I need to bring cutting edge Chemistry Pedagogy to my students.
$1,469 goal
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
The students who show up to my Geology and Chemistry classroom each fall bring a wonderful range of experience and aspiration. Most of them say they want to be successful, but they're unsure what that looks like up close. Their families have sacrificed to create opportunities for the next generation.
For many they are the first in their families to break new ground by taking rigorous science and math courses.
Success in these classes will open doors to college and professional careers, impacting the lives of entire communities. Mindful of this, I am always looking for ways to help my students take their learning to the next level.
My students succeed when they can take SCIENCE down off the shelf and get their hands on it. I strive to make my classroom a place where students learn by doing. When this works well I witness students gain a deeper level of understanding, make a connection to their own lives, and create the opportunities of which their families dream.
My Project
In June of 2013 I attend 2 week Chemistry modeling workshop taught by the American Modeling Teachers Association. This way of teaching science guides students through a carefully selected series of hands-on lab experiences, designed to allow students to discover for themselves the underlying principles that drive the world around us.
The depth and rigor of the workshop delighted me and I knew this way of teaching would bring science to life for my students.
For example, we used Vernier probeware to measure the pressure and volume of gas samples, and then we plotted our class data on a large whiteboard. With the addition of each new point a pattern emerged. We could see that as volume decreased, pressure increased by a predictable amount. We saw with our own eyes the inverse relationship between gas pressure and volume. This seemingly simple technique has made a huge difference in helping my students to see patterns and to understand what's driving the relationships between different variables.
My students deserve to take Advanced Placement chemistry in an environment where they can thrive and be successful. The foundation I got from taking the first workshop is a great starting point to build from. By doing the Chemistry 2 workshop this summer I will be gain the additional insights and expertise I need to create and teach an Advanced Placement Chemistry course designed for student success.
The modeling approach is especially helpful for students who have struggled with mathematics. By providing a hands-on approach to learning students understand the relationships behind the phenomena. This helps them to perform calculations with clarity and confidence.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Fort and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
