Teach-spiration

By Matt Fisher

I was surprised recently when I was tagged on Facebook as “Someone who changed your life”. As a former teacher, this is one of the greatest rewards you can receive.

I wondered if there was a person in my past that changed my life–who gave me the inspiration I needed to study science. I don’t think there was one person in particular, but several terrific schoolteachers who were my “scientific” inspiration.

Mr. Fittipaldi was my 6th grade science teacher and one day he announced to the class that we were going to build and launch rockets! Working with two of my friends, we diligently shaved down the cone of our balsa wood Mosquito rocket, meticulously glued on the fins, and completed the project by painting with a light coat of orange paint with black pinstripes down the side. It was beautiful and it would fly high into the atmosphere (or so we thought)!

Unfortunately, I came down with the flu and had to miss Launch Day. When I returned to school the following week, Mr. Fittipaldi greeted me at the door with a great surprise. Knowing how disappointed I was that I had missed the launch, he arranged a second launch after school for our Mosquito rocket! Knowing that he cared enough about me to make sure I had the same experience as my classmates, meant a lot to me.

Another inspirational teacher was my marine biology teacher, Mr. Conway. Mr. Conway used field studies as his favorite method of teaching. On field trips to the beach and tide pools, we used actual scientific collection gear to capture and study different species of marine animals and plants. Mr. Conway knew that his students would learn more about marine biology in 4 hours in the field than they would in a whole semester in the classroom.

My first teaching job out of graduate school was as a middle school science teacher in Plymouth, MA, where I would find my next teacher and mentor, Warren Phillips. Working with Warren was my first exposure to teaching science not only through textbooks and science experiments, but also through music, acting, movement, and visual arts. As an artist myself, this method made perfect sense to me. Since artists use their work to express the thoughts, dreams, and feelings that they can’t put into words, why wouldn’t this work as a way for children to express their knowledge?

In developing classes for our summer camp, I take what I learned from all my teachers and use it to tap into each of our camper’s creativity by fusing art and science into our camp classes. Showing what they have learned in our academic classes through visual and performing arts, writing, and by carrying out scientific experiments, gives them the opportunity to express themselves in the way they do best and feel most comfortable.

My goal working at the AASTC is to give each camper an opportunity to learn in a non-judgmental, welcoming environment. I strive to hire instructors who are willing to sacrifice their personal time for their students, who identify with children and are constantly striving to make their lessons better. I look for people, who share their ideas and work collaboratively; who are not afraid to act a little goofy and have fun with the campers. These are the same traits, I valued in my teachers—the ones who changed my life. What I try to do, is present positive changes in the lives of children. Maybe someday, these students will also look back and realize how these teachers were an inspiration, simply because they gave just a little bit extra of themselves.