Recalling a moment I was asked to teach science – I balked a bit at first. If you have known me for a long time, I always have felt uneasy about my experience with Math and as a result, nervous about the connection from Math to Science due to my past experience; not to say I do not LOVE environmental science, but there has always been a threshold where I have stopped. That is a blog post that will need writing later.
Being asked to take over a topic without preparation, as an English teacher where I remember mornings where I showed up without the advantage of preparing ahead, ironically some of the best lessons I had ever had were the result of last minute, spontaneous reaction from both educator and student. That is definitely a mindset and sends a message of what mental look we need to keep in check when planning lessons ahead (that make me feel more prepared) but also maintaining the spontaneity that keeps lessons alive to those that often feel they are unsuited for anything school-related.
Focusing back on Microplastics-
Microplastics are everywhere | Sarah Dudas | TEDxBinghamtonUniversity
we stopped this periodically to discuss what ideas they had that related to modern day solutions to items we think we are recycling and actually not.
The alarm for many is what we did not know when plastic started being used in the 1950’s, and realizing now, plastic is EVERYWHERE.
I mean everywhere (including in US).
Yep. Even there for men- https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/05/22/1252831827/microplastics-testicles-humans-health
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And how it affects us – health wise.
Having these frank conversations now, changed alot of the topics we thought we would take- and we began to indeed discuss what items as home we could replace from plastic to another form.
Also discussing how student today can pose questions, form a hypothesis, and find a conclusion and solution to problems that did not exist (or know that existed) when we were growing up- a frame takes place to students that work in vocational, technical, apprenticeships AND those planning to college.
As I work through different phases of how to involve students from all backgrounds, interests, and experiences, I am finding challenging and being spontaneous in not only our thinking, but our planning, will be the solutions we actually seek to find. Which let me to the snotbot podcast.
From this amazing podcast it is so true in asking and needing students to think of solutions to what we consider normal standards.
So much is connected, as I always say especially when we do not see how so much is connected, as long as we are willing to keep an open mind to all, whether we feel we are fit for something. Giving everything a chance, especially that advice directed to adults, makes all the difference.
PAVEing a Blog 