Tag: KFP

My experience with LORD, working in the labs has been one that I will never forget. I wouldn’t have ever guessed that I could learn so much in such a short amount of time. When I first started at LORD, I was overwhelmed with the information, technology, and resources in front of me. I sort of felt like there was so much technical stuff that there was no way I was going to be able to make this experience applicable to 4th grade and other elementary grade curriculum.

But luckily for me, my mentor had such a simple yet loaded idea for me. Variables.

Once we started talking about how variables affect so many things, from science to day-to-day life, my mind began bubbling with ideas! Then the problem went from no ideas to too many ideas. I had to snap myself back to reality and think about what sort of lessons and projects were achievable in my short time. I began working intently in the lab and learning about how my epoxy adhesive could be affected by so many different variables. I could have gone down a rabbit hole with all of the different variables!

When I started to think about classroom applications for variables and curriculum connections, my mind went to slime, literally. Then I had to figure out how to take slime and make it a learning experience. Magnets! Part of the 4th grade science curriculum deals with magnets. Then magnet slime and its variations came to mind. I was so excited to be able to take challenges that scientists face everyday and allow my students to experience that as well as formulate a love of STEM.

I have had an incredible time at the KFP Summer Institute! The amount of useful information that I have gained is insane. I normally walk away from PD with a few ideas that I may or may not be able to easily put into action in my classroom. After this week at NCCAT, I am excited for the new school year to implement all of the amazing ideas that I have gotten. Plus, white water rafting was pretty awesome to do too!

The biggest thing that I plan to implement in my classroom isn’t a tangible thing or some cool app (although I plan to use plenty of those too!). I am going to implement my brand in the decisions that I make in my classroom. I feel as if I’ve been struggling to find my identity as a teacher. But I have a new sense of direction for my classroom that I am excited to put into action! By keeping my brand: Welcoming. Dynamic. Life Long Learning. in mind, I will have a clear direction with the decisions I make for and in my classroom.

I have a renewed sense of purpose for teaching after my time in the Summer Institute. Usually PD is a break from the everyday hustle and bustle of the classroom. There isn’t always some big take away that I can pinpoint and I don’t feel as if my perspective is always valued at other PD. However, this week I have felt important and that I have a say in what I am absorbing and taking back to my school community. I am excited to see where this experience plus my externship with LORD takes me as an educator!