Initial Publication Date: April 11, 2006
Minnesota Teachers of Earth Science:
A Series of Profiles
Susan Johnson
North End Elementary
St. Paul, Mn

"[Prior classroom community building] makes it easy to set up an experiment and know it is going to run smoothly. " Susan explains as she talks about success in teaching Earth Science.
However, Susan also recognizes that with her limited training in the sciences, finding the time to learn the content and understand the Foss kit activities is challenging. If she could advise her education and science professors, she would tell them to provide more opportunity for prospective teachers to learn the topics of science and practice teaching that content at an elementary student's level. Because the state standards have become so significant in driving curriculum, Susan also recommends specific content and methodology training to address the standards of each subject, especially science.