Field study

I took my biology students out to a gazebo our school has that is in some woods.  I wanted them to undertake a major project where they make observations of one plant throughout the year.  Of course I told them they had to pick a large plant like a tree or bush that would be there and not die away like wildflowers and grasses.  I walked around taking pictures of them at work, making sure they are getting thie sketches done, etc.  I am off near the end of the boundary I let them have checking on some students.  I hear a girl scream and I take off running as quick as I can over the rough field.  When I get there I find out a boy had scared a girl by saying there was a snake.  It was a relief that no one was hurt but I sure gave him an earful.  He meant it as a harmless joke but you never know what consequences can occur.  I could laugh later when my heart went back where it was supposed to.  I got some good photos of nature and the kids out in it.  They liked being out there and want to do it more often.  I wish we could too.

science fairy

This week is homecoming week and so they have theme days each day.  I teach at high school and middle school.  Of course they cant have the same theme each day.  Well, yesterday I combined the two days into one.  I think I was successful and got a bit of science into it too.  The high school had Superhero day and middle school had Disney day--I went dressed as the Science Fairy.  Some of them asked for pixie dust and I told them I didnt have the kind that could magically make them know everything about science.  They still had to study.  One student said she was surprised I would join in and do something like that.  It's good to surprise them--it keeps them on their toes.

science experiment gone awry

Have you ever wondered what it would smell like to put your head in a trash can that reeked of rotten eggs that had been sitting in a heated enclosed small tight space?  That is exactly what my 8th grade classroom smelled like Monday when I went there for 5th period.  I had my 8th graders make a 3D model of a cell. I told them to use craft or recycling items to make it.  One girl said her mom told her to use a plastic container, cracked raw egg, peanuts etc. instead.  Needless to say she won't get full credit because she didn't follow directions.  WOW!  What a stink.  I had to hear all about it until the room aired out.  Those kids need to get a stronger stomach too.  : )

A tale of two questions

One of my strategies for reviewing for a test is to have my students write 1 or 2 questions on a slip of paper about a topic they still need help with.  That way I know what they need as individuals and depending on how many ask about that topic, as a class in a whole.  It has to be about anything in that chapter.  They are anonymous too.  I am getting to know their handwriting though.
One of the questions from my first period was "why is my biology teacher so awesome?"  I don't know who wrote that one.  It made me smile.
Another question in my second period was "when are you actually going to teach us something?"  That one made me catch my breath.  I know who wrote that one.  She has made some negative comments along those lines in class under her breath.
They both will motivate me but in different ways.

connect the dots

When I was in school it was easy for me to memorize lots of information, but then I would try to make sense out of it on my own.  It took me a long times sometimes to do that--even in to my adulthood.  I am still making connections with stuff--especially in science now as I am teaching it.  My whole idea behind teaching is to help the kids make those connections now between the bits, or dots, of information they may be gathering.  The other day I was doing a lesson on the metric system since we will use that a lot in science.  Now it doesn't seem like most of my kids had ever used it before.  I had assumed that they had had some exposure to it.  I started off like they had some background knowledge in it and then had to back track.  One class I was explaining it and I could see the "ah ha" moment when a connection was made.  This chill hit me--I was really teaching and getting through to some of them.  Obviously that way of showing the information didn't impact everybody that same and I will need to revisit the material.  But for that one moment, with that one student or two, I helped connect the dots.

AAVALAANCHE!

      I have been buried under a pile of papers to grade for about a week and I took this weekend to get them almost caught up.  I had about 12" of papers I had to grade and am down to about 2-3".  I have GOT to figure something else out!  (I still have to finish reading the Bloom's book and write my paper for that too.)
     When I handed back the first few papers in the first week, one girl told another teacher she wasn't used to getting papers back in Biology.  She had to repeat from last year and I guess that teacher didn't make it a point to return things.  I am trying my best to not repeat that.  I look at everything or try to make comments and corrections on the most important stuff--study packets, homework.  I don't correct things like bellwork and other things that we go over together.  I just give them participation or a few points for even trying those.
I have warned them I am taking classes too and that I may not always get things back to them quickly.
     I could always give less homework but then the kids don't get the reinforcement on what we covered that day in class or a chance to cover all the material we need for the next test.  I just need to stay on top of it better--along with everything else we all have-- or I'll get buried again!

How Cool is THAT!

     I got to go to my first HS Football Game tonight as the Teacher of several of the kids on the Football Team, Dance Team, Cheer Leaders, Band, etc.  As I walked through the crowd kids would call out "Hi Mrs. De Leeuw!"  How cool is that!?!
     It was neat to get to meet parents of some of my students as we sat in the stands and enjoyed the game.  I will enjoy being able to tell the kids that I saw their performance and brag on them some.  I left during the 4th quarter since our team was up 40-14.  I wanted to try and make it to the last of my own son's football game.  And they won 35-13.  I must be good luck ~ How cool is that!?!

I feel silly--oh so silly!

There is one student in my 2nd period Biology class who has to correct me on anything he can.  He had a field day today when he got to show me how to use a feature on the laptop I use for my united streaming videos.  Obviously I hadn't taken the time to look at all of the features on the tool bar and he showed me how to make the video full-sized.  The kids had been complaining they couldn't see the videos very well.  Well, didn't I feel silly when he they asked me in all disbelief--don't you know how to do that?  No I said,  I don't know everything.  Well, you should--you're the teacher.  I told them there was nothing wrong with me learning something from them too.  I'm not sure they knew how to take that.  The good Lord is keeping me humble--that's OK.

clueless???

I started reading the Asking Better Questions book and I feel like I  have been out there flapping when I have done my lectures.  The hands on part of my biology class has been fun--sorry--engaging.  The kids have been into that, but I have been getting yawns and the shut down looks when I go over the chapter/notes portion of the material.  I look forward to learning how to engage them fully and capture their interest--especially during the dry lecture part.