I "heart" Science

It is currently 9:20pm on Thursday night. I am passed the point of being tired, my head feels like a balloon being squeezed by a three year-old, and I have yet to write lessons plans for tomorrow's classes. Nevertheless, I felt like blogging. In my defense, I'll call this multi-tasking since I also have a load of laundry in the washer and muffins in the oven!

Today after school I had several students in my classroom working on various assignments and my little freshman boy piped up to ask me a question. When I finished my explanation he asked, "Why do you like science so much?" Usually a standard answer comes to mind that involves my introduction to chemistry as a sophomore in high school and the rest was history. The standard answer must have escaped me because my answer to Darian was something along the lines of, "Well, I do love science, but there are lots of other things that I like a lot too." D: "Like what?" Me: "Well, I love literature, music, art..." D: "Why don't you teach those then?" Me: In my head, "Good freakin' question!" Actual answer, "I guess I could just as easily studied any of the other things so I could teach them." At this point, Darian was distracted by something else going on in the classroom and the conversation ended, but obviously these thoughts are still churning in my brain. Why not something else? Why didn't I study literature, art, psychology, or music?

I think it really boils down to the fact that I happen to be a good student of science, particularly chemistry...and, I am a rule follower, I LIKE RULES! I like knowing that when I put a piece of aluminum foil in a solution of copper II chloride a single replacement reaction (to which I can predict and name the products) will occur. I can see said reaction going down in the beaker in front of me! I can gather information about the elements that make up our universe from a lovely, organized document called the Periodic Table of Elements. I can balance equations, convert units, talk about moles (no, not the ground digging kind), and feel pretty confident doing it. In many ways, being a chemistry nerd allows for a certain aspect of control of one's surroundings. I love it-I like the efficiency and order of it all (perhaps this is the reason I never embraced the concept of entropy. Who in their right mind would say that a state of disorder is more stable?!)

Okay, so you can see the OCD side of me kicking in here. Perhaps this is the reason I decided it was time for a change and went off in search of a position teaching overseas. I'm certain there is going to be plenty of disorder and uncertainty entering my life very soon which must mean stability is coming! In the meantime, I am still left pondering what to do about these other seemingly dormant passions that are slowly starting to bubble up to the surface. I have always been proud to be what teachers deemed a "well rounded" individual and as I have aged and matured my likes and dislikes have evolved too. Over the last year I have been reading more than ever before, traveling whenever I have the funds, diversifying my musical tastes, and itching to become a bit more artsy but there is still much more territory to be explored. I believe I will always love science, but more than that, I will appreciate the fact that I get the privilege of sharing what I love with 120 students every year...students who will roll their eyes when they think about their tie dye wearing science teacher who made them think, and laugh, and learn. Now, back to those lesson plans...

Think Geek

Yes, I will admit that I think about science more than the average person. I get a kick out of funny science t-shirts, Darwin awards, blowing things up, and seeing science in action. I have a tie-dye lab coat, Albert Einstein action figure, and pocket periodic table. As I began shopping for fun things for my new apartment abroad, I went on the search for a cute new shower curtain and stumbled across this website. If you have a minute, check out www.thinkgeek.com--it's a blast and filled with geeky science stuff (including my new periodic table shower curtain)! So, go ahead and call me a geek! I love it!

I've always known I was destined to be a science nerd. On occasion I wear a tie dye lab coat or my periodic table t-shirt. I find joy in browsing the science section of teaching supply catalogs, searching the web for new demos, and lighting things on fire in my classroom. Teaching science is a good life