Today’s takeaway: Reflect on your actions and make a plan of action to improve: here’s mine based on my fellowship thus far.

One of the best things about teaching is the opportunity to start over each year. In what other profession do you have a fresh slate every August? In my time at Bayer Crop, I’ve already identified some things that will change the way I teach this year.

My Outlook:

*It may sound silly, but when I was growing up, I thought being a scientist wasn’t a real career opportunity. I thought it was the academic equivalent of wanting to be Spiderman.  Now that I have met so many scientists, I want to encourage my kids to view STEM careers (particularly research and development) as legitimate career opportunities. I am brainstorming ways to help students who do not fit the stereotype to see themselves as scientists. I liked the Students Discover shirts that said “This is what a scientist looks like.” I do not have a distinct plan of action for addressing this issue, but I am working on it. I like the title “Labs to Lockers.”

New  Possibilities:

*I have really enjoyed the professional development on “Getting Your Voice Heard With Legislators.” The political maze can be overwhelming, but I have some simple, yet effective, tools to begin this process. I plan to contact my NCGA members very soon.

What Will I Do Differently:

*This year I want to teach concepts and attach the real-world application to it. For example, when we did the strawberry DNA extraction last week, my students and I discussed forensics and genetically modified foods as practical applications of the experiment.

Affirming My Ideals:

*I love my job and take it very seriously. The Kenan Fellowship has fed that fire.  Sometimes I am afraid of burnout, but I have reassured myself that participating in opportunities like this will strengthen a long and happy career. In this post’s visual, you will see data showing a decline in teacher education programs across the state. The political causes are obvious, but I do believe this field is valuable and worth pursuing, even when it is not popular.