Today, I wanted to share with you a truly hidden gem in the Northwest region of Washington State: NWESD’s own Science Materials Center (SMC)! This has got to be one of the most valuable resources available to teachers of science in our educational community. This SMC is more than just a repository of science kits and materials; it's a dynamic, responsive service to make science education as effective and hassle-free as possible. Atop an amazing fulfillment process that SMC Manager, Kelly Spears, has created, let's explore some of the standout services that make the SMC a game-changer for teachers and students alike.
Customizable Kits for Secondary Grades
Science education within districts is never one-size-fits-all. Different teachers, schools, and districts have unique needs based on their instructional materials, student needs, and community expectations. That's why, for middle and high school levels, the SMC offers customizable kits. Teachers can order exactly those items they need, rather than committing to a complete kit. This flexibility virtually eliminates the need for teachers to spend their precious time sourcing individual materials, ordering bulk items, and repackaging them as needed. It's all about giving MS and HS teachers what you need, when they need it, so that they can focus on instruction.
Eliminating the “Teacher-Provided” Materials Hassle
For teachers using instructional materials “kits”, there are always things that the publisher decides the teacher will provide for instruction. Be it plastic cups and forks or cornstarch, that means making a list and the teacher going to the store for it… holding that receipt… and requesting reimbursement… that is if the district offers reimbursement. In “kits” prepared by the SMC, all the necessary materials are included! Of course, middle and high school teachers may have specific requirements or preferences, so they offer the option for MS and HS teachers to provide their own materials, if they wish. Just know that the SMC is always more than happy to handle it for you.
Bundled and Ready to Teach Lesson Parcels
Time is such precious commodity, for teachers. And reading through lesson plans to prepare for instruction is hard enough. But when teachers go into the boxes of materials, all of their preparation is delayed because they have to look at the packing list, find the box, take out those materials from different boxes, spend hours preparing the materials, and then somehow repackage it all for invoicing. Make no mistake about it: preparing for science instruction is time consuming! But the NWESD SMC can take this burden off of teachers shoulders! When the SMC prepares instructional materials, they assemble the “stuff” into "Lesson Packets" that are bundled, labeled, and ready to go. Each packet includes all the materials you'll need for a specific lesson, clearly labeled by lesson number and title. This means teachers can spend less time on physical materials preparation and more time on engaging students in meaningful learning experiences.
Responsive to District Needs: We're Listening
And finally, what is probably the most unique and valuable thing about the NWESD SMC is that they belong to the same regional education community that we are all a part of. This means that they are committed to being responsive. Whether receiving feedback via email or as a part of regional trainings, they care and listen. From the robustness and usefulness of the materials included in their prepared kits to the way we bundle and package them for ease of use, the SMC is always looking to improve based on what the region tells them so that they can better serve the needs of our region.
The Northwest Educational Service District's Science Materials Center is far more than just a supply center; it's a partner in our collective educational mission. With customizable kits, optional teacher-provided materials, ready-to-teach lesson packets, and a responsive approach to serving our region, the SMC is designed to empower meaningful and impactful science instruction.