A Year In the Life of a Chemistry Teacher

"Would you consider teaching chemistry next fall?"  This one question changed my life and my perspective.

Dan and Carolyn in line for
BFA Opening Ceremonies 2012-13

I answered yes and the past year has been full of learning, fretting, sleepless nights, and utter joy.  I had studied chemistry in high school and a semester in college.  So how did I think I could teach a subject I had not considered in forty years?  Consideration did not enter in to this decision.  Here is a bit of background.

Last year at Black Forest Academy I worked in the library at the elementary school.  While I love reading and enjoy encouraging children to read, I felt like a fish out of water attempting to keep all the students under control while I helped individuals find appropriate reading material and check out.  I wanted a teaching position for my second year.  A wise friend encouraged me to stay with the library for the second year to assist my transition, and I agreed.  But I cast a fleece, "Dear God, if You want me in a new position, have someone ask me to change jobs."

chemistry lab

School year 2011-12 ended and no one asked;  I would stay in the library-until we had dinner with friends, one of whom was Science Department chair.  Although none of us understand how the conversation came about, half way through dinner Dan asked me the question above.  My response was, "I love chemistry and I want to teach students to love it, too."


That was the beginning of a year of often feeling desperate because I did not quite understand the topic for the next day.  Some days I made so many mistakes in explaining the concepts I walked home wishing I could evaporate.  Other days I had to build up my courage to have labs.  Yet many times - more than I can count - I experienced help and provision in supernatural ways.  My weaknesses became strengths.  I learned (or relearned) chemistry which I had totally forgotten.  Youtube became a supplemental learning tool.  Chemistry even connected to my life outside of the classroom.  And my sleepless nights became opportunities to talk with God and find Him faithful.

At the end of this school year I prepared the chemistry final.  I wrestled with problems and deleted items which had not been taught.   As I graded my students' exams the strenuousness of the test became apparent and I blamed myself.   I was pleased to see, while the multiple choice questions were tricky, most students had learned how to compute stoichiometry and molarity.  A sense of relief.

Students playing a matching game with
element names

Learning to name compounds

I graded the last test.  At the top Camille had written "Thank you for teaching me to love chemistry."  I cried. The year had not been perfect, far from it.  Most teachers know that the first year one teaches a new subject is the hardest.  In spite of all of my failures, though, one student thanked me for teaching chemistry.

Next year, with a wealth of experience, personal growth, and a faithful heavenly Father to cheer me on,  I will teach more students to love chemistry.