Nov.3 Blog... Jennifer W.

Think about your teaching this past week and then answer the following question: "What was the event that most took me by surprise - an event where I saw or did something that shook me up, caught me off guard, gave me a jolt, or made me unexpectedly happy?"

The timing of the blog posts always seem to coincide with things I have going on in my life. Just this past week I sent out an email to the parents of my second year students because I am amazed at the caliber of work they are doing. They were given a patient with a list of symptoms. They had to decide what tests they would order, then use the results from those tests to determine the patient’s diagnosis and treatment. They were allowed to ask me questions but the questions had to be very specific therefore not questions that just gave away the “answer”. I will just paste the email I sent because it sums up my proud moment.

Dear Parents,

I hope you are doing well. We have just finished up our unit on the Neuro system. The students learned not only about the anatomy of the nervous system but about common diseases as well. Instead of giving a conventional test over the unit I chose instead to give out case studies. The students were given a little information about the patients and they had to research to make decisions such as the patient's diagnoses, what tests they would order to reach that decision, how would they treat the patient, etc. I have to say I am floored by your young men and women. They by far exceeded my expectations!! Don't let them kid you these are very very intelligent students who rose well above the high school level and were doing college level work. This assignment really challenged them beyond what they normally do in school and again they rose to the challenge. I am so grateful you've given me the opportunity to work with them.

Thank you,

Mrs. Whitfield