Earlier this semester I was able to visit Mr. Tomko's chemistry class to gain a unique perspective on how science is taught by other teachers outside of the agriculture classroom, and how the work we do connects to other subjects as well. Mr. Tomko teaches in a small chemistry classroom that is decked out with all sorts of lab materials and arranged around individual study benches. Of course the best thing about being a chemistry teacher is the chemistry puns--and Mr Tomko doesn't disappoint. The walls of his classroom were decorated with funny posters, cartoon strips and chemistry humor. Mr. Tomko had a very supportive and creative learning environment within his classroom.
What were the Objectives?
The objectives of the class I observed were to test the hot air balloons that the students made to visualize the concept of air density and the principles of design that was incorporated into their projects making a hot air balloon from tissue paper.
Were the Students Engaged?
Students seemed very interested in the lesson. They had the opportunity to incorporate some creative design in their project and were eager to test out their balloon. The teacher tried to focus the students' attention on the lesson by testing the balloons in the gymnasium which allowed them to visualize the concepts they learned about air density.
Most Effective Teaching Methods
The teacher used inquiry based instruction in the lesson to be a facilitator of learning. He asked probing questions about what they have discovered about the most and least effective hot air balloons. After they tested the balloons, he asked the class to identify what the characteristics about their balloons worked and what didn't work. I think he did a solid job with guiding student learning and keeping them engaged.
Teacher Effectiveness
Mr. Tomko seems to be a great teacher to me. He is down to earth, professional, and has a well behaved class that he seems to have little trouble getting them to meet expectations. He knew what he was planning on teaching for the day, had materials prepped for the next class on schoology and seemed to be a overall well rounded teacher.
No comments:
Post a Comment