Read all about it.....Science teacher, A.K.A. mom, ROCKS!

Today was our last lesson teaching science to our 3rd grade friends.  Becky and I walked into class today and were greeted by several students who handed us cards signed by the entire class.  It really made my heart smile (especially to read on the card that I rock)!  I am going to miss this class.  The cards served as a reminder as to why I am studying to become a teacher.  I hung the

 card up at home so that my children would know that other children out there think that I rock! 

At the beginning of the class I reviewed what we learned last week. Becky introduced the new process skill (cool concluder) and our science question  "Does temperature affect the dissolving speed of sugar?"  We both wanted our last lesson with the class to be memorable and we were careful not to lecture too long.  Every week Becky and I create an outline and dialogue for our lessons.  This really has helped us with time management, organization, and responsibility.  We really wanted to adhere to the time today limit because we had a fun activity planned to get the students out of their seats and moving as they would become one with the molecules.  Our materials were prepared and Becky gave the go ahead to race the grains of sugar. Thankfully, everything went according to plan this week.  The sugar grains dissolved faster in the warmer water for everyone's experiment.  We translated the students thoughts and responses to the newsprint at the front of the class and identified the 3 factors that contribute to dissolving substances at a faster speed (size, stirring, and temperature.)  

We quickly cleaned up all of the materials and placed the students into 5 groups of 4.  We explained that they would be molecules and Becky and I demonstrated the three states of matter (solid - link arms and stay still, liquid - put one arm on other's shoulder and move slowly, gas - no one is touching another's body and we move faster and more freely.)  This game was a huge hit with the students and it really got them moving.  We then challenged them by giving them scenarios of matter changing state and they would have to act out the form they were in (i.e., they were an ice cube that we put out in the sun and they would have to work with their group to model the matter).  It was a really fun and visual way to apply what we learned about state of matter to end our lesson. 

Overall, my impression of this experience was that it has been invaluable.  I can't think of a better way to learn how to teach a class of (25)3rd graders than to get up there and do it!  It is one thing to read about how to do something and another to actually engage in it.  I have always loved science and to be able to share my love of this subject with a group of inquisitive 3rd graders was truly amazing.  I felt like I was learning about matter again but only this time through their eyes.  The weekly feedback from my supervisors was extremely helpful because I knew going into this experience that the only way to improve and learn would be to welcome feedback from professionals.  I found myself anxiously awaiting feedback after teaching each lesson because I really wanted to be able to implement what I needed to improve on our subsequent lessons. 

I learned that teaching science can be a lot of work, especially in regards to preparation of materials.  However, just watching the students throughout this semester I could see their excitement for science as we walked into the classroom every Monday.  Teaching science is fun, hands on, and very interesting.  I learned just how important this subject is to a group of budding 3rd grade scientists.

The classroom teacher really let Becky and I run our lessons.  She was very helpful when she suggested we use her "Red Zone" chart to gain the students attention.  Classroom management is really important when teaching science because there is a lot of communicating/sharing of information and interesting hands on activities.  It can be a challenge to regain their attention at times snd so we used her chart and it really worked.  She was always very positive and encouraging after each lesson and would often tell us what a great job we had done (which was really nice to hear.)  I definitely felt like my content knowledge increased each week because I was actually studying and reading about each lesson that we had to prepare for.  It was important to Becky and I that we were knowledgeable in what we were to present each week.  We also became more familiar with the science process skills as we reviewed them each week with the students and how they might apply the skill to the experiment.  I learned how important it is for the students to understand the process skills especially as they move forward with more complex science lessons.  It was like introducing them to the tools they would need to become successful scientists.

My level of confidence steadily increased with each lesson.  I remember our first lesson and how nervous I felt inside because I wasn't sure how we would be received.  I also felt uncomfortable not knowing all of the names of the students; however, that all changed as we continued to teach.  I wasn't as nervous during our last lesson and I really felt more comfortable.  I strongly believe that this experience will be very helpful when I student teach.

I have to admit that sometimes I felt like blogging was time consuming but it was very important because it helped me to brush up on my technology skills and I loved reading about my peer's experiences each week.  It was also a way for me to learn about the Rocks/Minerals units that the other groups were doing.  Now I love to blog, it is like my very own journal!

I really don't have any suggestions regarding doing this again, except that I think it is so important to continue this program.  I expected there to be a lot of bumps along the way with this being a new piloted program but I have to say I was extremely impressed with what I was able to learn and the organization.  I am grateful for the experience and really sad to leave this class, goodbye my friends.

I will especially miss my dedicated and brilliant partner Becky.  It was a pleasure to teach with her!