Subject Matter Knowledge
One's knowledge of the subject matter is the foundation upon which all teaching depends. The importance of a strong academic foundation cannot be understated. In order to teach a concept, one needs to have a full and complete understanding of the topic. For instance, if I were to give a lesson on the impact of natural disasters on ecosystems, I would need to fully understand how different natural disasters occur and the short and long-term effects of those disasters on various ecosystems before even beginning to plan the lesson. Already having this knowledge through a strong academic background was one of my greatest assets throughout my student teaching. Rather than spending my time researching the content I needed to teach, I was often able to jump straight into planning with some minor fact-checking. Additionally, whenever students asked questions that went deeper into the content or strayed far into other realms of science, I was usually able to give them a factual answer and explanation instead of directing them to look for answers elsewhere. This helped support their natural curiosity and engagement with science as they were able to receive answers for the questions they cared about. [6]
This lesson on natural disasters showcases the benefits of having a strong knowledge of the subject matter and related content. By connecting the concept of ecological disturbances to current events which many students were familiar with, students were more engaged in the lesson. Additionally, my background knowledge of ecology and fire management techniques allowed me to answer any questions that students asked and lead deeper conversations on the impact of wildfires that went beyond what the standards required, but inspired students' interest in the topic.