Aug 18, 2011

School starts up for the teachers next week, and I'm looking forward to getting back (mostly).  The "mostly" stems from a major change this year - we're moving to a new building.  The Headmistress purchased a building which is nicer than what we had and also much larger.  Expansion of the school seems very possible and we're gearing up for our new location.  But after having been out of town on vacation for the past three weeks, I was unaware of how far behind the move is.  The building had a major structural problem which required a change in the schedule.  The next few weeks will take a lot of effort to get us going.  Too many boxes to unpack, too many details, etc.

But I'm also looking forward to new students, the returning students, and the addition of two new classes - Earth Science and Engineering.  Both will take a lot of my time, but I'm really looking forward to them.  The Museum of Science in Boston is home to the National Center for Technological Literacy and they have worked with other groups and teachers to develop a new textbook simply titled "Engineering the Future."  It is targeted for high school and is the result of a concerted effort to attract more students to the engineering sciences. 

Although I personally prefer engineering with more of a mathematical component, this book seems ideal for high school students who don't seem to have a strong affinity for mathematics.  It is project oriented and poses challenges that the students attempt to solve.  I think it will work and am anxious to try it.

The Earth Science class will utilize a college-level text that has a strong on-line support component.  There is a lot of material for a high-schooler, but I feel they will get much more than the basics.  In any event, both classes provide opportunities for field trips in the area, which we may need while the school is undergoing final renovation.