When Science Teachers are Stumped...

So today I was inspired to make a blog educating the people of the world on the fact that just because my job title says I am a science teacher; doesn't mean I know everything!  :)

Now, don't get me wrong - if you want to think that I am some super, amazing, extraordinary, crazy intelligent person......go right ahead!!! I will not stop you.  But the truth is that I know a lot about what I have been educated over; but if no one has ever taught me the information or I have not been so inclined to learn it on my own...I probably have little knowledge on a given subject.  My lessons this week have really been an mind opener that I need to be more curious.

This week in physical science we are learning about the States of Matter and Phase Changes.  Now, when I took physical science in high school; we learned about three states of matter - solid, liquid and gas.  The teacher mentioned a fourth state of matter, plasma, but did not go into any great detail on what it was or how it worked.  Well....just like Pluto is not a planet anymore...states of matter change too.  We now know of FIVE states of matter!!! (wouldn't have guessed it would ya??)  They are solid, liquid, gas, plasma and the bose-einstien condensate.  Most kids know the basics of solids, liquids and gases but are really curious about the other two.

So here is what I know and what I tell them.  Plasma is a very high energy state of matter.  It is what all of the stars in the universe are comprised of.  The bose-einstien condensate (BEC) is a type of matter that only occurs near absolute zero (roughly -453oF) and is where a group of atoms will behave as one.  I tell them it is like the school of fish in Finding Nemo - there is lots of little fishies that all act as one single object.  That's it - that is literally all I know about these two states of matter.  Last year when I taught it, I didn't have much time and so I couldn't look up new information and this year I again ran out of time.  (I swear that teaching makes time go by faster than the rest of the world!)  Needless to say, my kids are always curious and I have to try and analyze their questions quickly and think of a logical response but they seem to always get me with a question that I literally have no idea how to answer it.  So I have two responses stored in my back pocket.

1. That is a great question!  I appreciate your curiosity, but I do not know the answer...which makes this a great opportunity for you to go home and do some of your own research!  When you figure it out...let me know the what you found out!
2. That is a great question!  I appreciate your curiosity, but I do not know the correct answer...would you like me to make something up so that I can give you an answer?

Both of these responses normally get a few laughs out of the kids and they like that I don't know everything.  I mean, who likes a know-it-all?  I am only human you know....but I can't let the kids see me at the grocery store or gas station - knowing that I do the same daily routine things as them really freaks them out!

Anyways....back on topic.  This whole situation really got me thinking that I need to be more curious!  I need to go back to the basics and ask the questions that the kids will have so that I can be better prepared to answer their questions.  Its been a good reality check that I don't have all the answers and I can always learn more.  Which is actually in really good timing because I start school again next week!

If you did not see my facebook status yesterday; I have signed up for grad school!  It is a cohort program through William Woods University and I will be done the beginning of June 2014.  I will be getting my Masters in Administration.  Even though I am not sure I ever want to be on that side of the desk, I think I will learn a lot and moving horizontally on the pay scale won't be too shabby either!

I hope everyone has a fan-freaky-tastic halloween!!!!!  And don't forget - its never to late to learn something new!

Life in a Nutshell

So..............................Yes, I realize it has been a while since my last post................but I have reasons for that.

Reason #1: My life is controlled by school.
Reason #2: My life is owned by school.
Reason #3: My life is dominated by school.
Reason #4: My life is utterly wrapped around my school life.
Reason #5: The tiny bit of time left over after school is reserved for my husband and family/friend interactions.

So now you ask; well if your life is so completely surrounded by school stuff - how did you you find time to write this blog?

You see, Brian needed to put in some overtime at work this weekend to get caught up on the never ending list of new projects to draw...I really didn't feel like sitting at home alone - so I came with him. My original plan was to work on school stuff the whole time to get ahead for this week...but when we got down here i realized my flash drive is safely stored in my drawer at school.  Figures.  I did the small tasks of what I could do from memory and then I have some glorified, amazing, no thinking involved FREE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I was shocked too. 

Any normal person would think that its a great oppertunity to just relax, sleep or do absolutely nothing....I never said I was normal did I?? I spent a lovely four hours on pinterest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I have not been on there since school started  up (have I mentioned that school rules my life?) and I have missed the crafty inspiring website!!!!!!!!!!!! So if you get on pinterest today and your homepage is dominated by my pins, i will not appologize.  It made me happy. :)

As I wait for Brian to finish doing his drafty thingy (aka moving between 5000 screens on his computer in warp speed that would be hell for an epileptic) I will fill you all in on what we have been up to lately.....

If you keep up on my blog (and I don't blame you if you don't....its mainly a journal for me anyways)...you know that our basement is finished!!!!!!!!!!! We love it.  We have had friends over to enjoy it and I couldn't be happier.  We still have small things we need to do for the house...but we seem to be amazing at avoiding them!  I think we had our fill for a while and now enjoy being complete bums on the weekend.

We have tried to go to the OGHS football games...but we have utterly failed.  We have only made it to one so far this year.  (pathetic right??)  I blame Brian; he gets off work too late to make it on time and they are always packed so there is not point in going if you aren't super de duper early.  But this past friday we even drove all the way to harrisonville to watch the game - got there - realized i washed/ruined my get in for free pass because i teach these crazy kiddos and then we had no cash.  The closest ATM was clear across town...and by the time we would have gotten back - we would have been at half time already.  So we drove home empty handed. A bit ridiculous if you ask me.

We also have spent our time taking the dogs to the dog park at super late hours in the evening when it is really dark out....but the problem is that you can't see them run off!!! So we attached lights to their collars - so now we walk the track and watch the lights bound up and down all over the place as the puppies freak out.  Its quite entertaining - they look like freaky fireflies :)

Hmmmmm.....the rest of my life.....SCHOOL.

This year has been going well so far.  My freshmen are all backwards (they like notes and don't respond very enthusiastically to activities) but they are all kids and I wouldn't teach unless I truely did love going to work every day - even when they drive me to my wits end. :)

Well.....I think that's about it.....until next time.