Who are you? I'm a science teacher at Nevada High School. I have worked with 9th and 10th-grade students for the last four years while leading our building in Social Emotional Learning. Before joining the High School team, I was a crazy middle school teacher. I was in the middle school for eight years and served as the Middle School Instructional Guide for 3 of those years.
I am married to an amazing man. He is a managing software architect at John Deere and for the intelligent solutions group doing pretty cool stuff with GPS. I have three beautiful children. Eli is 8 and has unending curiosity that reminds me learning and science are innate. He loves soccer, hip hop, science, and cub scouts. Naomi is 6.. She is strong and determined. She has a beautiful imagination, loves to dance, sing, and draw. Isaiah is 4. He loves all things dinos and superheroes. He is the loudest, sweetest boy! He loves dancing, playing, and spending time with his friends! Our family is rounded out by two Cavelier King Charles Spaniels who are fluffy and crazy and one cantankerous cat!
I graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Zoology. My focus was on ecology and organismal biology. While at Michigan State, I worked in a laboratory, at Wayne State University, investigating heart cells and the "disappearance" of a vital protein (calsequestrin). I also had the opportunity to intern with the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University. During my internship, I decided to pull my applications for veterinary college. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but I was sure I no longer wanted to pursue veterinary medicine. Simultaneously, I began tutoring students in English as a second language. I found I enjoyed helping people understand information.
After graduation, I married James and moved to Iowa. I found a position at the Blank Park Zoo as an education intern. I enjoyed teaching children about ecology and animals in an informal setting. I, later, joined the Science Center of Iowa (SCI) as a full-time program presenter. I was able to do demonstrations for students and adults about all types of sciences including chemistry, biology, geology, and physics. While at SCI, I returned to school to become a science teacher.
At the conclusion of 15 months of hard work, I received my Master of arts in teaching science at Iowa State University. I enjoyed learning about how people learn and how I can most effectively help students understand the world around them. I taught in the Des Moines Public School District before coming to Nevada. In Nevada, I had the privilege of teaching 7th-grade science for four years before taking on my role as an instructional guide. I have loved the community, students and teaching staff that I have encountered here at Nevada. I am truly part of a special place!
Why Science Teaching? I love science and think learning through science can promote a deep understanding of science and learning. I hope to inspire students to become citizens capable of making educated decisions and desiring to make a difference in their local and global communities. I also believe science is a unique space to promote social-emotional learning.
Sounds great! But How? Since Science is the study of the natural world, we all have experiences and explanations we have developed to account for what we observe. Sometimes those explanations are right on and sometimes...not so much. As science teachers, our burden (and privilege) is to give students experiences with natural phenomena that will challenge their thinking. Then, at just the right moment, ask questions to support their new knowledge. You will seldom see me give answers. I believe, that given an intentionally planned experience, higher-order thinking prompts, and developmentally appropriate opportunities, students can generate accurate explanations of the natural world. I do not see myself as a giver of knowledge. I want to be a tour guide as we explore the world of science together! Collaboration promotes relationship skills and social awareness. Productive struggle promotes responsible decision-making, self-management, and self-awareness. Promoting creativity in our spaces allows for competencies to be built. My job is to help students build the bridge between the concepts they are building in my class and the social-emotional skills they are building.
Stuff I Have Done: Learning, Accomplishments, Awards and Publications:
Presenter at the Iowa Science Teachers Conference (2011, 2012 and 2013)
New Science Teachers Academy with the National Science Teachers Association (2012)
Co-author of an article published in the Iowa Science Teacher's Journal (2011)
Secretary of the Iowa Science Teacher's Section (2012- current)
Secretary of the National Science Teachers Association- Iowa State University Student Chapter (2011)
Awarded the Maitland Simmons Award for New Science Teachers through the NSTA (2014)
Awarded an Excellence in Science Teaching for Middle School by the Iowa Academy of Science (2015)
Authentic Intellectual Work Local Coach (2015)
Cognitive Coaching 1 (2015)
Cognitive Coaching 2 (2017)
Better Conversations with Jim Knight (2017)
Awarded an Excellence in Science Teaching for General/Multiple Science (2022)
NSTA National Conference Co-Presenter: Making Meaningful Connections to Social-Emotional Learning Alongside the NGSS (2023)
Professional Affiliations:
National Science Teacher's Association
Iowa Science Teacher's Section
Contact Me-
Twitter: @BortonScience Instagram: @BortonScience Tiktok: @BortonScience
Email: KathrynBorton@gmail.com