Last week, I participated in staff development training for the upcoming year. This will be the second time that I help to design lessons and lead science staff development. As we were wrapping up, we were challenged to think of the year ahead. At the beginning of the year, we often focus on rules and procedures, which is not a bad thing. However, we were asked to write down three things that we value in students. I jotted down curiosity, exploration, and a thirst for learning. I think these are necessary in the science classroom. After thinking about it for a few days, I think I would add perseverance. I also notice that my three are very similar. It’s important that we share with our students what we value either implicitly or explicitly. During training, we shared with teachers around us. This year, we are working together with all core content areas, and it is interesting to compare what other content teachers value.
What do you value in your classroom?
