Visiting a Science Classroom: Epic Learning

On January 16^th I had the privilege to visit Mr. Mancino’s biology classroom.  Shippensburg Area Senior High School has multiple science teachers, but Mr. Levy (school principle) told me to observe Mr. Mancino, so I knew I was in for a good lesson.  I was certainly impressed by watching Mr. Mancino teach.  It was clear that he has a positive vibe that the students instantly thrive off of.  The inflection in his voice captivated his learners and was very conversational and encouraged questions. 

Mr. Mancino began his lesson by stating the objectives and sharing how today instruction is connected to what they would learn on Monday and he did a stellar job of demonstrating a holistic view on what they were learning and how it relates to them.  Additionally, Mr. Mancino demonstrated a variety of teaching techniques by breaking up the activities for the class.  The instruction began with lecture, followed by independent learning using the textbook, next students were able to walk around the classroom to observe different organisms that the teacher had such as: frogs, mice, rabbits, snakes, turtles, and birds to name a few, and finally the class continued with more lecture and related videos.

Another thing that impressed me during the observation was that Mr. Mancino was very professional.  He was professional with his teaching style, his dress, and interaction with students.  It is very obvious that he is a great role model for his students.  Furthermore, Mr. Mancino connected his curriculum to three other academic subjects showing that his class is very much a cross-curricular experience. 

Overall, my time spent observing the science classroom was very beneficial and I am excited to use Mr. Mancino as another great resource during my time here at Shippensburg High School!