Wednesday, February 17, 2010

I'm a fan

I love the winter Olympics. It's really the only time I watch television, unless I'm at a hotel or something. That's right, folks. Every four years. That's why I never know about those commercials you're trying to tell me about.

I'm not even super patriotic about it. I just love the speed and the grace. I love the international spirit. I don't know why I like it better than the summer games.

And, in an awkward segue to another of my current preoccupations:
Do you know what I do? I teach. I teach math and science to fifth grade students in a school with tremendous transiency, poverty and language acquisition challenges.

That takes about half of my day. The rest of the time, I spend in other classes k-5, observing science lessons, coaching the teachers in setting objectives, providing timely and targeted feedback, and promoting literacy-rich hands-on science instruction. I design regional science instruction trainings, I supervise our graduate fellow's work in the building, I coordinate the collaboration of our building with the local nature and science museum. I order the organisms that are part of our curriculum. I conduct action research to establish the strong correlation between relevant, authentic science writing to achievement in literacy and math. I supervise a student teacher. I develop programming to contribute to our status as a biomedical pathway school.

How in the HELL did I get here from a degree in theater? Who knows... even my advanced education degree is in creative arts. But I make this pedagogy coaching job work. It's extremely fulfilling. I know it's the right thing to do for our students, and I know it will open up possibilities for them.

Here is a fifth grade notebook entry: (if it interests you at all, you can click to enlarge...)



1 comment:

Angela said...

Your fifth grader knows waaaay more than I do about science.

Yes, you've made a giant leap from your degree to your current position, but those kids are lucky to have you. Am I repeating myself?