STEAM Academy. It has provided our team a deeper understanding of STEM education, provided our teachers with specific teacher actions to help them attain higher student achievement, and helped create a culture of responsible thinking and teaching. ** Elsa Lambert, Principal ** Raul Garza STEAM Academy, San Benito ISD, Texas - About NISE - [Program Overview](https://nise.institute/program-overview.php) - [Philosophy & Design](https://nise.institute/philosophy-and-design.php) - [Research](https://nise.institute/resources/nise_stem_observation_protocol_teacher_actions_that_matter_wp.pdf) - Certification - [Micro Certification](https://nise.institute/micro-certification.php) - [Teacher Certification](https://nise.institute/teacher-certification.php) - [Campus Certification](https://nise.institute/campus-district-certification.php) - University Partnerships - [SNHU Graduate Programs](https://nise.institute/#university-partnerships) - [ACE Graduate Programs](https://nise.institute/#ace) - Resources - [News](https://nise.institute/news.php) - [Blog](https://blog.nise.institute/) [* * ](https://www.facebook.com/NISE.STEM/) [* * ](https://twitter.com/NISE_STEM) [* * ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-institute-for-stem-education) - Support: 800.531.0864 - Fax: 281.833.4510 - [support@nise.institute ](mailto:support@nise.institute) - [Terms and Conditions ](http://nise.institute/terms-and-conditions.php) - © 2019 [Accelerate Learning ](http://www.stemscopes.com/?__hstc=125739797.78144e289a43c1599a436f7c838581f7.1565929192840.1565929192840.1565933173864.2&__hssc=125739797.20.1565933173864&__hsfp=3899845357)