Showing posts with label teacher education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teacher education. Show all posts

Friday, September 5, 2008

Are You Sure You Aren't a Science Teacher?


Photo by Lucy Nieto
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Have you been fooling yourself into thinking that you are NOT a Science teacher? Hmm! What is a common response to this question: "Do you teach Science?" No, I don't  teach Science, I don't even like Science.

Often, we are so locked into our 20th century INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTIONary mindset, that we think we ONLY teach History, Language Arts, PE or other separate topic. I think it is more prudent, as we move away from the ASSEMBLY LINE mindset, to think of  ourselves as TEACHERS of children, not TEACHERS of a topic.

For instance, how can one teach of the end of the Dark Ages in Europe (the unkown times), without mentioning the pivotal role played by the rapid spread of one of the most famous of all pandemics (or series of pandemics) the bubonic plague, the Black Death? So, History teachers ARE Science teachers after all. That is just ONE example.

A very popular history book of recent times is Guns, Germs and Steel. It tells the story of the past 13,000 years as it references the introduction of steel and guns as well as the well documented use of germ warfare by warring factions.

In Physical Education, the teacher is concerned with the improvement of the overall physical fitness of their students. When their students are fit, they think better, play more actively and enjoy life more. I wonder? Do PE  teachers teach about nutrition, healthy habits, muscle control, rules for games, etc? Yup, PE teachers are science teachers too.

There is not one ASSEMBLY LINE strand of education, and all the interactive, symbiotic education of the 21st Century includes aspects of science. Therefore, every teacher is a science teacher, we just haven't moved ourselves off the ASSEMBLY LINE and into the 21st Century yet.

I think you will agree that every teacher is a science teacher, and the corollary also must be true.
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Thursday, October 4, 2007

Still on the Road

I am still on the road, and I will return home from Topeka tomorrow, Friday, October 5, 2007. Today's posting will be short, and I have nothing but good news to report. I have completed the entire teacher licensure renewal process on the 230 professional development points I earned in the last two years that I taught at USD #259, Wichita, KS.

So, what can I say, it is wonderful. The Wichita Public Schools educational system is one organized, professional student-centered school district. Wednesday, October 3, 2007, when I arrived at the school district offices where they take care of teachers' professional development transcripts, all my documents were ready. My professional development points transcript was printed, signed, and placed in a sealed envelope ready for me to carry to Topeka.

When I arrived in Topeka, I went to the KSDE office. I turned in my application for renewal and all the supporting documentation. The specialists there were very helpful. More details to follow later.

If you want to be the very best teacher possible, work hard, be supported, and change children's lives, you should consider teaching in Wichita, KS.