Bringing in Adventures

I often think to myself, "Oh, I had a story for that", or "Shoot I should have mentioned...". You see, as a new teacher, I've gotten caught up in the lesson so many times that I forget that I'm an actual person.  A person that had and still has experiences beyond the classroom that very often relate to the 'thing at hand'.  I let them know about the big things in my life (most know my husband's name, my dog's name, tidbits about my past career, and that I love my Beavs).  I forget to mention my tendency for travel, my passion for photography, my admiration for adventures.  

To help me remember that 'I'm still me', I put pictures up around the room of my favorite adventures with my favorite people.  Below are a few of those pictures:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

 Stonehenge, England

Howth, Ireland

 Berlin, Germany

Berlin, Germany

Venice, Italy

Victoria, B.C.

Cannon Beach, Oregon, USA

Siena, Italy

Salem, Oregon, USA

South Sister Mountain, Bend, Oregon, USA

Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy

Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy

Venice, Italy

Chianti Region, Italy

Buckingham Palace, London, England

Brighton, England

Washington Monument, Washington D.C., USA

Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy

Venice, Italy

Venice, Italy

St. Mark's Square, Venice, Italy

Gondola, Venice, Italy

Leaning Tower, Pisa, Italy

Il Duomo, Florence, Italy

Stanmer Village, Brighton, England

Here's to more adventures inside AND outside of the classroom!

*E

In Physics we have FUN...

The best days are the days that the kids walk away from the lesson with their MINDS BLOWN.  The days where we challenge the norm and get creative (and sometimes dirty).  The days they get to experience science and not just learn about it.

Some of my favorite days in the classroom are below:

Fireproof balloon challenge
In the AP Physics thermodynamics unit, I challenged the students to make fireproof balloons using only water.  The goal was to have them utilize their understanding of the specific heat of water and the fact that the heat from the fire would transfer directly to the water to heat it up before it popped the balloon.  Some tried to coat the balloons in water.  Some tried to light the balloon on fire under water (uh...that doesn't prove the balloon was fireproof guys...).  Some tried a mixture of water and air.  They soon realized putting enough water in the balloon that it didn't stretch the latex too much was the best design.  They were able to hold the balloon over the Bunsen burner for a few minutes without it popping or draining.  Here's a pic of the balloon the instant it popped:

Walking on...nails?
There are a lot of pressure demonstrations...and a lot of fun ones at that.  There are collapsing cans, egg suction flasks, and airplane wings.  I brought in a bed of nails given to me by my mentor teacher as a demonstration.  We all took turns laying on the bed, taking naps, etc.  Then the kids decided we should walk on the bed...OF NAILS... WITH NO SHOES...IN THE SNOW...UPHILL...BOTH WAYS (uh...wait...I got a little carried away there).  Nothing gets the high schoolers going like a little danger and teamwork.  

Water Wheel
My students really like group projects.  I have basically zero dollars in my budget, so I try to find labs and projects that I can do with household items.  I found this water wheel project and adapted it for my AP class.  It was the second thing they did to kick off the year and it was hilarious, fun, captivating, and they learned a thing or two about Torque (a concept they'd heard of but never knew how to quantify before).  

Laser Shoot
Students used their knowledge of refraction and reflection to set up a laser shoot.  They had to calculate and trace out the line that the laser would create by setting up a series of flat and curved mirrors and lenses (both thick and thin).  Their goal was to hit the target first try based on their calculations.  They were allowed to test each lens/mirror reflection/refraction separately on previous days, but had to draw the laser path prior to laser testing.  

Food Calorimetry
My physical science students tested the amount calories in different types of food by burning the food and seeing how much heat was transferred to water in a can.  By measuring the rise in temperature of the water, they were able to calculate the heat transfer, and thus the calories in each food type.  

*E

Teaching Newb

I tried my best to go to sleep tonight, with no avail.  As I laid there listening to my husband toss and turn, I realized that I haven't written in a long time.  I have a lot of catching up to do...

First Things First:  I graduated with my Master's of Arts in Teaching this past summer and landed a job at one of the local high schools.  I can not claim any of the pats on the back or kudos that this crazy new life deserves.  All of the GLORY belongs to GOD...seriously...I mean every little bit.  There is no other explanation as to how in the world I got to where I am today, except to say that God was my trailblazer...cutting through all of the gigantic, pointy, dangerous, sharp branches and shrubs to show me the path.  He alone is who got me to and through my teaching program, allowed me to learn under the most respected and amazing science teachers in the area, built relationships with those that directed me toward teaching, and opened up the most amazing job opportunity in the entire world (well...for me anyway...not sure how many other people want to be high school physics teachers...)

Second Things Second: Teaching is unlike any other profession.  Being caught in between the state, district, administration, other teachers, students, and parents is like an ongoing game of hot potato....with your job...  The weird thing, though, is that I'd rather be a perpetual hot potato than do anything else.  I'm completely prepared for this (and by completely prepared, I mean mostly prepared with a lot of "I think I can" chanting).  While, yes, I have so much to improve upon, this is exactly where I'm meant to be.  Every single moment in my life leads me to this place.  I love the fact that my coworkers (and the students) consider me to have an unreasonable chipper attitude when it comes to teaching (yes...I've read the article in The Onion...).  The day I lose that 'silver lining' mentality is the day that I should no longer be a teacher (and you can hold me to that...).

Third Things Third: While I like to think that I'm like a happy face balloon floating around campus, I grieve everyday.  My kids are hurting.  And I mean really hurting.  Kids in deep depression.  Kids with chronic diseases.  Kids from broken families.  Kids with literally no families.  Kids with no friends.  Kids who are hungry.  Kids whose parents push them so hard they always feel like failures.  Kids who feel invisible.  And kids who need a nice slice of humble pie.  The cool thing? I get to be a light to them. I am so lucky that I get the chance to make a difference.  God has granted me this gift to serve Him by serving these kids.  

I can feel HIM making me IMMOVABLE

E

WHEW! It's been a while!

WHEW! It's been a while!  A lot has happened since I last posted, and I'm sad to be behind!

-I passed all of my entrance exams!  So I'm IN now that I've taken and passed the General Science, Civil Rights, ORELA Multiple Subjects and CBEST exams!

-I started and finished my first term as a Master's Student this summer!  It was honestly relatively easy, but the days were LONG!  I had difficulty concentrating, but it was so so so fun to be with my cohort! I absolutely love every single person in my program, and they all have so much to give.  They are by far the reason I'm so excited to start master's classes again in less than two weeks.

-I finally met my Fall term student teaching mentor teacher.  I was getting SO nervous that I wasn't going to get to meet him until the first day of school!  The Friday before student teaching started (so 3 days...) I got an email back from him giving me some info.  He teaches 7th/8th grade science, which seemed so broad to me at first.  After meeting him, going through staff in-service days, and being in the classroom, I don't know what it the world I was so worried about!  It's all very relaxed and at this age, it is more about teaching students life skills rather than content.  Being with students this age actually is way more awesome than I anticipated! EEK! I thought I was all dead-set on being a high school teacher...now...not so much!

-One day last week I got to meet my Physics students that I will teach this Spring at the local high school.  The majority of the students were very frightened and nervous; they were afraid to be wrong.  I'm excited to work with them and hopefully give them the confidence to TRY a problem, and even come up with MULTIPLE solutions.  I think that's one thing that engineering has helped me with...knowing that in some instances, there isn't just one right answer.  It's more about being innovative, problem solving, and working collaboratively.

-I think I now have a perma-smile on my face.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE teaching!  I understand that there are going to be problem kids, annoying bureaucracy, and that it's going to take a lot of time and energy...but I seriously cannot wait!  I already feel a connection to the students that I've spent only a few hours with.

-I need to thank my husband big time for getting a job where we currently live so I had the opportunity to leave my occupation as an engineer and follow this new path to become a teacher.  If it weren't for him, I'd never have had the guts to make the change.  Now I'm living it and I couldn't be happier!

Who has two thumbs?

SO EXCITED! I don't have to take the National Physics Exam for my Master's Program! It was supposed to be my most difficult exam, but it turns out I don't have to take it! WOO HOO!!!! 


AND I got an email from the program administrator stating how excited she is that I'm applying and that she thinks I'll be a "great candidate"!  How awesome is that? I feel so blessed right now!  


Who has two thumbs and can't wait to be a teacher? THIS GIRL!

Keep them doggies rollin'!

I'm excited to announce that the Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Integrated Science program FINALLY got accredited! My application is due at the end of the week, and I have pretty much all of the paperwork completed.  Whew....

What's next??

-The results from the Multiple Subject Exams I took this morning (I think I did well) should be in my inbox in 30 days (sheesh).  I still have to take at least 2 more exams.  The program administrator sent an email out late on Friday stating that I might not have to take the Physics exam that I'd originally thought was required. WHOOPIE!  It'd be such a relief with all of the work I have ahead of me this term.

-I still have to complete one online Biology class, one Chemistry class at the local Community College, and two graduate level teaching classes to prepare for the Master's Program.  I should be done with all of these classes at the end of Spring term.

-I have to GET IN to the program! I'm extremely nervous about this aspect because of my unconventional Civil Engineering undergraduate degree vs. a B.S. in Education.  (Prayers for God's will here, please!)

-I still must perform classroom viewings at the local high school.  I really enjoy this part of the application process because I get to interact with area students and teachers.  Often, I ask the students questions about their learning experiences and about high school life.  I love learning about what makes them eager to learn and what makes high school enjoyable.  I'm looking forward to the student teaching aspect of the program to continue this type of interaction AND get teaching practice.

-SEARCH for SCHOLARSHIPS! The cost of this program is starting to cause a lot of stress.  While we're so extremely excited, we hope to pay for the tuition and fees without taking out student loans.  We're trusting that God will provide, and hope to make good use of the resources available to us.  If you have any good scholarship sites or any information worth sharing, please send it our way! We'd greatly appreciate it!


For now, we wait.... :)

Tutoring Breakthrough

I had a breakthrough yesterday when I was tutoring my elementary student in math.  We've been working on multiplication/division and large number addition/subtraction for months, but it just didn't seem to "stick".  I've known all this time about his love for literature, WWII, Italy, and history in general.

Yesterday, I decided to use real facts and figures from WWII to create addition/subtraction/multiplication/division problems for our tutoring session.  And......(drum roll)......IT WORKED!  He had a blast because it was all centered around his love for WWII AND he was thinking critically about what multiplication REALLY means and how it can be applied in real life! (YAY!)

Why didn't I do this before?  DUH! I've tried all sorts of other games (computer games, card games, games I made up myself) to practice these concepts, and they were all fun in the moment, but didn't really become a long term solution.  I'm so excited about this new teaching method and can't wait to have him over for his math tutoring session next week so we can keep practicing.

He's SO smart and such a unique and fun kid, I really hope that I can make a difference in his life (even if it's just tricks to help him learn his times tables), and make learning math more fun in the future! :)

Here's to a new breakthrough and to more fun and exciting tutoring time!