Change Beyond My Classroom

Going beyond my classroom to ensure that all students are receiving a high-quality science education is important. One example of this is how I utilize district resources to bring science activities into our school.  Specifically, I rented Star Lab, an inflatable planetarium. I used the Star Lab to engage my students in a unique experience that helped them learn about our earth and solar system.  In addition, I worked with other science teachers in my school to use the Star Lab during a school-wide science night. The science night was aimed at bringing parents into the school, and helping them understand more about our science program.  My initiative to bring Star Lab to our school gave all students and their families an opportunity to gain knowledge about science education.

An additional action I took to bring high-quality science instruction into my school was attending a class focusing on combining science with the common core state standards.  With the information I gained, I was able to share with my school’s science department. I was able to communicate unique strategies for using more writing and reading in the science classroom.  Sharing these resources and information gave my colleagues an opportunity to plan lessons that are both rich in science content and language arts skills.

There are always challenges when trying to implement new approaches in teaching. Some of my coworkers have not been supportive in wanting to apply hands-on activities or fully incorporating other subjects into the science classroom.  I believe that students must become involved with science activities to learn the concepts behind them.  Science is about asking “why” and discovery how things in our world work.  Sitting at a desk does not tap into this natural curiosity. Luckily, my administrators are supportive of my efforts to bring more lab experiences into the classroom. As a result, I will continue to implement these activities regardless of the lack of participation from my colleagues.  Hopefully my coworkers will see the benefits of this experience from my modeling.