What Do The In-Person Classes Include?

Each class with a review of the assigned chapter or topic. Sometimes students will present prepared summaries to the class. 

Occasionally, we play a review game to help students remember the material.

After our review time, we spend time answering chapter questions. The review and discussion usually takes about half of our class time. 

The second half of our class is set aside to complete an activity or conduct an experiment related to our topic. 

When time and weather permit, we allow 10-15 minutes of free-time at the end of class (if all our activities are completed in time)

Learning often comes from teaching. This is why in all of my classes, I encourage students to prepare and teach portions of the text to each other. 

Each year, I work create a list of books students can read at home. I encourage all students to read books based on their interest (and students can earn class points for extra reading as well). 

One of the things my students look forward to are class activities and parties. 

I usually plan a few class field trips based off interest and the topic covered for the school. year. Past activities include: going to the mountains with a telescope to look at the moon and constellations, a trip to the University of Utah earthquake lab, an escape room activity, and a trip to Timpanogas caves. 

I also like to bring nature journaling, coloring books, poetry, and song writing into our classes. I've found that when I give opportunities for more creativity, my students surprise me in their abilities. 

 In high school, I do have tests and quizzes. As a college grad, I feel strongly that students need to be prepared for college entrance exams and I want them to become comfortable with testing techniques. 

Although I test high school students, I do not give them grades, but only feedback on their exams. If a parent wants grades, they will have to let me know.  

For my middle school students, I encourage parents to provide their own testing if they feel it is helpful to their student. I do provide fun review games to ascertain how well they have grasped the material. 

Most high school science courses require an average of 30-45 minutes per day. I would recommend every high school student spend 45 minutes to begin with and then see how quickly they progress through the curriculum. Often, I have found that students gradually need less time as their textbook reading and comprehension skills increase.  

For middle school, I recommend15 minutes per day. This will vary per student and weekly assignments. I encourage my older middle school students to write out their answers to review questions while my younger students are allowed to do partial writing and partial oral narration to a family member. 

My high school students participate in  experiments every week and will take notes during that process. I will require that at least two experiments per high school year be polished and turned in for a review as a formal report. This is to ensure that they learn and master proper lab report procedure. Of course, I will coach them as they work through this process. 

My middle school students will take notes in class during their experiments and they will learn how to do a simple lab report.  Since these students are just beginning the lab process, I will encourage them to use rulers for accurate lines, to have neat handwriting, and to write accurate descriptions. Often I will model on the white board some basic things they can include in their experiments to help them with their confidence as they develop as writers and scientists.