Relationships & Connections

Over the past three years at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, I have learned that interpersonal relationships and connecting methods to the classroom context are the two most valuable ways to work with preservice and inservice teachers. This past summer I was able to collaborate with a group of inservice teachers in grades 3-12 on their notebooking methods and found this experience to be deeply meaningful and useful. During the fall 2012 semester, I taught two science methods courses where I implemented the interactive science notebooking methods and once again found this experience to be highly engaging and purposeful for PK-8 preservice teachers. After reviewing their notebooks for common themes and patterns, preservice teachers reflected more extensively on their work, made deeper connections between course methods and the methods in their clinical placements, increased positive attitudes towards science and the teaching of science, and created a more meaningful interest in science education. This spring semester 2012, I will continue with the implementation of the interactive notebooking methods (with a few changes of course) and attempt to study this phenomena a little more rigorously. I look forward to it!