A fun activity since we all have some down time....

This week is spring break and we are all privy to some time off, which I believe no one will argue with, we could all use.  So instead of posting something about science, I decided to go slightly off the rails with a fun activity you can do either by yourself or, preferably, with a couple of friends.  

If you have the time, everyone should check out and learn how to do geocaching.  You can type that into google and your questions will be answered, but I will explain it anyway.  

Geocaching is a worldwide scavenger hunt done out in the woods, on nature trails, or even on the sides of country roads.  What you do is you download the app from the app store or google store and it will automatically find your location.  Then little dots will come up on your phone that will show you where to go.  You simply follow the trail and when you get close you need to open your eyes and look for something that you think isn't suppose to be their, most of the times its a hidden piece of tupperware that ranges in size.  Once you find it, you open it up, sign your name to the logbook and then discreetly put it back.  You then take out your phone, and log it as found and then move on to the next one. 

There's hundreds of finds to be had in the Hudson valley alone, and millions set out all over the world, I probably didn't do to good of a job explaining this so simply if you like the outdoors and you have the time, download the app and get out there.  Happy hunting.

Week Eight, last but not least

After eight weeks, four groups, two snow delays and boat loads of stress, our fieldwork experience has finally come to a close.  It's refreshing as we will not have to be rushing around making lesson plans and fixing last minute adjustments at 4 in the morning, but its also upsetting in a way.

Over the last four classes we've gotten bond a group of students who I think we, as a class, have a close connection to.  This sense of familiarity is what makes teaching become less stressful and more enjoyable.

When reflecting about this experience, the first thing I tend to jump to are the groups themselves.  I feel like every group did a great job in not only preparing fun activities for the kids but executing them as well.  Being on both sides of the coin really gives you that understanding of the stress and thought that goes into each one of these lessons, and I'm sure every group, including my own, had a sleepless night or two leading up to their lesson.

The next thing that jumped out to me was the patience and understanding that these kids have when it comes to inexperienced teachers giving them direct instruction.  Let's be honest, nobody's presentation was perfect but to me the kids didn't see the flaws, and overall they had a good time.

Finally, the parents jumped out to me as well.  Every week they would come in right at the end and, even though we would run long each time they didn't complain.  In fact, speaking for when my group went, some of the parents even decided to join in as the kids made it look like so much fun.

It's amazing to think that the fieldwork experience has come and gone, but it was a great experience and gave everyone in the class an opportunity to plan a lesson, dump that lesson, find a new lesson, execute that lesson, and watch the kids love what you prepared.  It was an amazing experience, very sad to see it go, but now we get to go back to class and do all the fun stuff that would normally entail and college class.

The Science Fair

This past Tuesday our class had to take part in the Bishop Dunn Science Fair with all of the other 7th graders in the school.  While I was unable to attend due to my work schedule I was still able to drop off my project ahead of time to avoid a grading penalty.  I was feeling rather cocky about my project; I am after all 15 years older and wiser than these children, so upon placing my project down I had no doubt in my mind that I would have quite the impressive project.

This is to say until I saw pictures.....

I was shown pictures of the science fair and all of the students whose projects were brought in to be graded and I couldn't be more impressed.  I will confess that science is not my strong suit, and when I was in school we never had a science fair, why I don't know exactly, but even if I had majored in science while in college I still think these kids would have knocked me down, academically of course.  This speaks to the level of teaching over at Bishop Dunn and just goes to show they take their science seriously.

Meanwhile at my old stopping grounds, they are still without science fairs and I believe the children suffer for it.  While a great deal of time and planning go into a science fair project, when finished it not only looks cool but it fulfills you with a great sense of accomplishment, and pride.  This pride translates over when you bring in your project and are overjoyed to share it with all of your classmates who are also proud and overjoyed of their respective projects.  I won't mention the school I went to that lacks a science fair, because they're probably not the only ones, any school that lacks a science fair is doing its students a disservice, by not allowing them to partake in one of the grand, coming-of-age. academic experiences. that will enlighten you down the path of being a scientist, or something completely different.

After Two Weeks Off...

It seemed like months since I had last seen my classmates, however after two very relaxing weeks away we were back in the educational fold with our second group finally getting their turn at the proverbial plate.

Group two's topic was life science which I'm thankful that my group didn't get because I personally find life science to be a bit boring.  This however was not the case when group two presented their lesson.

Despite having a tough topic to keeps kids focused, the two of them presented a very engaging lesson and the kids, overall, were very well behaved.  The thing that impressed me the most about their presentation was how well the two members of the group worked together, and how fluid their lesson seemed to go.  Each group member had their power-point slides memorized and knew who was doing what and when.

The final part of their presentation was their lab that was a total hit with the kids.  In their lab,using a dichotomous key they made up, the 5 groups of two students had to sort flavored jelly beans based on size, shape, color, etc.  There was a catch though that made the groups really pay attention, and that was that one of the jelly beans was vomit flavored.  While I myself did not try it, I was given some sturdy testimonies that it did indeed taste like vomit.  At the end of the lesson this warning didn't seem to stop the kids, as a few of them went for the vomit bean anyway.

Never a dull moment

Four weeks in and once again something new and exciting/terrifying was tossed our way in our scientific methods course. 

Mother nature was in full force Tuesday pushing schools all over Orange County to close down for the day including Bishop Dunn Memorial school where our class was suppose to take place.  Not wanting to miss class time we were scheduled to meet in an online chat group.  I'm not the most tech savvy person as everyone knows, so this frightened me a bit.  However I was pleasantly surprised at how easy this thing was to get in and work around.  

Once you got through the awkwardness of talking on a mic in front of everyone, or the silliness of the good doctor's grandson it was actually a very informative lesson, and I happen to learn quite a bit.  I think it was also good for each group to have the lesson plan format reinforced, clearly outlining what needs to be done and how exactly it should be taken care of.  It also didn't hurt that I saved myself 30 minute car ride and we got out of class by 6.  

Well, it's done....

Three weeks of class have already come and gone.  Crazy to think that 20% of the class is already done.  This week brought on a new challenge in the sense of teaching a group of students in a scientific after school program.

I, or I should say my group, was very nervous as none of us had ever done anything like this before and to add to that, we had to go first in our class.  Despite all of this though I feel like my group did an amazing job and most importantly the kids seemed to have an awesome time doing all the different stations we had planned out for them. I give those kids a bunch of credit because they hung with us during our direct lesson, which I think ended up running longer than we thought, after they have already gone through a whole day of school.

They however left with a bunch of stuff I'm sure will drive their parents nuts, and in the end you know you've made something good for a child when the parents wants to throw it away as much as possible.

By the way congrats to Albert Einstein on his gravitational waves theory that came to fruition this past Thursday.  The man predicted this would happen over 100 years ago.  Props.

Week 2 and the Journey Continues...

After finally calming my stress levels from the overwhelming first week, I trekked back to Mount Saint Mary for the second class.  My stress levels began to rise as we were to meet in a location I had never been before and I usually end up getting out of work late to barely make it to class on time as it is.  Thankfully all of my classmates are wonderful and helped me find the location easily.

We met a character this week, and I think I am using the word character properly here in Mrs. Foster-Faith, the cooperating teacher from Bishop Dunn Memorial School.  A very passionate woman, who clearly loves her job and is also willing to help out the fieldwork groups whenever they need it.  My group has seen this first hand this past week as we have been in constant contact with her and she is pretty good about getting back to you in the same day.  Also, while she wont hold your hand on the project she will lead you down the path that your group should probably go down.

Speaking of being lead down a correct path, I want to personally thank Dr. S for teaching me how to use google docs, google drive and pretty much google in general this past class.  It was the hands on tutorial I needed and I want to thank all my class mates for being patient with me this past week.