ACS AMA: Hi Reddit! I am Sally Mitchell, a science/chemistry teacher and recently an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow posted at the Department of Energy’s Office of Science in Washington, DC. Ask me anything about the importance of good English education with STEM teaching.

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ACS AMA

Hello Reddit! My name is Sally Mitchell, and I am a James Bryant Conant Award recipient in Teaching Chemistry and a nationally recognized leader in STEM education. I am certified to teach chemistry, biology, physics, general science, mathematics, college level forensics and general chemistry, [and] have a passion for food chemistry. I am a resident of Syracuse, New York when I am not traveling or participating in fellowships. I have Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in chemistry and chemical education from Syracuse University. I recently spent a year in Washington, D.C. at the Department of Energy’s Office of Science for an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship where I was able to learn more about the Next Generation of Science Standards and its implementation across the country.

Today, I want to open a discussion on interdisciplinary collaboration and the importance of English education in STEM. We all know that learning English is about communication, but, quite literally, everything we do in STEM depends upon students’ ability to read and interpret symbols of some kind, and the discipline of English is where those skills are typically taught. Could science and English teachers team up to create a more dynamic, interdisciplinary, and meaningful education for students? Of course. What will it take? Cooperation between teachers (not at all difficult), guidance from master teachers in every discipline (another easy fix), support from administration and flexibility in scheduling (much more difficult but possible). I know that my teaching in science and mathematics is better because I learned how to use metaphors to help students make connections, and the concept journal my students use is a strategy that came from an English teacher friend, Nancy DaFoe, who has written on this subject. Her newest book, The Misdirection of Education Policy: Raising Question about School Reform, deals with the critical importance of collaboration among teachers in every discipline. Students and teachers are ready for this more dynamic approach to learning, but we need policy makers and administrators to get on board. Ask me anything about how to combine English and STEM teaching to best help students’ learning.

I will be back at 1 pm EDT (10 am PDT, 5 pm UTC) to start answering your questions.

">ACS AMA: Hi Reddit! I am Sally Mitchell, a science/chemistry teacher and recently an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow posted at the Department of Energy’s Office of Science in Washington, DC. Ask me anything about the importance of good English education with STEM teaching.