Teaching With Flexibility and Purpose
One of my favorite aspects of our district is the autonomy educators have within the curriculum. We follow state and district science standards, yet we are encouraged to approach those standards in ways that highlight our strengths and passions. That flexibility allows me to tailor learning experiences that resonate with students and makes teaching even more rewarding.
Discovering Sanford PROMISE
My journey with the Sanford PROMISE program began when a fellow educator encouraged me to apply for a summer professional development opportunity two years ago. I had never heard of the program, but her enthusiasm convinced me to try it. I ended up attending the Finding Your Roots workshop. It was perfect timing because I was preparing to teach genetics in seventh grade and did not feel especially confident in that area.
Last year I noticed another opportunity in the PROMISE newsletter called From Nature to Molecules. It blended my love of environmental science with molecular biology, which helped me build deeper understanding in meaningful ways. Both experiences were energizing, practical, and full of resources I could immediately bring back to my classroom.
Online Lessons That Make an Impact
I regularly use several PROMISE online lessons to deepen student learning. Although some of the lessons are advanced for middle school, they can be adapted to fit my students. Some lessons I have used are:
- Seeing the Whole World: Rods and Cones, which I use to introduce the waves unit in eighth grade.
- CRISPR, Medical Ethics: Right, Wrong and the Space In Between, and Immortal Cells to introduce discussions about medical ethics and current biotechnology.
- From DNA to Protein, which I will be using again in the next few weeks to introduce the central dogma.
How Students Respond
My students truly enjoy the PROMISE lessons. They offer hands‑on learning, real‑world applications, and memorable experiences. I often make small adjustments to better fit the needs of my class, but each lesson is easy to use, high quality, and free.
Where Teachers Should Start
If a teacher wants to begin using PROMISE resources, I always recommend choosing a lesson that naturally fits with an upcoming unit. The summer professional development workshops expose teachers to many lessons, but even a quick preview online can help you identify which one aligns with your curriculum.
If you teach biology, begin with From DNA to Protein. It covers essential standards and places transcription and translation in a medical context involving gene mutations and patient diagnosis. Students instantly see the relevance, especially those who are interested in the medical field.
What I Hope Students Remember
More than anything, I hope students leave my classroom remembering that the world around them is amazing and that science is part of everything they see. I want them to feel confident being curious, asking questions, and thinking critically. Investigating is a process, not a race, and curiosity will always take them further than memorization alone.
Visiting the Sanford PROMISE Lab
One of the highlights of the year was taking my seventh graders to the Sanford PROMISE Lab. They practiced micropipetting, completed an electrophoresis investigation, and toured the facility. Many students were amazed that such advanced scientific resources exist right here in South Dakota.
The visit also strengthened their understanding later in the year. When we discussed pedigrees, they connected their lab experience to the concepts instantly.
One year we were unable to visit the lab, and PROMISE came to us instead. They transformed our school laboratory into a research space for the day. My students still talk about that experience.
For more information on visiting the PROMISE Community Lab, head to the PROMISE lab page.