Turtle Haste--Studying Sun Shadows Around the World

Turtle Haste graduated in 2001 with a Masters of Science and an Oregon Professional Teaching License. She is enjoying an exceptional career in teaching and other professional education activities. We are proud to feature her in this special alumni update. You can read more about her work here.

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A few years ago I read an article in NSTA about taking charge of your own professional development and using it as an opportunity to enhance not only your professional abilities, but yourself as well. Working in a Laguna Pueblo’s middle school for five years allowed me to gain a unique perspective on the issues facing a remote community. In developing a curriculum to meet New Mexico’s and national science standards for students without textbooks, I sought resources and experiential learning opportunities that would enhance not only students’ understanding, but promote scientific learning within the unique cultural and community context. The population at Laguna faced many challenges including, English language competency, high numbers of students with needs and poverty issues. Through my experience with Laguna, I learned to be inclusive of all learners and developed an interdisciplinary language and scientific literacy curriculum. I applied for almost anything that appealed to me, regardless if it directly applied to the classroom. My reasoning was, well, I might learn something interesting. As a result, my own growth has been exponential, allowing me to seek for connections in everything I do.

I taught in an experimental school in Xian, China; earned TOFEL certification; assisted in research at Kitt Peak National Observatory; became a Project Astro partner; studied oceanography to became a Maury Project Peer Trainer; serve as a new teacher mentor; participated in the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund program; visited Ghana with a Fulbright-Hayes program to compare styles, ownership and operation of horno ovens; earned National Board certification; and most recently served as a NOAA Teacher at Sea (read my logs here). I changed schools two years ago to work in a large urban public school to add more depth to my teaching experience. Last year students won a national Youth Service America award for their work on a project self-authoring and publishing elementary-level science books to send to communities in Ghana, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Japan, and Chile.

It doesn’t stop there! For the past three summers have been on Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth’s summer program staff teaching earth sciences. (I teach for JHU at Stanford Universities campus – how cool is that?) The curriculum I developed for this class and the direct involvement of researchers with student learning has earned an opportunity to present a poster at the American Geophysical Union’s fall meeting.

What is my advice to new teachers?

1. TRY EVERYTHING! It isn’t all about students and your classroom! You may not immediately see the application of a particular topic into your classroom, however, the excitement you get from learning something new translates to your students. You are a lifelong learner. Sometimes the best classes are the ones you take for yourself because your own motivation, confidence and interest in what you teach is just as important.

2. Make friends, make lots of friends and don’t forget them. Building connections within a larger community of educators will help you find people who will mentor and support you throughout your career. I continue to communicate with peers I met in workshops although they live in different states. We helped each other through board certification and TOFEL classes. We continue to find ways to meet at workshops and on-line communities.

3. Get on e-lists, lots of them. I hear about some of the best opportunities because I’m on someone’s list. I have established a partnership between several of my students and researchers in Antarctica this year all because I attended a lecture I learned about through a list. We get to use the EarthKam on the International Space Station to take remote earth-focused images because I’m on someone’s list. I also went to Ghana, free, because I’m on someone’s list.