nsta

**Professional Organizations For Georgia Science Teachers**

WHAT ARE PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ORGANIZATIONS?? Professional Teacher Organizations (PTOs) are groups designed to promote better teaching and to enhance educational environments. They provide educators with a variety of classroom resources, enable teachers to continue their own education within their content area and in teaching techniques, encourage collaboration between teachers, and provide teachers with access to current educational research.

WHAT ABOUT SCIENCE TEACHERS?? There are several PTOs dedicated specifically to science teachers. This web page provides general information on the main professional science teacher organizations and provides links so that you can find out more about each one. There is also a chart comparing all the organizations so that you can chose the one (or more than one) that is right for you.

PROFESSIONAL SCIENCE TEACHER ORGANIZATIONS //Click on the name of the organization that you are interested in OR click here to see a chart comparing all of the organizations.// **NSTA** (National Science Teacher Association)  **GSTA** (Georgia Science Teacher Association)  **NESTA** (National Earth Science Teacher Association)  **AAPT** (American Association of Physics Teachers)  **NABT **(National Association of Biology Teachers)  **ACS** (American Chemical Society)  **NMLSTA** (National Middle Level Science Teacher Association)
 * Compare All **



//click [|here] to learn more by visiting their website// **__Purpose__** __** General Information **__ __**Cost**__ __** Publications **__ ** __NSTA Benefits__ ** ** __NSTA Conferences__ ** //click here to return to the top of the page//
 *  Nat ional Science Teacher Association (NSTA) **
 * “to promote excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all”
 * NSTA is the official national professional organization for all science teachers
 * They are the largest professional organization for science teachers
 * $74/year normal fee
 * $34/year for students, new teachers (1-3 years), or retired teachers
 * Can pay more to receive more than one printed journal
 * //Science and Children// (Elementary Level)
 * //Science Scope// (Middle School Level)
 * //The Science Teacher// (High School Level)
 * //Journal of College Science Teaching// (College Level)
 * 9 issues/year
 * Receive one printed journal subscription and receive NSTA newsletter
 * Online access to all NSTA journals articles
 * SciLinks® (relevant internet links)
 * Discounts on NSTA conferences and on products from NSTA store.
 * Access to many teaching resources and professional development opportunities.
 * NSTA has three regional and one national conference each year
 * 2009 Area Conference in Minneapolis (October 29-31)
 * 2009 Area Conference in Fort Lauderdale (November 12-14)
 * 2009 Area Conference in Phoenix (December 3-5)
 * 2010 National Conference in Philadelphia, PA (March 18–21)



//click [|here] to learn more by visiting their website// **__Purpose__** __** General Information **__ __**Cost**__ __** Publications **__ ** __GSTA Benefits__ ** ** __GSTA Conferences__ ** //click here to return to the top of the page//
 *  Georgia  Science Teacher Association (GSTA) **
 * “committed to support excellent science teaching for students of the state of Georgia”
 * GSTA is the Georgia chapter of NSTA
 * $30/year normal fee
 * $15/year for students
 * Can pay more to receive more than one printed journal
 * //The Georgia Science Teacher//
 * Issues published quarterly
 * Receive printed version of GSTA journal and newsletter
 * Online access to GSTA newsletter
 * Has list of online resources, links, and Grant opportunities.
 * Discounts on GSTA conference
 * Access to many teaching resources and professional development opportunities.
 * GSTA had an annual conference usually held in February of each year



//click [|here] to learn more by visiting their website// **__Purpose__** __** General Information **__ __**Cost**__ __** Publications **__ ** __NESTA Benefits__ ** ** __NESTA Conferences__ ** //click here to return to the top of the page//
 * <span style="color: #1919a3; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">National Earth <span style="color: #1919a3; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 156%;"> Science Teachers Association (NESTA) **
 * “ to facilitate and advance excellence in Earth and Space Science education ”
 * NESTA is specifically for Earth Science Teachers and is an associated group of NSTA
 * $35/year normal fee
 * $20/year membership fee without printed version of journal
 * //The Earth Scientest//
 * Issues published quarterly
 * Receive printed version of NESTA journal and monthly e-newsletter
 * Has list of online resources links specifically relevant to Earth Science.
 * Access to contests, drawings, and other opportunities
 * Access to many teaching resources and professional development opportunities.
 * NESTA has share-a-thons, resources day, field trips, receptions and other events
 * NESTA also has sessions at the NSTA conferences



//click [|here] to learn more by visiting their website// **__Purpose__** __** General Information **__ __**Cost**__ __** Publications **__ ** __AAPT Benefits__ ** ** __AAPT Conferences__ ** //click here to return to the top of the page//
 * <span style="color: #1919a3; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">American <span style="color: #1919a3; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 156%;"> Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) **
 * “ to ensure the dissemination of knowledge of physics, particularly by way of teaching.”
 * Professional Teacher Organization specific for physics teachers
 * Provides physics resources at both the high school and college levels
 * $115/year normal fee (includes print copy of The Physics Teacher)
 * $40/year fee for full-time student (online access to journals only)
 * higher fee for members who want printed versions of both journals
 * //American Journal of Physics//
 * //The Physics Teacher//
 * The AJP is published monthly and the PT is published 11 months/year
 * Receive printed copy of one journal and online access to all journal archives
 * Online links and resources to enhance the physics classroom
 * Access to large databases physics teaching materials
 * Discounts on national meetings and items for the AAPT store.
 * Access to many grants and awards
 * Have sessions and workshops throughout year
 * AAPT Summer Meeting 2009 in Ann Arbor, Michigan (July 25-29)
 * AAPT Winter Meeting 2010 in Washington DC (February 13-17)



//click [|here] to learn more by visiting their website// **__Purpose__** __** General Information **__ __**Cost**__ __** Publications **__ ** __NABT Benefits__ ** ** __NABT Conferences__ ** //click here to return to the top of the page//
 * <span style="color: #1919a3; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">National <span style="color: #1919a3; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 156%;"> Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) **
 * “ empowers educators to provide the best possible biology and life science education for all students .”
 * Professional Teacher Organization specific for biology and other life science teachers
 * One of the oldest PTOs in existence (founded in 1938)
 * $75/year normal fee
 * $25/year fee for full-time student (only receive online version of journal)
 * //American Biology Teacher//
 * Published 9 times per year
 * Receive printed copy journal
 * Online access to biology collections and programs
 * Weekly electronic subscription to //News and Views//, their newsletter
 * Discounts on workshops and NABT store.
 * Access to many online resources and professional development opportunities
 * Have various workshops and one national conference per year
 * 2009 Conference in Denver, Colorado (November 11-14, 2009)



**<span style="color: #1919a3; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">American Chemical Society <span style="color: #1919a3; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 156%;"> (ACS) ** //click [|here]to learn more by visiting the ACS website or [|here] to visit the ACS Division of Chemical Education website// **__Purpose__** __** General Information **__ __**Cost**__ __** Publications **__ ** __ACS Benefits__ ** ** __ACS Conferences__ ** //click here to return to the top of the page//
 * Of ACS: "Committed to improving people’s lives through the transforming power of chemistry."
 * Of the ACS Division of Chemical Education: “ serves as a means of focusing and enhancing the interests and efforts of all constituencies involved in the teaching and learning of chemistry at every level. ”
 * ACS is different because it is an organization designed for all fields and professions of chemistry, of which teaching is just one
 * World's largest scientific society
 * The ACS Division of Chemical Education is most relevant to teachers
 * $146/year normal fee to ACS
 * $73/year fee for full-time grad student to ACS
 * $40/year fee for high school teachers to ACS Division of Chemical Education
 * Many publications, but only one that is really relevant to chemistry teachers
 * //Journal of Chemical Education//
 * Receive online access to //JCE// through CLIC (a program especially for high school chem teachers)
 * Online access to many resources and materials specifically relevant to the high school chem classroom
 * Discounts on items from DivChEd catalog
 * Access to many online resources and professional development opportunities
 * Host workshops specific to chemistry at NSTA conferences
 * Hold programs specifc for chemistry teachers at ACS National Meetings
 * ACS Division of Chemical Education also has meetings and workshops.
 * 21st Biennial Conference on Chemical Education in Denton, TX (August 1-5, 2010)



//click [|here] to learn more by visiting their website// **__Purpose__** __** General Information **__ __**Cost**__ __** Publications **__ ** __NMLSTA Benefits__ ** ** __NABT Conferences__ ** //click here to return to the top of the page//
 * <span style="color: #1919a3; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">National Middle Level Science Teacher Association <span style="color: #1919a3; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 156%;">(NMLSTA) **
 * “ To provide more networking opportunities for middle level science teachers, continue partnerships with companies and organizations to improve middle level science teaching, and to share effective teaching activities and the results of educational research useful to middle level science teachers .”
 * PTO designed specifically for middle school science teachers
 * Associated with NSTA
 * $15/year normal fee
 * $10/year fee for first year teacher
 * //Level Line// (newsletter, not a journal)
 * Four issues per year
 * Receive NMLSTA newsletter quarterly
 * Online access to links and resources
 * Eligible for gift giveaways and awards
 * Host events and presentations at NSTA conferences

//for a printable pdf version of this document, click on this link:// [|ProffessionalOrgHandout.doc] //click here to return to the top of the page// (National Science Teachers Association) [|www.nsta.org] || $74/yr normal fee $34/yr student, new teacher, or retired (Higher rates for those who want more than one printed journal) || Can choose 1 of 4 journals (9 pub./yr) and access to journal archives; receive NSTA Newspaper and e-newsletter || Discount on NSTA conferences and online store; Access to many teaching resources and professional development (some free and some at discounted rate) || Three Regional and One National Conferences with exhibits, workshops, and presentations and free resources. Members of NSTA (or some other org.) receive discount. || Have some web resources that are also free for non-members; Also, if you are a member of the field-specific PTO, you can receive the discounted rate for conference. || General National Organization for Science Teachers; || (Georgia Science Teachers Association) [|http://www.georgia scienceteacher.org] || $30/yr normal fee $15/yr for full time student || Receive GSTA newsletter and //The Georgia Science Teacher// (quarterly) || Discount on GSTA conferences; Access to many online teaching resources and prof. dev. opportunities; || One Annual Conference with presentations, workshops, and also freebies. || Has extensive list of many free online resources and links for anyone. Online Access to //The Georgia Science Teacher// || Specific to science teachers in GA || (National Earth Science Teachers Association) [|www.nestanet.org] || $35/yr normal fee $20/yr normal membership without printed version of journal || Receive the quarterly journal, //The Earth Scientist// and monthly e-newsletter || Access to web resources for Earth Science, discounted rates on events. || Share-a-thons, Earth and Space Science Resources Day, Field Trips, Friends of Earth Science Reception, and other events || Access to some online resources for non-members. List of many useful web links. || Specific for Earth Science Teachers || (American Association of Physics Teachers) [] || $115/yr normal fee $40/yr full-time student rate (Higher rates for those who want more than one printed journal) || Receive printed copy of either //American Journal of Physics//(monthly) or //The Physics Teacher//(11/yr); online access to both; receive monthly newsletter || Discount on items from online catalog and national meetings; discount on publications from American Institute of Physics; || Several meetings per year that include sessions and workshops. || Provides links to useful physics websites and online resources || Specific for Physics teachers; Some of the material is directed towards college-level physics. || (National Association of Biology Teachers) [] || $75/yr normal fee $25/yr full-time student (only online access to journal) || Access to //American Biology Teacher// (9/yr); || Access to biology collections and programs; discounts on workshops and conferences || Host various workshops and one national conference per year that provides biology information and resources. || Extensive lists of useful biology links. || Specific to Biology/Life Science Teachers || (American Chemical Society) [|www.acs.org] || $146/yr normal fee $73/yr grad student $40/yr ACS div of chemical education || With $40, receive online subscription to //Journal of Chemical Ed.// Through CLIC, specially designed for high school teachers and CHED newsletter. || Discounts on items from CHED catalog; Access to many teaching resources through JCE online. || Hosts workshops specific to chemistry at NSTA conf. Also hold programs specific to teachers at ACS National mtg. and throughout year. CHED also hosts meetings. || Public access to many online resources and links, as well as ACS reports and some JCE articles. || This group is different because it represents professionals in all fields of chemistry, education being one. || (National Middle Level Science Teachers' Association) [|www.nmlsta.org] || $15/yr normal membership $10/yr first yr teacher || Receive NMLSTA newsletter (4/yr); || Eligible for gift giveaways and awards; enables collaboration with teachers who have similar interests || Host events and presentations at the NSTA conferences; || Access to Newsletter archives containing teaching resources and various links. || Especially for science teachers in the middle grades. || (School Science and Mathematics Association) [|www.ssma.org] || $50/yr normal membership $25/yr full-time student || Access to //School Science and Mathematics Journal// (monthly Oct-May) and SSMA newsletter (3/yr) || Reduced rate to annual convention; access to awards and grants; || Hold annual convention; || Access to newsletter archives online and journal book reviews, and sample problems. || Unique because it is designed for science/math teachers and researchers. Focus on research, teacher educ. and classroom resources ||
 * <span style="color: #1919a3; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 160%; text-align: center;">COMPARISON CHART FOR PROFESSIONAL SCIENCE TEACHER ORGANIZATIONS **
 * == Organization == || = COST = || ** Publication Access ** || ** Benefits ** || ** Conferences ** || ** What can I get without membership? ** || ** Other Information ** ||
 * **NSTA**
 * **GSTA**
 * **NESTA**
 * **AAPT**
 * **NABT**
 * **ACS**
 * **NMLSTA**
 * **SSMA**