Elizabeth Smith Education

I've been teaching since 2007.

I have tried many styles of teaching over the years. The technique that seems the most natural for both the instructor and students is Gradual Release. I begin my lessons with a PowerPoint lecture (to keep myself focused). Students follow along with pre-made guided notes. This helps them to focus on the most important portions of the lesson. After the lecture, I conduct a lab, differentiated worksheets, and practice. This is my chance to walk them through the problem-solving process and include side notes to help them. The final part of my lessons involves independent practice and checkpoint quizzes for them to showcase what they know. These are just the basics for each of my lessons. I always incorporate labs, stations/ differentiated work, webquests, and other extended thinking assignments.

I am happy to brag a bit about my achievements. I transferred to my current school in my 6th year of teaching. I was asked to build a physics program that would include advanced placement, but only given a textbook. This was daunting. Looking back on the last four years makes me overly proud. I started with 10 students and a textbook, I now have 5 full classes of Physics Honors and a fully functioning and succeeding AP Physics course.

B.S. Biomedical Science with a minor in Physics

I always wanted to be a teacher, but after graduating high school and being awarded several scholarships, I thought I could do something more. I began my biomedical science degree with my focus on becoming a dentist. Once I graduated I began studying for the DAT. I even had schools picked to apply to, but I started thinking of teaching again. I abandoned my idea of dental school and landed my first teaching job at my former high school. There was no looking back, I was hooked. To this day I am so pleased with my decision to become a teacher.