September 22nd, 2024
Dear Students,
I want to take up some space to share about my teaching methods. I had a student let me know that he just doesn’t understand my class. He was hesitant to say this, as he felt as though he was an “asker of stupid questions.” The reflection I did as a result of his inquiry was wildly eye-opening for me in a number of ways.
First, I feel an incredible urge to quote Albert Einstein: "Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think."
There are many science basics that students need to learn, and I am here to teach them. Knowledge of these foundational elements is important in the real world, and for moving into new realms.
I believe that science isn't just a collection of facts you read in a textbook or memorize for a test. Science is alive. It's full of questions, mysteries, and even mistakes that lead to incredible discoveries.
My job isn't focused entirely on giving you answers, but to help you ask better questions, to challenge what you think you know, and to think critically about the world around you.
I’m not here just to prepare you for the next exam; I’m here to help you see the universe in new ways, to understand the unseen forces shaping everything from the tiniest particles to the largest galaxies.
You might notice that in this classroom, we don’t stick to the usual script. We explore ideas together, debate, experiment, and sometimes fail.
Questioning, failing, and feelings of confusion are steps toward discovering and understanding, toward figuring out how and why things work. That’s the mindset I want you to embrace - push against what’s comfortable, ask questions no one else is asking, and be unafraid to try a new path.
I’m not interested in you simply knowing more; I want you to discover different ways to think. That means taking risks in your learning, digging deeper than the textbook, and engaging with science as the dynamic and thrilling process that it is. You might find this approach uncomfortable at first, but that’s okay—discomfort is a sign that you’re growing.
My go-to for the dreaded question "how would you describe yourself in one word?" is "curious." It always has been and always will be.
I opened with an Einstein quote, and I'm going to close on one as well: "I have no special talents. I am just passionately curious." - Albert Einstein.
Sincerely,
Your Friendly Neighborhood Teacher
Dear Students,
I want to take up some space to share about my teaching methods. I had a student let me know that he just doesn’t understand my class. He was hesitant to say this, as he felt as though he was an “asker of stupid questions.” The reflection I did as a result of his inquiry was wildly eye-opening for me in a number of ways.
First, I feel an incredible urge to quote Albert Einstein: "Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think."
There are many science basics that students need to learn, and I am here to teach them. Knowledge of these foundational elements is important in the real world, and for moving into new realms.
I believe that science isn't just a collection of facts you read in a textbook or memorize for a test. Science is alive. It's full of questions, mysteries, and even mistakes that lead to incredible discoveries.
My job isn't focused entirely on giving you answers, but to help you ask better questions, to challenge what you think you know, and to think critically about the world around you.
I’m not here just to prepare you for the next exam; I’m here to help you see the universe in new ways, to understand the unseen forces shaping everything from the tiniest particles to the largest galaxies.
You might notice that in this classroom, we don’t stick to the usual script. We explore ideas together, debate, experiment, and sometimes fail.
Questioning, failing, and feelings of confusion are steps toward discovering and understanding, toward figuring out how and why things work. That’s the mindset I want you to embrace - push against what’s comfortable, ask questions no one else is asking, and be unafraid to try a new path.
I’m not interested in you simply knowing more; I want you to discover different ways to think. That means taking risks in your learning, digging deeper than the textbook, and engaging with science as the dynamic and thrilling process that it is. You might find this approach uncomfortable at first, but that’s okay—discomfort is a sign that you’re growing.
My go-to for the dreaded question "how would you describe yourself in one word?" is "curious." It always has been and always will be.
I opened with an Einstein quote, and I'm going to close on one as well: "I have no special talents. I am just passionately curious." - Albert Einstein.
Sincerely,
Your Friendly Neighborhood Teacher