The Big Picture
First and foremost, rest assured that any STC® materials currently used in your school or district will still be compatible with revised STC® items. The ©2004 STC printed materials for each unit will contain the same lesson content, require the same hands-on materials, and provide the same student instructions, record sheets, and reading selections as the current books. The NSRC is simply adding to the program. The revised Teacher’s Guide will provide even more information in an easier-to-use format, and in response to customer requests, each STC® unit will include a new research-based literacy component to help teachers integrate reading and writing with science. Read on for more details. 

STC® Teacher’s Guides      
The book that made STC® a leader in elementary science education will undergo a metamorphosis as it changes from a soft-cover book to a sturdy, 3-ring binder divided into 8 sections (called tabs) filled with vital information.

The revised STC® Teacher’s Guide will contain these 8 sections: 

	Tab 1, STC Program Overview—describes the philosophy and design of the STC® program.
	Tab 2, Unit Overview—includes background information on the unit, a conceptual storyline, a list of the unit’s goals, and a detailed analysis of the unit’s alignment with the National Science Education Standards.
	Tab 3, Materials Management and Safety—presents a complete lesson-by-lesson list of all materials used during the unit, safety tips, a sample student safety contract, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and disposal guidelines for any chemicals used. Also includes specific information regarding the order, receipt, care, and disposal of any living materials used in the unit, plus how to order all other unit materials.
	Tab 4, Unit Investigations and Blackline Masters—provides the instructions for leading each lesson, all reproduction masters, and a glossary.
	Tab 5, Assessment—gives an overview of assessment in the STC® program and addresses evaluation issues specific to the unit.
	Tab 6, Student Notebooks and Writing—explains the importance of integrating writing with science in the STC® classroom and offers guidelines for incorporating science notebooks into classroom activities.
	Tab 7, Student Reading Resources—includes a philosophy of reading, locations of age-appropriate Web sites for additional student research and exploration, and a list of trade books related to unit topics.
	Tab 8, Technology and Additional Resources—suggests teacher and student electronic and print resources (such as high-quality Web sites, videos, computer software, microcomputer-based labs, CDs and DVDs, books, and magazines) that complement the unit.

One free Teacher’s Guide will still come with the kit; additional Guides may be purchased separately.

STC® Student Books
STC® units for grades 3–6 will continue to include a reusable student book, to be retitled Student Investigations (formerly the Student Activity Book). These softcover books contain information to guide students through the activities in each lesson, reading selections, additional ideas to explore, and a glossary (the same one found in the Teacher’s Guide). Like the STC® Teacher’s Guide, the instructional content in each Student Investigations book will remain unchanged. Student pairs can share the 15 Student Investigations that come with the kit, or additional books may be purchased so each student has a copy.

One item that will change is the STC® Student Notebook, an optional consumable booklet for the early elementary STC® units. All Student Notebooks will be discontinued as Carolina’s inventory of them is depleted. Photocopy masters of record sheets, reading selections, and simple instructions that have comprised the Student Notebook will still be found in the Teacher’s Guide.

NEW!!  Science and Technology for Children® Books
The most exciting addition to STC® next year will be the Science and Technology for Children® Books program, developed to address a growing concern in the education community: students’ difficulty in gaining meaning from what they read. For each STC® unit the NSRC is developing a 64-page, soft-cover, nonconsumable book filled with high-interest stories, dynamic informational articles, and colorful photographs and illustrations that will capture students’ attention. 

By presenting exciting ideas in an age-appropriate way, the research-based books aim to help students improve their reading comprehension. To ensure the literacy component has been addressed, all books in the series are reviewed by a nationally recognized reading specialist. While an STC® Book targets a specific grade level, each offers stories to reach readers at all levels of proficiency. 

Each book also presents topics designed to both reinforce concepts in the units and expand and deepen students’ understanding. For example, all the books have a section on major scientific discoveries and how our understanding of the world builds over time. Other topics added to the books ensure they address major content areas identified in the National Science Education Standards. 

Published in 2004 will be the STC® Books for fourth- to sixth-grade STC® units; after June 1, each of those kits will include 16 copies of the STC® Book developed for that unit. Books for the grades K–3 units will be developed in the near future. The STC® Books will also be available for separate purchase. 

Closing Credits
So there’s your preview of the STC® revisions. As the release date approaches, check Carolina’s STC® Web site for information on prices and package options for upgrading your current STC® kit. You can also email us or call Carolina’s helpful Product Information staff at 800.227.1150 (8 am–5 pm ET, M–F).

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