It’s Time for Science Podcast Episode 14: Back to School Readiness

This month on It’s Time for Science, it’s time to talk about going back to school! Host Tom Racine talks with Dr. Anne Farley Schoeffler, the president of the National Middle Level Science Teachers Association, and award-winning outside educator Rachel Arbor.

Episode Summary

Tom and Dr. Schoeffler discuss tips on preparing for back to school, such as formulating a plan and organizing all the various pieces you must deal with when starting back. This includes setting up the science classroom in advance and enhancing classroom communication and visibility.

Dr. Schoeffler suggests keeping the room fresh, bringing environmental science into the classroom immediately, and getting kids outside to get them excited about science from the start. They also discuss resources for teacher burnout.

Tom talks with Ms. Arbor about setting up for a new year by being planned out but flexible to stay at least a day ahead of the students.

She advises teachers to set up the classroom for you, as well as the kids. She discusses lessons and activities to do at the start of the school year, including tailoring lessons to the local area and connecting to what kids see in the real world (including pop culture, fashion, etc.). They also touch on interdisciplinary programming and connecting to individual student’s social and emotional learning (SEL) needs.

Ms. Arbor talks about work/life balance and the environmental work she does with her own company, Gaia Scholastic, and SubjectToClimate, a nonprofit with a mission to make climate change teaching and learning accessible to all.

Episode Guests

Dr. Anne Farley Schoeffler

Dr. Anne Farley Schoeffler is currently the president of the National Middle Level Science Teachers Association (NMLSTA) and the NMLSTA Awards Committee chair. She is also a member of the Polar Educators International (PEI) council, 2024-25.

Dr. Schoeffler is a middle school science teacher near Cleveland, Ohio. She believes that students learn best when they can make connections between what they are learning in school and what they experience around them. She endeavors to show students that science is not just a set of facts but a way of seeking answers to questions and trying to solve problems.

She also regards environmental stewardship as one of the significant challenges of our times. She encourages her students to explore the great outdoors and experience connections between basic science and the world’s phenomena. She, her husband, and her three adult children all hike, camp, and share the wonders of the natural world.

Rachel Arbor

Rachel Arbor is the award-winning CEO of Gaia Scholastic, the New York State Lead for SubjecttoClimate, and the PK-8 Director of Environmental Education for the Garrison School District.

For all these roles, her mission is to cultivate a generation of environmentally literate global citizens by integrating nature and environmental concepts into the learning experiences of students of all ages and abilities. She supports educational organizations weaving interdisciplinary environmental education into their work through curated curricula, professional development, and community events like the PK-12 Youth Climate Summit.

Her work challenges students to make connections—with themselves, each other, and nature—across content areas. A former outdoor educator, she trains teachers nationwide on reshaping their curriculum through an environmental lens. Her educational and professional pursuits focus on bridging the gap between mainstream and environmental education.

Ms. Arbor’s many awards and accolades include the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (2024), the US Department of Education Green Ribbon Award (2024), the NMLSTA Paul DeHart Hurd Award (2024), the STANYS Excellence in Science Education Award (2023), and many more!

July FOSS Insights Article

Be sure to check out this month’s FOSS Insights Article: Set Goals and Prepare Your Science Classroom for Back to School.

It’s Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at itstimeforscience@schoolspecialty.com. We’d love to hear from you!

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