Content: This "Lab Safety" assignment was created for GS4401, Science and Science Teaching in the Elementary School, Fall 2007. It was made under the advisement of this course's instructor, Jeff Goodman. Impact: In this assignment, I surveyed my cooperating teacher, Vickie Flanagan. Vickie Flanagan is a fourth grade teacher at Westwood Elementary School in Ashe County. This survey consisted of questions about lab safety issues that should be addressed in the classroom. The questions ranged anywhere from what students are supposed to do during a fire drill to what hazardous chemicals may be found in a classroom. This assignment provided me with a better insight about safety issues that I am able to control in my future classroom. I believe that by participating in this survey, I am able to better protect and keep my students safe on a daily basis.
Rationale:
This "Lab Safety" assignment met the following North Carolina Standards for Elementary School Teachers:
Standard 17: Elementary teachers understand safety and liability issues in elementary and advocate for appropriate safety materials and enforcement practices in the classroom.
Indicator 1 - Teachers ensure that safety issues are included in instruction and provide supervision during lab activities and field experiences.
--This artifact has showed me the many ways that I can ensure safety issues are included in instruction. I believe it is beneficial to include a safety precaution in all of my lessons.
Indicator 2: Teachers analyze the lab/activities for safety and research materials/chemicals to know safety issues before they are used.
--In this artifact, I have analyzed lab/activities for safety and researched materials/chemicals to become aware of safety issues in the classroom. In other words, this Lab Safety Survey included questions that allowed me to ask my cooperating teacher if the safety issues were being met on a daily basis.
Indicator 3: Teachers have a working knowledge and comply with the science Safety Laws, Codes, and Standards.
--This information that I have gained throughout this artifact proves that I have a working knowledge about the science Safety Laws, Codes, and Standards.
Indicator 4: Teachers model and communicate appropriate safety behaviors.
--Within this artifact, my teacher and I discussed different safety plans for emergencies that I will be able to model and communicate with my students.
Indicator 5: Teachers develop a short and long-term plan for improvement of school safety.
--By performing this artifact, my teacher and I ultimately came up with ways to plan for improvement of school safety. For example, during my internship I will be making labels for chemicals and equipment that may be hazardous.
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