The NSDL Middle School Portal , an online resource for math and science teachers, has added a free, easy-to-use registration feature to its web site. Teachers can sign up for instant notification as new publications “go live.” Teachers are invited to register for announcements of all new publications or just for those in their field – mathematics or science.

Throughout the year, the Middle School Portal produces two types of online publications, called Explore in Depth and Quick Takes. Explore in Depth publications are collections of quality instructional and professional development resources on topics that address broad concepts important to middle school teachers. Quick Takes are one-pagers that highlight three to four exceptional digital resources. They are designed to be “just-in-time” aids for the teacher who needs just a few resources for a classroom activity or for a quick review of a topic.

The newest publications cover the topics of simple machines, gardening, probability, rainbows, and fractions. Project staff are working on a series of publications on cycles – carbon, water, and nitrogen – as well as on chemistry, quantitative literacy, and astronomy. Check back often or register to be notified when new content is posted to the site.

Teachers can also browse the Middle School Portal collection by subject lists that align with the national science and math standards or search by keywords. The Middle School Portal draws on the massive catalog of the National Science Digital Library (NSDL) to identify web sites appropriate to the middle school curriculum.

The keywords used to describe Middle School Portal in its NSDL catalog entry are mathematics study and teaching, science study and teaching, technology education, instructional issues, mathematics, science, technology, browse by standard, browse by subject, math site, middle school pathway at enc, science site, and technology site.  The Portal’s staff encourages teachers to contact them at msp@msteacher.org with topic ideas or feedback on the content developed so far. -Kim Lightle