During my time in AmeriCorps I was looking for an alternative route-teaching program similar to TFA. My Team Leader, who is from Mississippi, was applying to MTC and told me all about the program. It seemed like a great opportunity, so I applied right away. Though I had a very late acceptance, I am very thankful I received that acceptance email from Jen. After arriving here in June 2013 I found out that I would be teaching Biology in Holly Springs.
I taught Biology 1, Human Anatomy & Physiology, and ACT Prep during the 2013-2014 school year, this year I was added a prep and also teach Biomedical Research. With Biology 1 being state tested, I follow a very strict SATP2 pacing guide. In order to graduate, students must pass Mississippi's standardized exams in Biology 1, U.S. History, English II, and Algebra 1. Therefore I diligently follow the guidelines to teach inquiry, biochemistry, cells, genetics, ecology, and evolution.
I taught Biology 1, Human Anatomy & Physiology, and ACT Prep during the 2013-2014 school year, this year I was added a prep and also teach Biomedical Research. With Biology 1 being state tested, I follow a very strict SATP2 pacing guide. In order to graduate, students must pass Mississippi's standardized exams in Biology 1, U.S. History, English II, and Algebra 1. Therefore I diligently follow the guidelines to teach inquiry, biochemistry, cells, genetics, ecology, and evolution.
Anatomy & Physiology is a great addition after taking Biology 1. Thankfully, it is not state tested so I am able to take my time with each system and provide a tremendous amount of detail and end each system with a hands-on innovative lab. Throughout the year my students learn over nine body systems. Some of them include: cardiovascular, circulatory, endocrine, immune, integumentary, muscular and reproductive system. Along with the systems dissections are included to get the true hands-on experience.
- A rat dissection for the students to learn about the circulatory, muscular, digestive, and integumentary system.
- A cow eye dissection during the nervous system.
- A earthworm dissection to compare a primitive digestive system to the complexity of a human digestive system
Biomedical Research has been a new addition to the school this year. At first I was a little reluctant about this course and was very hesitant about a 4th prep added. However, I got to have all of my honors students from Anatomy & Physiology for another year. We have learned a lot about diseases in Biomedical Research! We have learned about viruses, bacteria, parasites, HIV/AIDS, Ebola, cancer, and obesity. I have been given free range with course, which has enabled me to do various types of projects and labs. During the bacteria unit we incubated milk in all different types of temperatures to see the best bacteria growth. We have read The Hot Zone and watched an Ebola documentary. The Hot Zone is a true story explaining the findings of Ebola in Africa and how there was a outbreak of Ebola in Washington D.C. This unit was perfectly timed with the Ebola outbreak so my students were able to defend people's concerns about the disease. We recently just finished And The Band Played On which depicts the beginning stages of HIV/AIDS. We spent over three months learning about the disease, spreading awareness of the disease, and learning about the politics and people behind the disease-- especially in the early 80's.
Biomedical Research:
Human Anatomy & Physiology:
Biology I
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Examples of Effective Lessons:
Listed to the left are some resources prepared from various classes. I have provided all of the material below as pdf files so that you can easily click it. |