Exploring Nature

Exploring Nature with second graders was probably my favorite program. What a joy to have such a nice way to begin the final week. I find the complete openness of this program really valuable - to simply explore nature. One of the girls asked me why every school day wasn't outside. What a perfect question! She explained that she was still learning about stuff, but it was so much more fun. It summarized so much of what we have been learning about the importance of environmental education, and its value in the education system.

I think the biggest challenge for me is still learning names in such a short period of time. I feel that I haven't really improved in this skill since beginning the MAEE program, and I'm sure it will be a long long time until I can. It's just really difficult for me to memorize names to faces in a couple hours. I've tried the tricks and mnemonics and repeating the names, but it still ends up the same - just as it has my entire life.

I have seen improvement in many other areas, however. I am no longer nervous to teach, and I feel that I can confidently go into a program without the fear of forgetting something important. I feel like I have a style and ongoing theme - a great thing to have developed in the last eleven months.

It was a great day teaching, and encouraging that a little girl liked it enough to say she wished every day at school was like it!