Wilson science teacher wins national award

Denton received her award this month at the National Science Teachers Association National Congress on Science Education in Buffalo, N.Y. She received a $1,000 cash award, a plaque and up to $1,000 toward expenses to attend NSTA's event, where she made a presentation.

"Ms. Denton has brought so much energy and enthusiasm to her lower and middle school science classes," Greenfield School's Head of School Beth Peters said in a statement. "She has a terrific knowledge of the sciences taught in our school and continually works to make it interesting, fun and educational. Students are not just learning science, they are DOING science. They are all over campus taking and testing soil samples, examining the water in our pond on campus while learning about water pollution and the effects of runoff from our soccer field, or examining our small ecosystem along our nature trail."

Denton uses multiple methods to reach her students, including rapping, singing and clapping rhythms to help those who are auditory learners. She encourages students by proposing STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) design challenges, letting students develop and test their own lab ideas and offering a student choice project to her fifth- and sixth-graders for every unit.

Her homework assignments include creating a story about the rock cycle, told from a rock’s point of view, or having students write their own comic book adventure about science topics.

Every year, NSTA recognizes K-12 teachers, professors, principals and science educators for their outstanding achievements in science education.