Danielle Baker TSP: Fall 2002

1
Danielle BakerTSP Fall 2002

• Mentor Teacher
• Maria Esquivel
• Allison Elementary, 6th Grade

2
Overview

• First experience with the Teaching Scholars
  Program
• Was assigned to Allison Elementary
• Taught various aspects of biology to 6th graders

3
Great Expectations

• I was very unsure as to what to expect going into
  the classroomits been a long time since Ive
  been in 6th grade
• First time working with children
• I expected the basics

4

• Such as
• The kids would be excited about learning biology
• Every child would have a textbook
• The children would be relatively close in their
  respective learning abilities

5

• Ms. Esquivel to be strict concerning the
  curriculum presented since this was my first
  teaching experience with elementary children
• I hoped to gain valuable real-life teaching
  experience while at the same time convince each
  student they just had to study biology

6
What I Got

• An eye-opening experience
• The children were very receptive to learning
  biology
• Ms. Esquivel was very lenient in allowing me to
  teach whatever topics I wished
• No formal syllabus was in place

7

• However, the range of learning abilities was very
  widespread
• Presented new challenges
• Reading comprehension levels ranged from 2nd
  grade to 6th grade in the group of students I
  worked with
• I had to try to figure out how to present the
  material in a method that everyone would
  understand, yet still allow them to learn
• The students did not have textbooks

8
Plan Of Attack

• So, what to do?
• In preparing lessons, I created information
  sheets pertaining to the subject being taught
  that day.
• If gathering data, included data sheets as well
• Were for students to keep and study

9

• Periodically assigned homework so they could
  reflect on the days lesson
• Tried to pick lessons they would find interesting
• Asked what they wanted to study

10
The Lessons

• Insect collection
• Were currently studying entomology when I began
  going to Allison
• I began by teaching a short unit on entomology

11
EntomologyBugs Galore!

• Insect anatomy
• Characteristics specific to that species
• Specialized adaptations of insects to allow for
  survival
• Types of insects
• How to catch insects
• Methods for preserving and displaying insects

12
Building Blocks Of Life

• Basic cellular vocabulary
• Animal vs. Plant cells
• Construction of both plant and animal cells via
  diagrams
• Actual construction via 3-D jell-o model of plant
  and animal cells

13
Do You Hear What I Hear?

• Structure of the human ear
• Process by which we hear
• Model of the eardrum and demonstration of being
  sensitive to different frequencies of sound
• If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around
  to hear it, does it make a noise?

14
Mmmmm, Jelly Bellies

• Basic anatomy of the tongue
• How we taste
• Does smell affect taste?
• Scientific method to determine the answer

15
Math/Science Showcase

• Kids made inventions for Invent Austin
• Gained experience in presenting to an audience
• Saw examples of older students work
• A great time was had by all!

16
Almost To the End

• Teachers have too many other responsibilities not
  related to teaching
• Teachers too often have to teach to standardized
  tests, leaving out other valuable subjects
• Funds are not equally distributed throughout
  school districts
• Teaching is not easy

17

• On a more positive note
• You dont have to be at the top of your class to
  develop an appreciation for science
• The kids were excited to learn
• By using your imagination, you are not limited in
  what you can teach
• Children really do listen at such a young age