Beyond My Classroom????

As a fairly new science teacher, and balancing teaching, family, church, and Walden, I am doing good to just implement some of the ideas and strategies into my teaching in my room. At this time, I am not in a position to make much of an impact outside of my room. I share ideas and lessons with the special education teacher who teaches science to a small group of eighth graders. The seventh grade science teacher and I collaborate sometimes, mostly running ideas past each other for input to see if the other one thinks it will work or has any suggestions. We enthusiastically share new ideas we find with each other. So, next door (both sides) is as far as my science influence goes, so far anyway. We will see what happens as I have more time once Walden is over, and if I stay he 8th grade science teacher; there is always the possibility if going back to the elementary school, where I will have a better opportunity to share and collaborate with other teachers, affecting the science instruction more. I have joined a PLC that is focusing on student engagement, so that may open windows or doors for more sharing of science strategies, although I am the only science teacher involved.