Abbey Eisenhuth

Studied Math in college

Taught 6th grade math & science at start of career

Transitioned to only teaching science with restructuring at school

Ties in hands-on/project-based learning whenever possible

Very excited about what she teaches - loves teaching science (and math built into science)

School's grade-level subject matter schedule built with consideration of standards, common core and student development

• eg - astronomy is taught in 8th grade, energy can be hard for 6th graders to grasp, etc.

Abbey plans curriculum with 1 other teacher (Rachel)

Science has a lot of freedom so long as lesson plans fit curriculum

• brings in: guest speakers, outside resources, local weather people, energy people
  • opportunities/connections found through other teachers, many from parents

Abbey brought materials from old school, Rachel brought in her old resources, school has standing practices/projects that could be utilized

Challenges:

Unable to fulfill lofty ideas (money, safety, etc.) - a big piece is aligning ideas/goals with curriculum.

There's a push now for science to push more math and language arts concepts, experiencing bigger push to reinforce other disciplines in science; push toward standardized testing...

• how is push communicated? Everywhere - national; decisions made by people who have never stepped foot in a classroom, standardized tests are a big business, National pushes to state -> district -> town -> districts -> teachers

"Things change all the time... they can set a course for something that we're expected to do, and then all the sudden, 'oh, you know, you don't have to do that anymore..' So then it will be up to the districts to decide... it [requirement communication] comes from everywhere.. but starts up. Starts up big [national]."

Standards imposed from high up can change, meaning that multi-year plans are sometimes never realized (districts decide)

Language arts and math are being pushed in science curriculums

"Wishes so much" for more communication with science teachers - there's not a lot of time for that.

• at most, 3-4 times/yearly do 6-8th grade science teachers meet.
• 1 day/week meeting with Rachael (content team)

"I learn the most from learning from other people, from talking with other teachers. I learn a lot about how to help the writing I do in here by talking with [Beth] and talking with the literacy specialist."

"We just wish we had more time to collaborate"

"We're always desperate to talk to other teachers, especially science teachers"

Half the time districts buy whole curriculums from publishing companies - vary: hands-on, bookwork, tech-heavy; a lot of schools can't afford to do this, so teachers are expected to develop the curriculum. *"Sometimes you get paid for your work over the summer to do that and sometimes you don't."*

Sharing curriculums: flash drive, paper copies, observation of other teacher

'Testing Curriculum' - companies (especially smaller, experimental companies) test curriculum with pilot schools to get data so that they can sell the curriculum

Wanting badly for more collaboration with science teachers - both at school and outside of school.

Short on time

When districts can't afford curriculums, teachers are expected to produce them (with or without pay)

Has received shared curriculums via flash drive and hard paper copies

Curriculum companies will test products on pilot classes

"Magic wand" question

There are many resources for teachers share their resources - downloadable sheets, printable (require payment)

A website where teachers share their own materials is great - easily search. Easy printouts. Hard, explicit directions. Discussion area - tend to get big and swamped down; it's tough to go to everything. Tend to be disorganized and difficult to break down. Not necessarily a directory, but some way to make useful connections. See lessons demonstrated. Digital classroom, seminar.

Conferences are super useful - see all pre-created, tested, proven resources converge in one place

Looking things up - happens on the fly, often instigated by students

Experience of going to conference had huge impact - multi-mode delivery: teachers speaking, viewing lesson demo, see all pre-created, tested and proven resources converge in one place, plus invitation for dialogue

Highly organized, easily searchable hub for teacher communication and sharing would be very helpful