Ms. Vanhala's Science Site

My science teaching mission statement:

To inspire my learners to love learning, to continually ask questions, and to think critically about the world around them.

In my class, teaching is interactive and collaborative rather than didactic. This means that learners are very much responsible for their own learning and spend a lot of time working with their lab groups in activities designed to guide them to their own conclusions and understanding. They are creating their own knowledge and discovering science authentically on a daily basis. Although traditional lecture and notes might feel more familiar and comfortable to some (and we will still do that from time to time!), skills such as collaboration, communication, and creative thinking are even more important than rote memorization and regurgitation. Therefore, my classroom is designed to give learners hands-on experiences so that they feel comfortable using these skills on a daily basis as they engage in science practices (as outlined by the new Next Generation Science Standards) just as real scientists would.

My ultimate goal by the end of the year is for learners to leave my class not only with some knowledge of science, but (more importantly!) with the ability to think for themselves.