We have finished the move and completed my first full week in a new school and new state.  I have ended up in Troy, NY for those of you were still wondering where the decision would take us.  With the new move to a completely different state, one thing still remains the same:  “kids are kids no matter where you go”.  My externship reemphasized one really important thing that applies anywhere you are dealing with young minds and science.  You have to give them a chance to touch, feel and experience in order to get their aha.

Even though we as educators, especially at the secondary level, struggle with getting to the content and sometimes forgetting to slow down and allow for those personal experiences, that many times is the most important thing.  I have found that in my new environment, kids will always need to experience science, not just listen to me or read it out of a book.  This past summer the 10 kids that got to experience all the different aspects of engineering had a different aha everyday.  They got the chance to experience things by doing and witnessing first hand versus reading about it or watching it on TV.  For any student young and old, that is probably the most important hook to pull all the concepts together.

So after all the things I got to do and see with the kids and their aha moments, that leads to my aha from the externship.  Don’t forget to give students a chance to manipulate and experience something.