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Writing Down Words I Know I’ll Erase
The classical Christian school at which I teach meets in the lower level of a church. Each classroom is equipped with a white board and markers, a few important office supplies, and shelves filled with books. We use technology in our classrooms as little as possible, so I spend my classes writing information on the white board. My favorite time to do this is when the students have recently cleaned the white boards. I love to fill that white, empty, shiny space with words–definitions, classifications, descriptions, and diagrams with labels. I do, however, know that as soon as class is over, I’ll have to erase my words so the next…
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How to Do a Nature Study with a Grammar School Class
The lead teacher at the Classical Christian school I teach at asked me if I could talk with some of the grammar school teachers about how to do a nature study with their students. As a way to sort out my thoughts, I decided to write this article. Here’s how I would do a nature study with a grammar school class. In the Classroom Nature study begins in the classroom, reading books about the natural world to your students and giving them ample time to ask questions. You can choose 6-8 books to cycle through during the year. The books you choose must correspond to something you can actually go…
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School-Year Endings and My Summer Plans
The school year ended last week, and now I'm thinking about summer. I have so many ideas about what I'd like to accomplish, Lord willing. What are you planning to do this summer?
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Welcome to My Classes, Where Music and Science Unite {New Music Monday}
Have you ever wondered what a song about Mendelian genetics or combustion might sound like? Well, wonder no more. I present to you two songs I wrote for my science classes: one about the four principles behind Mendelian genetics, and the other about the process of combustion. The Four Principles of Mendelian Genetics The lyrics for this song come directly from the Apologia Biology textbook, 2nd edition (you can purchase the 3rd edition here.) Dr. Wile took the older language of Gregor Mendel’s four principles and updated it to fit our modern English. I enjoyed trying to take prose and turn it into song, and then trying to get my…
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Three Interesting Articles for Science Classes
In my science classes, I like to begin class each Friday by discussing science in the news. I found my first three articles–one for Biology, one for Chemistry, and one for General Science–on World Magazine’s website under the category “Science & Tech.” I chose this article, about scientists cloning a black-footed ferret, for my Biology class. Right now, we’re discussing Mendelian genetics and DNA. I thought this article might generate some interesting classroom discussions, especially about the ethics behind cloning and how we can view cloning from a Christian worldview. I chose this article for my Chemistry class. The article isn’t really related to Chemistry (although we might end up…