Do what I like to call taking the ‘temperature’ of the class as students enter the room each day. No, I don’t mean that you should literally measure their bodily temperature as they walk in (thank you COVID for that flashback to the 2020-2021 school year).
I am a science teacher. If you would have asked me 5 years ago.. okay, even 3 years ago if I would ever consider teaching math, I would have laughed! But, things change, and it’s amazing what new things you will consider when doing what is best for your family demands it. Today, yes, I…
I love to share about small town America, and about how many opportunities are available to those who live there, even if those opportunities aren’t immediately obvious. In June of 2023, I was invited to speak on the Voices From the Field Panel at the NSF Noyce Summit with 5 other Noyce Fellow teachers. We…
I was a shy child. I remember feeling incredibly frustrated with myself whenever someone would try to talk to me because instantly my tongue would feel as though it was stuck to the bottom of my mouth and I could only mumble a few words quiet filled with spoonerisms (e.g. a chy shild rather than…
Congratulations! Diploma in hand and certifications acquired, you are ready to step into your own classroom! It is a scary but exciting time, and it can be hard to know where to start. Here are some tips to help you establish a positive and effective learning environment: Build Positive Relationships Take the time to get…
Depending on who you ask or which search engine result you click on, I’m either the youngest of the Millennials or the oldest of the Gen Z. I wore Soffe shorts and danced to Soulja Boy. I got my first cell phone (a turquoise LG Scoop) for my birthday in 8th grade, only a few…
The summer has hardly begun, and I plan to enjoy it immensely, yet I’m looking forward to the fall and start of the school year. Here are five things I’m doing this summer to prepare for back to school season: Building Relationships Living in a small community, there are plenty of opportunities to build positive…
This summer, I was nominated for, and accepted to speak on a panel of teachers on the Voices From the Field panel at the 2023 Noyce Summit in Washington, D.C.
The Small Town STEM Teacher 