Drawing in College? Who knew

"On the first day of my Junior year of college, I was given markers and a piece of paper and asked to draw a scientist." I never thought I would say those words, but, yes, that is just what I did. I cringed a little because I am a terrible drawer. I work at Bishop Dunn, in the after school program, and I get made fun of by 2nd and 3rd graders on a daily basis of how terrible a drawer I am. Given the said materials, we were asked to draw our version of a scientist. After we completed our master pieces, we were able to walk around and view our peers' work. It was a very fun activity, and many of our scientists shared similar characteristics. Many had goggles/glasses on, lab coats, and crazy hair.

I feel like many, not all, of my past science teachers fit the description of the scientists that I drew. Especially, Professor Schraldi, my drawing's namesake. He had this crazy hair, and these big glasses he would wear. He had a lab coat on all the time, even if we were just taken a test, and he genuinely enjoyed science and all of it's aspects. He was definitely a positive figure when looking back on my science career.

This was a great activity, and I believe you could use this with not only science and scientists, but many other subject areas. Its a great way to see into a young student's mind, and to get a better look at their interpretations as a whole.

First Day: Check!

Our first day is finished, and I am just how I thought I would be, overwhelmed! But, following my past post advice, I am taking it all in and will keep going. My mom's advice on every first day of school was, "Be like a sponge, take it all in." So of course, I did just that. Listened to everything, and let all details, small and big, seep in. Unfortunately, I still felt lost when I sat down in my dorm trying to process it all. 

Most first days go the same, syllabus, rules, expectations, and outcomes, but not in this course! On the first day we went right into learning, which I enjoyed! We started out with a "What's in the bag?" mystery game. Unknowingly we began using the scientific method to try and guess what was in the bag. Each student was given a chance to hold the bag and then make an inquiry of what could be a possible item in the bag. I think it was a very fun way of introducing a new topic to the class, and this is definitely something I will keep in mind for my future class.

Science and I have always had a love/hate relationship. Loved it in elementary school because of the hands on activities, hated it in middle school due to the courses I were required to take, and loved it in the later years of high school due to the fact that I was able to choose the course I took. Videos like the below one are the parts of science I love, and find so interesting! Its not something you can read in a textbook, its the hands on activities that I believe can help students learn.

My goal is to learn to love science, and become a better teacher of science! I want to become much more technically advance, and I know I will do so in this course.

Pre-Adventure: Newness, Nerves, & Navagation!

So, the anticipation is building to the new semester! This will be, by far, my hardest semester. That being said, I am a bag of mixed emotions! Hence, this post's name! I know I have been in tough situations before, but I have learned to deal with the newness and nerves, and navigate through those feelings to get to the positive outcome. I think this action can be used for any of life's situations. Each event that occurs in our life is something that will change us in the future. Using those negative feelings such as nerves of the newness to power through can help to navigate the "unchartered waters." So, for this extremely difficult semester, that will be my goal. Little by little, I take the good and the bad, and get through it, knowing I will come out a better and more capable person on the other side.