CJ Colley, PhD

Blog: Digging Into Data Sources by Jenna Laib "Data" is not neutral. When we look at a data visualization, it can feel cool and objective -- maybe even authoritative. But every graph, chart, or infographic has been shaped by a series of human decisions. Someone decided what to measure and how to measure it. Someone then decided what data to include (or exclude), how to scale the axes, and what labels to use.

New #SlowRevealGraph Blog Post:
Digging Into Data Sources

A few years ago, I started citing not just the source of the graph, but the source of the data behind it. In this blog post, I explain why that's important, and how it can change our interpretation of the graph.

Video of paying for drying a load of laundry. The full load was $3.00 but I didn't start filming until I was at $1.50.

What would you anticipate students would say or ask about this situation?

Just a few of the many math moments made possible by our Extended Stay America from our roadtrip!

What do you notice? What do wonder?

What math can you find where you are staying on vacation?

#ElementaryTeacherOnVacation

Bee Monitoring 101 🐝 at St. Edward's State Park

I didn't know there are flies that have yellow stripes!

Also, much easier to tell the difference between a bee, wasp, and fly from photos than real live observations

WA Climate Summit 2025 presented some 3rd grade learning on climate and enjoyed sessions from others. Keynote was excellent!

Sunday celebration of Shoreline's Miyawaki Forest 1st birthday. It was a gift to experience storytelling from Roger Fernandes.

shorelinehistoricalmuseum.org/exhibits-to-...

Collage of 8 photos showing insects pinned in display cases, typed information about different insects like beetles and butterflies, insects traps used at this park for scientific study

Doing some additional research for our spring 2nd grade integrated unit focused on insects, life cycles, and pollination!

Insects 101 workshop at UW Bothell Environmental Education Research Center at St Edward State Park

Appreciating honest 5th graders who shared they knew what they were supposed to answer, but didn't really "get" conservation of matter, particularly when unobservable w/gases. So we did a little demo and this seemed to help visualize it in a closed system to get them to track the matter story #NGSS

4th graders at SartoriSTEM are into their integrated ELA/Science unit on natural hazards. Using maps to identify patterns and trends, asking questions, doing research and using phys models. More to come with volcanic eruptions and floods!

2nd graders at SartoriSTEM are entomologists!

Integrating rdg & wrtng units on insect research w sci lessons using LIVE classroom "pets" is sparking engagement!

Sci yesterday: Ss collected data for diff insects & represented it to make claims & ask Qs

2nd gr teachers at Sartori STEM Elementary had learning lab to learn together about SEP 4 Analyze & Interpret Data w/7-8 yr olds

Fascinated by ways students chose to display data to figure out which ways help them more easily see patterns in data & interpret meaning

Photo grid with examples of third graders observing and sketching and measuring the gaps in the magnetic ringtoy. The magnetic ring toy has a black magnetic base horizontal with a vertical black plastic rod over which a set series of doughnut shaped magnets rest. Depending on which poles of the magnets are facing each other some configurations show 1, 2, 3, or 4 magnets on the bottom, all attracting in a clump. And then a gap before other magnets kind of floating above them. There were 5 different configurations students examined

3rd graders at Sartori STEM Elementary are learning about noncontact forces.

Recently, students made & compared various configurations on magnet toys, measured gap sizes, & explained why gap sizes vary.

Up next: Use this conclusion to figure out configuration to launch top magnet highest!

4 photo grid showing students hands doing various stages of the baking process from measuring wet ingredients & dry ingredients to cominging and mixing the batter, spooning it into muffin cups, and weighing muffins on small digital scales before and after baking

5th graders at Sartori STEM Elementary started a conservation of matter unit this week! They halved fractions & measured ingredients to make 1/2 recipe. They weighed each muffin before & after baking.

After baking, muffins increased in volume but decreased in mass! How/why does that happen?

Collage of images showing students notes and writing in their science notebooks, showing still frames from salmon people video and from a fish wars video, plus images showing clusters of sticky notes on a chart to show student questions grouped by theme

4th graders at Sartori STEM Elementary kicked off their study of local salmon populations & habitat health by 👀 📓 🗣 about 2 videos & generating questions

Tomorrow, they do part 1 of Environmental Science Center's Salmon Heroes program w/mathematical modeling while learning about life cycle stages!

Woman with brown hair and maroon sweater standing in front of evergreen trees holding a book just below her smiling face. The cover of the book shows people planting trees with a title Teaching Climate Change Fostering Understanding, Resilience, and a Committment to Justice by Mark Windschitl

Got mine!! Anyone up for reading together?

Teaching Climate Change: Fostering Understanding, Resilience, and a Committment to Justice by Mark Windschitl

hep.gse.harvard.edu/978168253834...

Image of the top of a Japanese asplendium nidus fern featuring numerous 6 inch long, shiny wrinkled green leaves. The tag for the plant reads: Function with a flourish. A breath of fresh air. Scientifically proven to convert C02 into oxygen and remove harmful particles from the air. Will grow endlessly if put into a bigger pot!

I acquired a new member of my plant crew 🪴 🌱 🌿

The tag has some claims...
"Scientifically proven to convert CO2 into oxygen." 😅

I mean, they aren't lying...

Took myself on a science field trip yesterday & went to the locks and had a great time! And ran into one of our 5th grade teachers!

Despite living here 12 yrs, I'd never been until today.

I have a lot of engineering, math, geography, history & science questions now 🤯

4 quadrant photo grid. 1 shows adult notebook entry making observations of some leaves on a bush outside with notes from session. 2 table with books and collections for readaloud and small objects to observe and share about. 3 one teacher making observations on the recess field sits by the fence and notices a friend (and earthworm) that's surfaced and wiggling on her notebook. 4 a pair of educations shares their observations and gets feedback on specific details or adds their wondering

5 photo collage: Photo 1 is an image of slide with directions of keeping 3 purposes in mind (build community, grow positive identities, learn from mistakes and use what you learn) as each group engages in 1 of 6 STEM challenges. Photos 2, 3, 4, and 5 show groups engaging in challenges like craft stick cantilever, cup pyramid stacking, common connections card tower, and clips-and-sticks bridge

Professional learning days at Sartori STEM Elem wrapped today before students start Wednesday

I enjoyed being a learner in math & ELA sessions & facilitated two K-5 sci sessions

1 = make observations, find patterns, ask Qs, share inferences

2 = STEM challenges to build community & using sci NBs

Hello, world!

I'm an elementary science educator and new to this platform so any tips and hints are appreciated. Wanting to find-and-follow more science educators or education policy folks :-)

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/881079809/fullscreen/