A Personal Perspective

by Mary Burke, Teacher in Residence and Vicksburg Middle School Science Teacher

The phrase “you teach who you are”, stated by Parker J. Palmer is how I focus my middle school science classroom.  I am one that learns by questioning, experiencing, constructing, singing, drawing and seeing. Thus, I have tried to create these experiences for my students. My classroom is a lively place where students feel comfortable enough to take risks, ask questions, answer their own problems, learn from their mistakes, and take the time to laugh.  As a young child I was fortunate to have a family who valued science and the nature of science and an excellent teacher that inspired me to become a science teacher. Now as a science teacher it is my goal to teach the value of science to my students and inspire them to be life long science learners..

I did not start my journey focused on middle school science education but that of elementary education. My middle school science internship would be the defining moment for me.  It solidified that I was meant to teach middle school students. After eight years of working in a middle school I am still learning each day from the students I teach, the content I facilitate, and the colleagues with whom I collaborate. It is my belief that being an effective science teacher or facilitator cannot be done in isolation.  Continued growth takes working with those around you, students, parents, science teachers within your building, district, and local community.

I miss my colleagues, the content I teach, and my students, but I realize the E3 Project gives me an opportunity to be part of a something more educationally encompassing; the preparation of middle school science teachers.  I see the great potential that can come from finding candidates who will love teaching middle school science and helping them to become highly qualified teachers.   In the end I hope that my work here has influenced not only my own classroom teaching and my building, but also middle school students and science teachers in public and private schools throughout the state.

Being a teacher is a challenging task, but a challenge worth taking.  Each day the chance to achieve greatness is open to you; whether you are up to it is your choice.  You must always remember that your greatness influences the children you work with.   How you approach your teaching and your daily conflicts will be the model or the guide to how they shape their world.  As a teacher you must always remember you do make a difference!