Interviews with Teachers

While interviewing teachers about their philosophies of teaching science, a comment was made that has stuck with me. One of the teachers said he liked to teach science because it was a great equalizer. When I asked him to explain what he meant he went on to say that even children that weren’t good in language arts or math could enjoy and do well in science. He believes science should be enjoyable for everyone and that everyone has something to contribute to a scientific process. Sometimes he has to look very hard but he can always find talents and skills in even his most difficult students. It gives him great pleasure to see those “ah-ha” expressions on students faces. He experiences those moments less with older students because they are more concerned with “coolness”, but it still happens.
When I asked him how his philosophies developed, he said he came with them. He has been experiencing science from before he could remember and believes everyone is a scientist at heart. I agree. I think we are experimenting all the time, trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t in this life. Just because we don’t consciously follow a “scientific method” per se, doesn’t mean we aren’t systematically learning and modifying future outcomes according to current results.
Another teacher said her philosophy of teaching science is constantly evolving. Every year she learns something new about teaching science. Her current philosophy includes helping students get information from textbooks. Although she believes science should be hands on and support the constructivist theory, she also believes students will benefit from being able to interpret and apply written material. She finds that when she plans lessons according to the inquiry method only a portion of the students understand the intended learning outcome. Whereas, when she specifically instructs using the textbook and a lecture method, a higher percentage of the students understand the material.
The last teacher I interviewed told me that she developed her teaching philosophy after raising her own children. She knows that she would not have been an effective teacher right out of college, but that the experience of motherhood prepared her for what she loves to do now. Her classroom is a safe place to learn, where students are comfortable exploring what they know and don’t know. She believes that if she doesn’t enjoy something, chances are the students won’t either. She also believes that science has to be fun in order to capture students’ attention and keep it for the learning period. Her attitude has a lot to do with making science fun in the classroom. She sees herself as a performer on a stage, always seeking ways to draw attention to what she is trying to do and make it as entertaining as possible.
I think if I interviewed a hundred teachers, I would get a hundred different philosophies for teaching science, my own included in the diversity. I believe teaching science should be fun, student motivated, academic and fulfilling. I don’t know that I want to be a stage performer, but I think I would even do that if it worked and I could get the “ah-ha” moments with my students. I don’t know yet what will and will not work with my personality, but I hope I don’t mess up too many students in trying to figure it out.