Mad Scientist

After reading about the "typical" scientist, I was interested to see what would come up if I googled it and this was the first picture. I couldn't help but laugh because the clip art is the perfect example of everything the textbook is trying to get away from. It's impossible to blame students for their stereotypic ideas because that's all they see. I am even guilty of this. When we were asked to create what we thought a scientist should be like, I immediately looked for a "nerdy" girl with huge classes and a crazy, eclectic sense a style. Knowing that myself and my classmates are the next generation of teachers, it is exciting to know we have to opportunity to change how children think about the subject and who's involved in it.

Knowing I have this huge responsibly to instill a love of science in my students, it's imperative I find my scientific self. The textbook spoke about how children can see right through the acting and know how you really feel about a subject. It's no secret that me and science don't really get along right now, but I consider this semester a journey. A journey to appreciate science and learn to have a genuine love for it. Teachers I have had in the past were never enthusiastic or seemed to give much thought to teaching their classes, especially in middle and high school. It was like my teachers had the same lesson plans for 20 years and never thought to change them. I need to get those experiences out of my head and begin thinking like a scientist. But right now, I really am a blank slate. I honestly cannot name one woman or minority scientist. And being a woman, that's a little embarrassing.

I have the chance to learn so much about science and nature, and this semester I intend to. There are so many things I take a lot for granted in my own environment and I live in a beautiful area which provides me with endless opportunity for discovery.