Winning the Presidential Award is truly an honor. If someone asked me when I first began teaching what my favorite subject was, I would have never answered science, but after being involved in the Science Writing Heuristic approach, my attitude about science has changed and this has greatly impacted how my students view science. Receiving this award has reassured me that what I'm doing in the classroom is benefiting kids by challenging them to think critically and solve problems.

Michelle Harris Anita, IA | K-6, Science, 2008

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

Michelle Harris has been employed by the Anita Elementary School in the Anita Community Schools system since 1998. She is currently a full-time fifth grade teacher whose curriculum includes life and physical science as well as mathematics, reading, and language arts. Mrs. Harris is an innovative educator who enthusiastically plans and implements research-based instructional strategies. Her ability to transform children's attitudes in science is inspiring. Science is a fun learning experience with the imaginative labs that she creates and the writing and creative thinking skills that she incorporates. She uses diagnostic, formative, and summative data to drive her instruction. Mrs. Harris understands that learning is not about information transfer but about providing opportunities for students to negotiate meaning. Her students are expected to defend, debate, and construct knowledge about science. They are required to work in small groups to answer questions that they have posted, construct claims and evidence and post them on the blackboard for classroom discussion, and participate in both small-group and plenary discussions. Mrs. Harris was an active participant in two research grants that focused on improving elementary science teaching through the Science Writing Heuristic approach. As a critical component of her science teaching, students are required to complete writing exercises for different purposes and audiences. For example, students are required to write letters to one of the body's organs thanking it for the work it does and to the fourth grade students explaining force and motion. Mrs. Harris is a lifelong learner who shares developing research with her peers to keep the teaching staff at the top of its field. She has a B.A. in elementary education from the University of Northern Iowa and is certified in elementary education.

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