Sept. 11, 2010

Wow....  been some crazy days gearing up for the new school year, starting up again my masters program, football season on the horizon, and also remembering the events of 9/11 and some good people that were taken from me on that day:(  Anyway....  having trouble writing, but I'm hoping that this skill too will come back.  Enjoy the weekend!  Wrote a reflection on sampling some cool internet sites:



Nature of Science Online Tour


As a teacher for over twenty years, my focus was always on finding the right method or strategy to instruct, and stay faithful and true to it. I taught the same lessons, the same way, and generally produced the same academic results. It seemed quite normal and appropriate to teach in this manner. Well, in the short time that I have been enrolled at Walden, my academic thought processes in the classroom have been shakened – not stirred! Throughout the educational courses I have taken here, I have found the most crucial practice as a teacher is to find new and exciting alternatives to engage our students. Obviously, as scientists know, our students learn in all different ways – and after taking the online tour, and sampling some of the sites – I am overwhelmed, but so excited about the endless opportunities to teach. Being somewhat new to teaching science (6th grade general science), I understand that the teaching trend has shifted from just spitting out laws, concepts, and vocabulary – but to focusing on inquiry. In my classroom, I diligently work on promoting and fostering an environment that has great emphasis on observations, inferences, and experimenting. What impressed me so much about the online tour was that there were so many sites that will help me further my students’ curiosity with rich and exhilarating links that provide such varied and high quality learning opportunities. I was extremely impressed with the National Science Foundation; it is chockfull of activities and projects that address all of my students’ learning styles. I am confident that I can find many tasks on required content, and provide opportunities for all students to be successful and engaged.

One point I am to comment on is the current landscape in science education, but before I address this – I must tell you about my own classroom landscape! I teach in a very poor, urban district in northern New Jersey (Irvington). This is my third year in district, and in the first two years, there was no money for materials, 30 tattered textbooks for 120 students I see daily, and no technology to utilize. I am so happy to say, that this has been addressed, and although still no new or more textbooks, many needed lab materials have been purchased, and my classroom is now equipped with new computers and a SMARTboard. The reason I write of this, is what impresses me about the current worldwide landscape in science education. It is apparent to me that the world of science education has made great efforts to globally unify its’ teachings and findings. The continuing theme that I see online is the sharing of information and the ability to easily find and utilize sites that will continue the growth and development of science, and the scientific learning that our students need. I am very excited to start using these sites in my classroom from all over the world, to watch and document my students’ evolution into becoming scientifically critical thinkers. While I sat down to reflect on this piece, I got so distracted by a unit on the NSF site about animal cells! For 35 minutes, I had done a crossword puzzle, watched a brainpop movie, and did a jigsaw puzzle. These activities took over my concentration, as I had to pull myself away from the site – not before learning so much about the cells, and ENJOYING the time! Imagine that! These great sites, that have such well-thought out activities that are purposeful and meaningful, have shed a new light on how I will be teaching this year. I pledge to find countless ways to introduce lessons to my students. I will be working hard on creating my own tasks and activities, but will also thrive on using sound and proven activities found online.

The challenge is an extremely difficult one for me to motivate my students. The school I am in is a 10 year “failing” school, where more than 70 percent of the student body is below proficient in standardized testing. Sixth grade is the first formal year that my students have science – in our elementary schools - the students receive about 20 minutes a WEEK of science. To get my children to want to learn science has been demanding, but I am so confident that by utilizing this new technology and the sites that have been shown to me, that curiosity will be profoundly on the rise – which will open the door to high-level learning. I am confident that I will be able to facilitate a classroom that has high expectations, and that all children will be addressed and given the opportunity to be successful!