Hello! I have just launched my podcast: Science Teaching Toolbox
Please check it out: https://anchor.fm/mara792/episodes/Intro-Episode-e1eu97l
So far it is just an introduction 3 minute episode. By next week I hope to have a 20-30 minute full episode where I launch into a specific strategy for your teaching toolbox! Stay tuned!
I cannot believe I have been teaching for 14 years! Time has just flown by and I am such a different teacher today than I was when I started. I have a student teacher again, so I have a little bit of time (sort of)...I don't think I ever feel like I have a lot of time. But...this felt like a good place to do some reflection.
In the past year, I have also embarked on a new phase, and am pursuing a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction science. I wanted to pick up this blog again, as a way to reflect on my course work. I am currently enrolled in a course about creativity. As part of this course I have to learn something new. I decided to try something I've always wanted to try which is a podcast. So I plan to revitalize my blog and then expand on it and make it a podcast as well. I love listening to education podcasts and getting ideas for my classroom and just affirming ideas I have about education! In the past three years, teachers have been pushed to their limits and there is talk of teachers leaving. While I understand this, I have had my share of ups and downs regarding thoughts about the current state of education in the US. But, I also still hold onto my believe in education and find strength in my conviction that education is my passion and what I am supposed to be doing with my life!
I'm working out my podcast name and first post. I will link it in this blog within the next few days.
I don't like to post with nothing though so I'll do a quick write up about a current project: My student teacher is taking the lead on Geologic History for Earth Science. For an introduction he used my painted walls as a scavenger hunt. He posted "blurbs" around the room in the places they fit on the painted geologic timeline. Students had to answer questions by going around the room and reading the placards. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about go back several posts and you'll see where I posted the project where students painted a geologic timeline on my classroom walls). I've realized the past few years that students respond to my walls throughout the year and that I often use it when teaching. I point to a section or reference something on the wall. The scavenger hunt was a neat way to get them to think about geologic time, move around the room, and process what they've been seeing all year. Sometimes, I look back and wish I could recreate the amount of engagement, I had from that one project, every year. While it really was a one time project, there are so many take away ideas that I continue to find even 3-4 years later!
I'm glad to be back! Stay tuned to be linked to my podcast where I'll share more strategies and ideas as well as thoughts on what I learn along the journey to earn my PhD.
