Deborah S. Wilson, author of Grade 1 Science, has taught first grade, second grade, sixth grade, K-6 Learning Disabilities and K-6 Remedial Reading. She holds a BS from Missouri State University in K-8 Elementary Education with a minor in Early Reading as well as an MS from MSU in Reading. Wilson has written numerous grants to get needed hands-on materials into her primary classroom. She has received numerous awards and grants that play a role to her belief that Hands-on/Minds-on learning contributes to increased reading and math scores. She has completed over 1,000 hours of professional development as she models her belief in the importance of being a lifelong learner. She is a NASA NEWEST Team member, a national judge for the Young Inventors, and helped write authentic Amazon Rainforest Curriculum from her personal explorations. As a small group state team member she helped develop grade level curriculum and train regional trainers and teachers to improve the science instruction within her state. In 1994 she received the Presidential Award for Elementary Math and Science. Serving on the National Science Teachers Association Pre-school and Elementary Committee and the Board for the Council of Elementary Science-International she organized many Elementary Extravaganza workshops enhancing the professional science learning opportunities for elementary teachers and emphasizing the importance of science in the primary grades.
