|
|
Special
Letter to Parents
About
my Philosophy in teaching Science
|
Dear Parents,
It is my sincerest hope that your child not only succeeds
in my class, but develops a love for learning and science.
To me, Science is Inquiry and Discovery; that is science is
asking questions and finding the answers to those questions
using a variety of methods. When your child leaves my class,
I hope they have gained a stronger inclination to his or her
natural curiosity as well as inquisitive minds. It is my goal
that they not only learn the scientific information that is
covered in sixth grade, but that they have developed the skills
to find solutions/answers to their own questions or problems.
Some of these methods include laboratory experimentation with
the scientific method, problem-solving, and pure laboratory
exploration. This may seem a little unconventional but there
is a reason I teach science in this fashion.
I believe
all children are scientist. From the day we were born we have
explored to gain an understanding of what is around us. This
process, I feel, is never ending. Throughout our lives we
are exploring and finding our own answer for things. Since
science is not black and white, I do not teach it in black
and white terms. Science is ever evolving and, while some
things seem like fact, at one point in time, it may have not.
And some things we hold to be facts today may be determined
as nonfactual by someone tomorrow. That someone may be your
child. I teach science with the mindset that since the Wright
brothers, Einstein, and even Newton showed their time period
that some beliefs that were being held were inaccurate, then
we too must find the answers for ourselves. We will not take
Newton's laws of Motion as truth, until we see it in action
and find that indeed, his laws are the best way to describe
motion. This approach is very dependent upon the lab and research.
As a result, the process of finding the answer becomes just
as important as the answer.
Because
the thought process is equal to the outcome, I grade the same
way. I will always ask the student to support his/her answer.
Why? When support is given, the thought-process is shown.
If I can see what the student is thinking, I can see if his/her
line of reasoning is a solid foundation for the beliefs given.
If it is not, I will help him/her find and build that support
or help to reexamine the evidence to see where his/her misconception(s)
lies. If the line of reasoning is solid, then I know the student
comprehends the material he/she is dealing with.
To truly
succeed with this type of teaching method, I need your help
in guiding your child to stretch his/her mind and share thoughts
no matter if he/she think those thoughts are right or wrong.
In my class, IT IS OK TO BE WRONG. Science is about being
wrong first and finding why we were wrong, then fixing it.
More learning is done by being wrong then by being right.
Look at Thomas Edison. He had tried 1000 ways of making the
lightbulb before he was successful. No one paid attention
to the journey, they only focused on the outcome. With your
help, I want your child to be focused on the journey just
as much as the outcome. Together, we will reach the outcome
of a successful independent thinker who can be given a question,
reason a solution and then verify that the solution is indeed
the best solution for the problem.
As we travel
along with our students on this journey, please know that
the lines of communication are always open. I am here to make
sure your child grows in science and is successful. Success
is measured not by grades, but by abilities. I will do all
I can to help your child learn those abilities. If you have
questions along the way or need to let me know something,
e-mail is best, but you can also give me a call. I will return
both as promptly as I am able.
I hope that
through some of the projects, you have an opportunity to explore
and have fun yourself. The journey is always better when there
is a small crowd going with you rather than being alone.
Sincerely,
Mr. Fornadel
6th Grade Science
Alton Boyd Elementary
Todd_Fornadel@allenisd.org
972-727-0560 ext. 360
