The KF Institute was a great experience for me. One of the biggest pieces of knowledge that I have pulled away from these sessions is the importance of making connections. Most of the people who presented took their time to build connections with local businesses, educational organizations, and other members of the community. This gave me great ideas on places to partner with for my classroom and also great places to get grants and sponsorships for different classroom activities. This was a great experience with lifelong impacts on my classroom teaching.

With the growth of technology in the world we see it constantly creeping into our classroom. Many districts are concerned that this is allowing the “outside world” into the classroom. On the other hand, some districts are embracing this advance in technology and are incorporating it into the classrooms.

In my opinion, the reasons some districts have such a huge problem with social media in the classroom is they are not prepared to take on this new level of technology. I do think there are some districts that are being too liberal with the restrictions kids have on accessing certain websites at school. I do not see a problem with using websites like Edmodo or certain blog websites as long as they are protected and do not allow outsiders to view or joining the groups without codes. I do not see a need for students to have access to Facebook in a classroom. i do see this becoming more of a chance for students to socialize versus them using it for educational purposes. As I’ve stated in previous posts, we have to be careful how much technology we allow in the classroom. Technology should never replace authentic teaching. Students need to have face to face interaction in the classroom, not with headphones on and communicating through a posts. There are appropriate times for this type of technology to be used but there also needs to be limits.

Some people may wonder how my research with Salmonella and crushing livers and spleens of mice could influence and even change a part of my teaching. Believe it or not there are many things I have now considered “tweaking” this year based off of my internship experience.

The biggest change I see for me is making sure my students realize how much science affects their everyday lives and even their own bodies. I have seen myself making way more connections of my lessons to how they personally impact my students. I think this stems from this summer in realizing how important research and proper food preparation is essential to me. Many of my students in the past have never seen the connection science has to them. I have made it my mission to somehow connect many of my lessons directly back to how it could have an impact on them. For example, as I taught my virus and bacteria lessons I made sure students fully understood how a virus can attack their immune systems and the importance of getting vaccines and antibiotics when a bacteria is present in their body.

I also spent  more time teaching them how not all bacteria is harmful. Many of my students thought all bacteria is bad. I made sure to debunk that myth this year by making yogurt with them to show how good bacteria is found in our foods and it is important to make sure we replenish the good bacteria in our bodies especially when we are on antibiotics.

I do think the internship has affected how i approach and teach certain topics this year and I do see this continuing to happen in the upcoming units.

As I prepare for the upcoming school year I am constantly thinking of how to tie my experience from the summer into my classroom. I honestly think my students will be interested in my experience from the simple fact they most of them eat chicken and everything disgusting smelly and hands-on is of high interest to middle schoolers. I think my students will learn a great deal about how microbiology is part of their everyday lives. They will also make the connections about all the career choices there are in the micro field and hopefully spark some interest for some of them. I think my students will want to learn even more about what microbes are found in the food they eat as well as the microbes in their own body. This is a great way to tie the research from the summer right back to their own personal selves. As well all know middle schoolers will be interested….if it is about them!

Here’s to a great micro-filled year!!!

 I feel like there has actually been more “hmmm…..” moments for me this summer than “Ah-Ha!” moments. I have learned a great deal this summer about chickens, salmonella, technology, and just how teachers with vast backgrounds try to come to the same consensus on something. More of my thought provoking moments have come more from the interaction with my other colleagues on the project. Some are directly related to our work with NC State here’s a few of those hmmm….moments

1. Chickens can have salmonella and not be affected. However, we as humans become extremely sick when it enters our body.

2. Math actually matters….I’ve used way more math in the micro. lab than I ever thought I would need to.

3. Poop will find its way into every conversation….especially if you’re working with chicken poop all summer.

4. Lauren and I will find anyway to make Kenan Fellows fund our fake wedding.

5. Teachers will do anything for sweets

6 There is no sex in the Champaign room…..don’t ask….

7. I am not a curriculum writer…..that’s what they tell me…..

8. When you break a fancy piece of science equipment no matter how great of a story you come up with they will know you are lying.

9. Thanks to Whit I know now which beers I prefer to drink….

10. There are some pretty amazing teachers across the state…thank God most of them were put in my group to put up with me!!

Well….there’s my ah.hah moments….yea…..it’s been a LOOOONGG summer….

 I can honestly say that Common Core and NC Essential Standards is definitely pushing for more technology to be used in the classroom. However, the problem comes to finding the time and the resources to implement this increase of technology. Like I have stated in other blog posts, technology is great….when it works and it is used effectively. I am still very old school and prefer a real hands-on lab to an online simulation. I will say that by using more technology doe increase a child’s awareness to the world around them that they might not be able to physically visit or be a part of. I do see a great deal of teachers trying to incorporate more technology into their curriculum to “meet standards” or to get that dreaded box checked off their evaluation form. However, are we really using technology to benefit the student or are we using it to please the Education Gods?

This is where I struggle with the “increase” of technology use because of the new standards. There needs to be a happy medium. Technology needs to be used as another way of collaboration and imagination for students….not a new form of an “electronic worksheet” to keep them busy and quiet.

Many people might wonder how in the world do you make the connection of chickens, salmonella, and poop to the 8th grade science curriculum. Believe it or not there are tons of ways to pull my externship into my classroom. A big part of the science standards for 8th grade is about microbiology. From this summer experience I will be able to give even more real-world examples of how microbes are found everywhere in the world. I will use my experience testing for salmonella to show my students the importance of food safety and also explain the difference between good vs bad microbes. This will also lead into great discussion about immunity. One thing I learned is that chickens are not affected by having salmonella in them; however, humans can become extremely ill when we come in contact with it. I will also connect the different career paths students could one day go into to learn and understand more about microbes and how they are a part of our everyday lives. The big connection my students will make from this project is that microbes are everywhere from our water to the tiny pores on our skin…..which is quite amazing if you ask me! 

There are numerous ways to connect this project to my classroom. Students will definitely get a better insight of the microbes that are all around them to the potential careers they could go into to learn more about microbiology.

 I have always said technology is great…..when it works!

As great as technology is I do believe there should be limits to how it is used. This is one of my many soap boxes in education. I teach science and I do a great amount of labs in my classroom. I have seen teachers in my own school who have limited doing labs in their classroom because they have found an online activity that does the same as the actual lab. This is where I have a problem with technology. There is nothing like actually touching the glassware, physically mixing liquids together and watching a reaction take place and spill over your lab area…..that’s true science! Don’t get me wrong, there are some great online lab simulations that are useful when certain lab equipment is way too expensive to own in a regular classroom, however, if a REAL lab can be done then there should be no replacements for it.

One of the biggest challenges I face when using technology is finding the time to actually sit down and learn how to use new programs/apps that are useful in the classroom. We are so paced out and swamped as it is that finding the time to explore these new programs becomes tough. Also, in my classroom I run into the problem of students coming in on all different levels with their technology experience. I have students who fly right through a technology geared activity because they spend hours a day using it and then I have students who literally struggle turning the computer on. If all my students were on the same playing field when it came to using technology it would definitely make incorporating it easier.

 There was definitely a great deal of “memorable moments” from the NCCAT retreat. From the technology standoff….racing down the rapids…the interesting food choices…and the great conversations on the patio memorable moments were being created every minute.

Honestly, the two events that stick out to me the most during our week at NCCAT was the white water experience and the great conversations that took place on the patio of where we stayed.

This was the first time I had been rafting. I will admit, I was not sure what I was about to get myself into. It turned out to be an amazing experience and I can’t wait to do it again. My raft was filled with some awesome people to travel down the river with. We laughed and shared stories as we traveled. Oh…and saved a child and a stranded raft….all in a day’s work. It was great to communicate with the Kenan Fellows group outside of the formal setting.

I also really enjoyed just the “patio conversations” that I had with the other fellows in the evenings. It was great sitting around sharing stories and bouncing ideas for projects. Great conversation took place between us “newbie” teachers and the teachers who had been in the battle field a little longer. To me this is when you can really learn and grow professionally. I think I got more ideas and more inspiration with the informal conversations than sitting in the meeting room. I guess we all learn and connect differently! I hope there will be more chances in the future to have these amazing conversations with my fellow colleagues.

I can honestly say this has to be one of the biggest projects I have became a part of since I have started teaching. I am left with a ton of questions of about what is the direction we are heading….what is the outcome of this project…and which mentor do I ask certain questions to.

I hope to gain a better understanding of microbiology and have a better way of teaching the subject to my students. I will be honest, the micro unit is probably my least favorite to teach. This is why I was so intrigued with the Eggstatic project. I’m hoping to gain a new insight and “spark” to teaching micro where my students will also find an interest of the subject.