Pennsylvania Standard Application Essay

Question 4: Essential elements of instruction, administration, or area of certification

Essay 4

Science is all around us. Biology is the study of life, which is something in which each and every one is experienced with in some way. For me, the intrinsic curiosity to know more about the way of the world, how our world impacts us, and how we function as living beings is motivating. I understand that science may not be a motivator for every student, but I do believe that science is for everyone, regardless of who they are or where they come from. It is essential that science classes are fun, engaging, and most of all, applicable to life.

While we as educators cannot bring every aspect of science to our students scaled fully, we can create immersive and engaging experiences to cater to a variety of learning styles, content levels, and even material availabilities. Not every school can have state of the art laboratory equipment, but that does not mean that students should not have the opportunity to learn about the related content. Through using the arts in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math), both students and educators alike can use our creativity as part of the learning process.

I make a point to use all the resources available to me to create engaging lessons that incorporate student choice. Especially in recent years, students who are not physically present in a classroom are still about to engage in experiential learning through virtual labs and technology. This is particularly helpful to students with disabilities or allergies that may prevent them from being in the classroom (as some experiments do contain allergens that prevent students from being present), as they are able to still engage with content related to material in some way. Additionally, using technology in the classroom allows students to explore aspects of science that interest them, but they may not have hands-on access to.

All too often, students wonder when they are ever going to use the material they are learning “in the real world”. In addition to making material engaging for students, it also must be connected to real-life experiences. Through using curriculum like the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) aligned Storylines, case studies, medical simulations, and even experiments using household items, we can exemplify to students why students why science is important, and even how they can use their background in science to be a productive citizen. For example, I include blood typing and hands-only CPR training in high school anatomy classes, which allows students to directly apply the knowledge from their notes to a life experience and training. I have also taught younger students about various science disciplines using household materials to perform experiments, which got students excited about topics they did not even realize were science!

Studies show that students who are more engaged in the classroom retain more information. Students may not walk out of my classroom knowing every detail, but they will be able to recall big picture material because of the way in which it was presented to them. I have seen first-hand how students make connections to material or will recall material faster because they were given a practical example. I will always advocate for engaging and applicable science education, and by extension, the ability to have fun while learning in a science classroom. 

Philosophy of Education

I believe that the purpose of education is to raise and inspire the next generation of society by providing them with the tools to develop critical thinking skills, self and social awareness, and the ability to work together as a part of a community. I am caring and empathetic, motivated, and a leader. My role in the classroom is not to teach “at” students, but rather to work with them and help them achieve whatever they set their minds to. I want to lead by example showing the importance of hard work. Even though hard work is important, it is also important to take a break in the best interest of yourself. I do my best to care for others in any way possible and to understand what someone is going through, even though I may not have gone through the same thing myself.

School is for everyone, regardless of what path of life a student may come from or be heading down. Schools need to provide an equitable opportunity for all students, as well as educate students to develop transferrable skills that will carry them far beyond the classroom. The curriculum of a biology (or any science) classroom should not only be ablout life in its most literal sense, but also about how this relates to a student’s future. Students should come out of my classroom knowing more than just the “what” of the content, but also the “why” and making connections. The curriculum needs to be adaptable to each and every type of learner that walks through the door. Aside from the curriculum itself, I believe that a teacher is responsible for creating a classroom that is welcoming and safe environment for each of those learners. Students learn best when they are comfortable and are working with someone who truly cares for them and about them each as individuals.

I will contribute to the profession by changing the notion that a student needs to be “good” or “the best” for a teacher to like them or to genuinely want to help them succeed. I will make make classroom inclusive for students of all genders, races, abilities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and other identities to the best of my ability. I want to be the teacher that my students can come to about anything and everything, whether it is related to curriculum or school or not. This starts with making it clear that education is a two-way relationship between teacher and student, while still maintaining respect for authority. As I am expected to hold my students accountable for their actions and hard work, they should hold me to the same. There will be an open dialogue between us all, ultimately leading to a collaborative classroom commuity. Together, we will figure out what works best for us, and what we need to work towards together.