Issue link: http://latinschool.uberflip.com/i/510699
latin magazine » spring 2015 13 Do You Know? WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT LATIN? e educational environment. Students are joyful, polite, caring, curious and dedicated to learning. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT TEACHING? I can think of no greater charge than to transfer my love of music onto my students. Teaching students over multiple years, it is extremely rewarding to watch their love of music grow and flourish over time. WHY ARE YOU IN EDUCATION? ere are eight teachers in my immediate and extended family, along with three college professors, so growing up I was immersed in the education profession. Beyond that, I discovered at an early age that I love to share and make music with others. WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES AND INTERESTS? Running and cycling as well as singing and playing the piano, for pleasure. If it's summer, I am watching or listening to Detroit Tigers baseball. WHAT WAS THE LAST GOOD BOOK YOU READ? Baseball in the Garden of Eden, by John orn, which is a fascinating historical account of the real origins of the modern game of baseball in America. WHAT ARE YOUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES? I believe in kindness and empathy. Being kind and empathetic to each other can solve the vast majority of conflicts that arise between people. WHAT PROFESSION, OTHER THAN BEING A TEACHER, COULD YOU ALSO SEE YOURSELF DOING? I would have loved to make movies. I have always been fascinated with the language and craft of filmmaking. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE QUOTE? "Ah, music! A magic far beyond all we do here!" Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling A teacher readies the lighter. On the count of three…poof! A quick explosion of bright fire, an adrenaline rush and a burst of surprised giggles. This (optional) classroom activity, which students look forward to with a mixture of trepidation and excitement, is the conclusion to the eighth grade unit on energy. In the class, teacher Rebecca Waysek introduces different fuels – traditional, fossil, renewable, alternative – and discuss where they come from and how much mankind consumes both locally and globally, as well as the associated economic, political and environmental issues. The "hands on fire" experiment, now a defining moment of middle school science, demonstrates the power of methane, one of our most important energy sources. Waysek forms methane "bubbles" to provide a protective layer between the gas and skin. This is done by attaching plastic tubing to a methane tap, placing a funnel in the tube and filling it with a soapy water mix. When the tap is turned on and the gas goes through the tubing, it forms bubbles in the funnel. Students gently place a mass of bubbles on the palms of their hands stretching out their arms away from their bodies. It's not quite as alarming as it sounds, according to Waysek. Science 8: Methane Madness The fire doesn't actually touch students' hands. It happens so fast. But the students certainly get a sense of the heat." – Rebecca Waysek, Middle School Science Teacher 13 latin magazine » spring 2015