Month: July 2016

When I first started the internship I wasn’t 100% sure exactly what I was going to do or how I was going to do it. All I knew for sure is that I was going to get this amazing opportunity and find a way to incorporate it into my classroom. Once I got there and really dove in with my team, our goals became more clear. We decided that we were going to create three lesson plans using eMammal, but do it as a team.

In previous years, fellows had decided to create individual lesson plans, but we really liked the idea of taking one lesson plan and making it work for a variety of grade levels. I loved working with Nicole and Lena, it seemed like each day more amazing ideas would pop into our heads on how this would work for elementary and if we switched this it would work for middle school. I’ve never enjoyed working on a team more than I did with these two ladies. I swear the ideas just kept flowing and everyone was jumping in, making the lesson plans better each day.

My group experienced really made me think about how my kids must feel when I place them into a group. From the initial anxiety of “Oh no, I may have to do this all on my own” to delegating responsibility and finally a joyous high five when everything works out in the end. I really can’t wait to share with my kids this process to let them know I understand where they are coming from, but also to let them know how amazing a group can be. I’ve also decided to give them a chance to share their thoughts after a group project. Here’s to getting them to their own high five moments!

I am a brand new lateral entry teacher having just finished up my first year this past June. I teach eighth grade science at Woodlawn Middle School in Mebane, NC. Since I was a first year teacher I didn’t really know what to expect. I feel like I remember my eighth grade year as the first year I really got to dive into the hands-on aspect of science. When I got to my classroom I realized that my particular school didn’t have a lot of funding or the tools necessary to be super hands-on, so my team teacher and I decided to take it on ourselves. We would purchase supplies and figure out new and creative ways for the kids to have a science experience. That is why I wanted to become a Kenan. I really wanted my kids to have an experience that took them outside their eighth grade box and placed them into real life science. My goal of the internship is to get the kids excited about the possibilities science has to offer them. I am excited to see how eMammal might change their view of animals, research, and science in general.the 2016-2017 eMammal team