Foundations for Teaching Chemistry

This book provides essential insights for new and trainee chemistry teachers, addressing core concepts and effective teaching strategies in chemistry.

This essential text draws on pedagogical principles and research regarding the challenges many students face when learning chemical concepts. Foundations for Teaching Chemistry presents the core ideas of chemistry to assist new and trainee teachers, including those who may not have a specialized background in the subject. Chemistry has the unique ability to both engage and confuse students, making effective teaching crucial. A solid understanding of chemistry is necessary to create meaningful content for students.

The book emphasizes foundational ideas that connect various topics within the discipline of chemistry. It explores how these often complex concepts can be effectively communicated to students while maintaining scientific accuracy. Each chapter addresses key areas, such as the nature of chemistry as a science, the chemistry triplet, substances and purity, the periodic table, energy in chemistry, and the significance of contextualizing and integrating chemical knowledge.

Unlike many other texts that simply describe chemistry or provide general teaching guidance, Foundations for Teaching Chemistry offers insights from a teaching perspective. It aims to support both new and experienced teachers in enhancing their 'chemical knowledge for teaching,' ultimately helping them to convey these essential concepts to their students more effectively.