This book serves two functions. First, it is partly a memoir of my 42 years as a high school science teacher. In this book, you will find me "speaking from the heart," as I share the joys, challenges, blood, sweat, tears, heartaches, rewards, and funny (as well as not so funny) stories from my forty-two-year career in the classroom. It's gratifying for me, and I've been surprised to discover how young teachers have found my "teacher tales" to be helpful as they embark on their own professional journeys. The lessons that I learned over those 42 years will inspire and encourage teachers and administrators of all grade levels and subject areas. Secondly, this book is partly an instruction manual for new and veteran teachers as it is filled with tips and techniques for teachers. My hope is that new and veteran teachers alike will discover a wealth of ready to implement, practical, nontraditional, uncommon, tried, and tested tips and tricks within these pages, techniques that I wish I had known when I first started out as a young, novice teacher in the fall of 1978. Among the many lessons shared in this book, I'll describe how transitioning from a teacher-centered classroom to a student-centered classroom enhanced both the enjoyment and effectiveness of the learning experience for me and my students, because it freed me up to not only teach, but to coach, mentor, nurture, and inspire. I'll share how moving to a student-centered approach enabled me to not only teach my content, but to also engage my students in the six Cs: CHOICE, COLLABORATION, COMMUNICATION, CRITICAL THINKING, CREATIVITY, AND CARING. Many of the ideas shared in chapters 1 through 6 as well as the Conclusion, can be applied to any grade level or content area. Chapters 7 through 10 are specific to teaching biology courses and preparing students for science fair project work. Even teachers of grade levels or subjects other than high school biology will still find some good ideas in the later chapters, especially Chapter 7.
