New People and Unit and Opportunities- Oh My!
This week has been great. Not only am I getting to know new students and teachers, but I get to watch a colleague teach. It is very helpful to observe a teacher with similar theories and ideas. Mike has really been connecting with the students and making sure they are understanding the material. Between classes, I hear him asking the students how he could make the material more understandable for them.
Just the mere act of showing students that you care about them and want to help them succeed makes a difference. The students seem to perk up and ask more questions. I have gotten to know a few students so far, and they are so interesting. There is such a wonderful mix of personalities, interests, and styles in each classroom. I am also in love with the school. I mean, what school has professional art in every corner? I think that everyone should incorporate art into the main curriculum. Students need that outlet of creativity.
The discussion that we had this week about modifying cookbook labs was very useful, but will be more useful when I actually plan a lab again. However, I can use the ideas from the readings when I am using a hands-on activities in the classroom. As long as you keep the following quote in mind from Peters (2005), your instruction will be effective: “A worthwhile goal of a science teacher is to allow students to think and behave like scientists rather than solely learn or replicate what other scientists have already done.”
I can’t wait to start my innovative unit. These concepts are right up my alley (ecology)! I’ve taken so many ecology classes, I wonder when I had time for other subjects! Another exciting development- a librarian asked me today if I would be interested in getting students to create an Earth Day display in front of the library. What an awesome opportunity! This is going to be so much fun!!